Lands Authority vows to underwrite rehab of Gibton Springs Nature Reserve damaged by wildfire

The Israel Lands Authority vows to underwrite the rehabilitation of some 215 dunams (62 acres) of land in the Gibton Springs Nature Reserve in central Israel that was severely damaged by wildfire last week.

Located in the heart of the southern coastal plain, and known for its rare humid habitat, its biological richness, and its ecological importance, the reserve had only reopened just over two years ago after a decade of work to rid the site of pollution and restore the water regimen, natural vegetation and animal species.

The Israel Nature and Parks Authority says the fire has left “a huge ecological and scenic void.”

Yanki Quint, director of the Israel Lands Authority and chairman of the Open Spaces Preservation Fund, says: “Just as at the beginning of the year, the Open Spaces Preservation Fund approved approximately NIS 150 million ($41.3 million) to restore nature reserves and open spaces damaged during the war, so we will act to restore the Gibton Springs Nature Reserve.”