(haipo) – A project to restore two old dredged lakes in Nesher, designed to strengthen safety and preserve a rich ecological space, is drawing sharp criticism from environmental activists. They claim that as part of the work, a natural anemone field was plowed up in the area of the lakes, an impressive seasonal flowering site, even though, according to them, it was possible to carry out a controlled relocation of the plants with ecological guidance. Now the question arises: Who approved the operations on the ground and was everything necessary done to protect the natural values of the place?
In the area of the Nesher Excavator Lakes, a restoration project is currently underway, initiated by the Nesher Municipality and funded by the Quarry Restoration Fund. The goal of the project is to regulate the area from a safety perspective and restore a unique natural area, which includes two lakes created in old quarries. Over the years, the place has become a center of attraction for many waterfowl and a diverse habitat for rich local vegetation.
But alongside the restoration goals, environmental activists point to recent damage to a field of anemones that flourished there. They say that during the work, the area where the anemones were growing was plowed up, an action they claim was carried out without any real attempt to save the plants.
Eric Drobot, involved in nature conservation activities In the area, he told "Hai Fe": "Although it was possible, and although we requested permission to carry out a voluntary relocation of the anemones, accompanied by an ecologist, they chose not to do so. The entire area had already been plowed and the bulbs were exposed."
He said that exposing the anemone bulbs in the ground may indeed make it easier to transplant, but at the same time it also exposes them to increased risk. "On the one hand, it can help those trying to save the bulbs and move them to another location, but on the other hand, they are now much more vulnerable to the sun, drying out and further damage."
The area where the project is being carried out is considered an area of significant natural value. In addition to the lakes themselves, which attract thousands of waterfowl in different seasons, there is also a diverse natural vegetation. Therefore, by law, the Nature and Parks Authority is supposed to guide the developer on how to operate in an area where natural values exist, in order to minimize damage to the ecosystems.
The criticism leveled by environmental activists is not only directed at the work itself, but also at the manner in which it was carried out. They claim that it was possible to combine the restoration of the site with better protection of the local vegetation, through early coordination with professionals and volunteers who proposed to carry out a controlled relocation of the anemones.
The quarry restoration project was originally intended to restore former mining areas to their environmental and scenic value, and even turn them into natural and recreational centers for the public. However, in the case of Nesher Lakes, some believe that the restoration work caused unnecessary harm to the local nature.
Environmental activists are now expecting explanations from the parties involved in the project: was the possibility of saving the plants considered before plowing, who made the decision on the ground, and is it still possible to take actions that will reduce the damage caused?
The Nesher municipality informed Lai Pa:
"It is important to emphasize that the Lakes Park project is a strategic move to restore the historic clay quarry of the "Nesher" factory, which was an active and industrial mining site for decades. The main goal is to transform a scenic and industrial "wound" into an open, safe and accessible public space for the entire public, while investing enormous resources in preserving local natural values.
As for the claims about the soil being exposed, this is an unavoidable engineering necessity. The soil in the quarry consists largely of unstable earth embankments and fill materials. To enable the site to be transformed into a safe park for visitors, the plan requires extensive infrastructure work to stabilize the slopes and create safe access to the lake banks. Without these actions, the area remains dangerous from a safety perspective.
Beyond Conservation: Ecological Design That Creates a Stable Natural System
The ecological concept of the project does not amount to preserving the existing, but rather to developing a stable and sustainable ecosystem in the long term:
Environmental inspection and survey: The planning was based on comprehensive professional surveys. As part of this, it was decided to preserve 4,340 existing trees in the area, a major planning effort designed to protect the significant vegetation skeleton.
Vegetation management: The vast majority of the vegetation removed (about 85% of the trees designated for felling) is wild vegetation (young oak trees) that developed randomly on industrial waste.
שיקום ופיתוח: As part of the green vision, the plan requires the planting of approximately 1,500 new trees that will replace the wild vegetation and ensure flowering and regulated growth within a well-maintained park.
In conclusion, the project balances safety and engineering needs with the ambition to create an urban natural gem. The plan has passed all the required approval stages, received building permits and legal logging licenses, and work on the ground is already underway. The ultimate goal is to provide the residents of Nesher and the surrounding area with a flourishing, safe and regulated park, which will replace the industrial hazard that was there in the past."
The Nature and Parks Authority responded:
"The project is the implementation of an approved plan for a metropolitan park (Eagle Lakes), within the framework of which landscape restoration will be carried out and principles of nature conservation will be implemented. The Nature and Parks Authority is working with the planners and the developer to minimize damage to nature as a result of the development. As part of this, tens of thousands of geophytes were copied from the area, some of which will be used for landscape restoration as part of the project. In addition, preliminary surveys were conducted by the developer, as in any plan, and as part of the work, more natural values worthy of preservation were discovered, and we are working with the planners and the contractor to protect them."
The article only refers to plants, but beyond them, the reservoirs contained over 60 nesting species, some of which are in danger of national and global extinction. In addition, there was a population of rare amphibians that was simply physically run over by the tractors.
According to the prosecutor's instructions, a geophyte survey was required precisely to avoid this situation.
It seems that it was not done.
Let us recall that the tree survey that was carried out was found to be very problematic.
It was possible to develop a park in the style of Agmon Hula, but it turns out that the good of man comes first.
I was there two days ago, the place looks like a construction site, there are no waterfowl in the lake. In a few minutes, they came to evict me…
There is also a daffodil field nearby.
I hope they didn't hurt you.
In a podcast about 100 years of Nesher, workers who helped build the spearhead were quoted as marveling at the fact that from the far north one could see the smoke billowing from the factory's chimneys. Those days have passed and nature has managed to cover the damage. The trees and flowers have also attracted rare animals and birds.
But human nature apparently doesn't change – the current municipality is trampling nature with its bare feet. The current excuse – tourism.
Zero planning consideration can be learned from the documents submitted by the retired municipal engineer. For example, hundreds of trees were required to be cut down for a "planned temporary parking lot." The responsibility does not end with that official, of course - elected officials have a duty to criticize the destructive activity, but they seem to choose otherwise.
Nesher Municipality has a lot of money! Does the government know this?
Well done to those who are doing this.
If you do, some people complain, if you don't, some people complain too...
Overall, they are all good people.