Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., April 02, 2008 Adar2 27, 5768 | | Israel Time: 02:20 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Rosner's Domain Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Advertising Books Arts & Leisure Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

Green Cities / How the chicken crosses the road By Zafrir Rinat Tags: Wild Animals, Nature  Travelers on the Tel Aviv-Jerusalem Highway will one day be able to see an extraordinary bridge shimmering above the edge of the rise at the Sha'ar Hagai intersection: An ecologic overpass for wild animals, which will allow them to safely cross the road. The Israel National Roads Company (Ma'atz) intends to build the overpass, as part of a larger plan to broaden and upgrade the highway. There are plans to build two additional ecologic passageways in the Ramat Menashe area. Eitan Amir, director of the Roads Company's Highway 1 Road Improvement Project, says the slated overpass will be 50 meters wide and will be located west of the Shoresh intersection. "It will be covered with soil and native plants, and only pedestrians and animals will be permitted to cross it. We chose the location based on studies conducted on our behalf by ecologist Dr. Ron Frumkin." It is hard not to be impressed by the intentions and professionalism of the planners, engineers and ecologic consultants involved in the construction of ecologic bridges. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPA), which is spearheading the project, should also be commended for promoting measures that protect animals. Advertisement An examination of wild animals in Israel and elsewhere in the world reveals that many of them cannot survive without the assistance of a variety of creative, man-made measures. Humans collect sea turtle eggs on beaches and transfer them to a sheltered location until they hatch. Elsewhere, artificial winter pools were created for amphibians that rely on natural winter pools, which are slowly disappearing. When the natural habitat of the Yarkon bleak fish (Levanon hayarkon or Acanthobrama telavivensis) dried out six years ago, scientists were forced to transfer members of the species to reproductive aquariums to save them. Several feeding stations were established for raptors in Israel when sources of carrion, their staple diet, dwindled. The boundaries between man and wild animals have blurred to such an extent that scientific journals refer to these feeding stations as "vulture restaurants." Aware of the gravity of the situation, INPA officials eight years ago proposed an extension of preservation activities beyond the designated borders of declared preservation sites, including setting up "ecologic corridors" throughout the nation. The plan does not define these corridors as formal preservation sites, but rather sets in place guarantees that would ensure the existance of contiguous open land, to permit passage of animals and distribution of plants. Continued development poses a great threat to these natural corridors. The most notable example of a threatened corridor is the one that passes along the edge of the hilly region connecting the Samarian and Judean Hills. That central corridor provides a vital, contiguous connection between a Mediterranean region and one that is more arid and desert-like. This natural corridor has already been narrowed by the large-scale expansion of Beit Shemesh. The establishment of the separation fence south of the city and the building of an adjoining community next to the fence compressed the corridor even further. The separation fence also divided open land in Modi'in and the planned expansion of the city will result in turning the corridor into a narrow path. Ecologic bridges could help relieve the distress of wild animals in a few selected areas, but they will not change the general picture. In order to improve the general situation, some of the infrastructure, including segments of major highways, would have to pass through tunnels. But two proposals by the Israel Union for Environmental Defense (Adam, Teva V'Din) and green activists to establish such tunnels in the Sharon Region and Ramat Menashe were recently rejected. The new section of the Cross-Israel Highway currently being paved at Ramat Menashe will include an ecologic passageway, but most of the open land will be blocked by a road animals cannot transverse. Bookmark to del.icio.us   WHO knows? The WHO says Israel lets Gazans die in 'avoidable tragedies'. Friendly faces Google, Facebook and Yahoo heads will attend a J'lem technology summit.

Today Online Hamas TV puppet 'kills' Bush as revenge for U.S., Israeli actions Responses: 299 Editorial: Israel's settlement policy is one of deception Responses: 140 WHO: Israel turning away sick Gazans, who die in 'avoidable tragedies' Responses: 102 Barak: Gaza crossings may open if rocket attacks, smuggling stop Responses: 81 'If rabbis won't marry interfaith couples, they should send them to someone who will' Responses: 29 More Headlines 00:30 Hezbollah: Saudi Arabia is siding with gov't in Lebanon power struggle 23:57 MKs okay law to protect the shores of Lake Kinneret 22:28 WHO: Israel turning away sick Gazans, who die in 'avoidable tragedies' 21:50 Barak: Gaza crossings may open if rocket attacks, smuggling stop 23:24 Israeli broadcaster and actress Shosh Atari dies aged 58 19:47 Falafel oil provides power for T.A. 'Earth Hour' concert 21:58 Facebook, Google founders to attend Jerusalem conference in May 01:06 Seattle prosecutor: Much of Jewish center shooter's statement inadmissible 20:49 Fischer: Israel's growth to slow in 2008 due to global slump 22:36 National Insurance Institute rejects plan to take over school fee payments 16:55 Two civilians lightly hurt in mortar attack on Negev kibbutz 20:59 Benizri: I've been persecuted for 8 years for no fault of my own 22:05 Reputed crime family member denies 2004 teen murder Previous Editions Select Day 01 apr 31 mar 30 mar 28 mar 27 mar 26 mar 25 mar 24 mar 23 mar 21 mar 20 mar 19 mar

Special Offers Advertisement Learn Hebrew online with Israel's best teachers Sign up for a trial lesson today Behind the Z Word Scholarly essays, commentary, podcasts, blogs and much more. NEW! Dan Boutique Jerusalem Hotel Hip Dan Hotel in Jerusalem. Attractive Introductory Rates Pardes Institute Summer Sessions Study Jewish texts and issues in Jerusalem, Co-ed, All Levels FAREWELL ISRAEL New Film The Coming War for Islamic Revival - View Movie Trailer Free the Palestinians from: Corrupt Kleptocracy, Tyrannical Theocracy, Abysmal Anarchy Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. ISRAEL BONDS Build Israel Israel bonds - a multi-purpose way to celebrate Israel's 60th Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved