Representatives of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority and the Society for the Preservation of Nature said Tuesday they would battle against plans to establish new communities in the northern Negev for families evacuated from the Gaza Strip.

The representatives, touring the Lachish region, said that the government is promoting legislation that would override current planning procedures that protect the area's unique ecosystem.

The state has plans for establishing five new communities in the Lachish region. Two of the communities, Mirsham and Haruv, are at the advanced planning stages; two other communities - Arkovit and Egoz - are at the initial stages of planning; the fifth community, Givat Hazan, is still in preliminary discussions.

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In addition, three existing communities in the region were significantly expanded to absorb evacuee families - Lachish, Amatziya and Shekef.

The Nature and Parks Authority, which reports to the Ministry for the Environment, is battling against the government's plans arguing it would cause significant environmental damage to the Lachish ecosystem. The environmental bodies promote an expansion of existing communities rather than the establishment of new ones in order to meet housing needs.

"The area accommodates Mediterranean and desert climates. This combination of climates generates unique features of flora and fauna," said Yariv Malki, an ecologist at the Nature and Parks authority.

The government's bid to build the new communities clashes with a decision issued 10 years ago by the national planning and construction board.

Under this decision, the Lachish area is a designated biosphere that will not include any new communities and will enjoy strict monitoring of the expansion of existing ones, in order to protect the regions unique ecosystem and landscape.