Environmental Resources and Human Influences

Concern about the state and sustainability of environmental resources raised the need for further research on resources and on the driving forces affecting them. The Jerusalem Institute encouraged and published research from a wide range of disciplines relating to ecological resources (water, air, land, ecology) and to the driving forces affecting them and affecting quality of life (urban, industrial, transport, energy, extraction of raw materials and agriculture).

Particular attention was given to issues relating to the protection of open space, biodiversity and habitats, invasive species and wildlife, areas of landscape and recreational value and the provision of parks. Research initiated or supported by the Institute was both innovative and played a significant part in policy making and decision making in Israel for nature protection, the use of forest areas, realising the value of river channels, protection of the Jerusalem hills and the management of metropolitan park areas in the central region.