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November 12, 2010
Partnering for the birds
Manitoba-Israel accord has broad cooperation.
RHONDA SPIVAK
The province of Manitoba and the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel signed a groundbreaking memorandum of understanding relating to the environment on Oct. 13. This agreement is the first stage in what ultimately is designed to build environmental and ecological cooperation between Canada, Israel, Jordan and the Palestinian Authority.
Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger signed the agreement with Avinoam Ben Itzhak, SPNI director of in Jerusalem.
The agreement calls for SPNI and the Manitoban director of wildlife and ecosystem protection to cooperate in the areas of birding, the advancement of ecological tourism and in broader environmental initiatives. It also calls for Manitoba and Israel to share knowledge and to cooperate on research and educational activities for preservation.
Christine Melnick, Manitoba’s minister of water stewardship, who was at the signing ceremony, said in a statement, “This agreement is unique. The SPNI has never signed an agreement with a foreign government. We’re looking to preserve the wildlife, through birding. It’s a unique agreement, the first of its kind, and I know it will be very successful with our wonderful partners. We have several partners in Manitoba, [including] the department of tourism and [the] department of conservation, Ducks Unlimited, the Manitoba Habitat and Heritage Corp., Prairie Pathfinders, Winnipeg Trails Association and the Forks Renewal Corp.”
Dr. Yossi Leshem, an Israeli birding expert, said in a statement, “ Migrating birds know no boundaries. This agreement is proof that topics such as birds, environment and nature can bring government, people and diverse interests together. On the issues of preserving wildlife, there really are no boundaries.”
Pursuant to the agreement, Manitoba and SPNI in Israel will build teams to work together on mutual concerns of eco-tourism, birding, coordinating bird ringing, tracking migrating birds, ecological research and preserving bird habitats.
Melnick and Paul Hunt, Canada’s ambassador to Israel, and Imad Atrash, founder and director of the Palestine Wildlife Society, were all present for the signing. The PWS was established in 1999 with headquarters in Beit Sahour, near Bethlehem in the West Bank.
In a telephone interview, Atrash said that he hopes in the future to work with Israel and Canada in promoting ecotourism and awareness of nature.
“Instead of tourists coming to the area only to see religious sites, we want to involve them with nature. We want to promote regional eco-tourism. The Jordan Valley is a bird flight path. Birds coming from Europe go to Jericho, especially the raptor and the white stork. Jericho is a very hot spot, so birds like it,” he said.
Atrash added that he worked once before with an Israeli colleague training a bird ringer together. He said that the signing ceremony was his first meeting with the Canadians on board, but that plans are in the works to have both he and Leshem travel to Manitoba in June 2011, in part to share knowledge relating to birding, bird habitats and protection of the environment.
“Preserving biodiversity is not a local issue – it’s a global issue. Without continental and intercontinental cooperation, degradation of habitats and species that we depend upon cannot be mitigated and halted,” said Amir Balaban, director of the Jerusalem Bird Observatory, in a statement.
Balaban concluded, “Canada is an enormous country, while Israel is a tiny country lacking in natural resources. Yet, each country can provide inspiration and new ideas to one another in nature conservation – and work to bring people and nature together.”
Rhonda Spivak is a freelance writer and editor of the Winnipeg Jewish Review.
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