Theme Group #3
Sponsored by Keren Hayesod
"Partnership 2,000"
The Jewish Agency for Israel

Managing Sustainable Environments in the Desert

The 1992 Earth Summit marks an important point in history. Thousands of people from both developed and third world countries around the globe came together to discuss replacing destructive land use with balanced land use practices (sustainable development).

During the months that followed, more than 160 countries involved in the conference ratified treaties to adopt balanced land use practices in order to protect both humans and the environment.

One of the toughest jobs that these countries now face is teaching their people why and how to use sustainable management. Creative teaching methods are needed to help the public understand how to address conflicting needs and to understand what choices they have in trying to balance land use.

In this workshop, participants will use a simulation game focused on a local desert community to explore methods of managing sustainable development in the desert.

The nearby, scenic town of Mitzpe Ramon and its surrounding will be the theater for this workshop’s case study which focuses on many potentially conflicting land uses.

Mitzpe Ramon, a growing desert town in the middle of the Negev, was founded in 1966 in the spirit of David Ben-Gurion’s dream to "make the desert bloom." Its resources include important minerals, a spectacular scenic landscape and unique flora and fauna.

Participants will role play as members of four different special interest groups from the town (in mining, business, tourism, and environmental protection). Once they understand the concerns and needs of their special interest, the participants will debate their postions.

One of the many highlights of this workshop is that participants will use two state-of-the-art survey techniques, Geographical Information Systems (G.I.S.) and Remote Sensing (R.S.), to evaluate the study site. Using these methods, they will create digitized maps of the site and learn how to interpret and use this information

While the participants will learn about desert ecology and human communities in the Negev, the principles and methods used in this workshop can be applied to any environment.

About the Workshop Leaders:

Ezra Pimentel
As the environmental study coordinator for the Environmental Education High School, Ezra teaches geography and environmental studies. Ezra has an M.A. in Regional Planning.

Arie Cohen
is a science teacher and specialist in GIS and R.S. Arie has an M.A. in remote sensing.

Schedule

for Theme Group # 3

Sunday June 22
Morning and afternoon - Conference registration.
15:30 - 18:30 - Orientation followed by field trip with workshop group.
Evening - Opening program.

Monday June 23
6:00-9:00 - Introduction to study site: Lookout at Mitzpe Ramon and its surroundings. 9:30-10:30 - Keynote lecture: Yoki Gur, Regional Planner of the Negev.
10:30-13:00 Simulation game: "Mitzpe Ramon: Las Vegas in the Negev!" (in classroom).
Afternoon and Evening: Conference program.

Tuesday June 24
6:00-10:30 - Each special interest group visits experts in their field at Mitzpe Ramon and the Maktesh (crater).
10:30-13:00 - Guided tour at Mitzpe Ramon Visitor’s Center. Members of special interest groups then meet to summarize findings.
Afternoon and evening - Conference programs.

Wednesday June 25
6:00-7:30 Introduction to using Geographical Information System (G.I.S.) and Remote Sensing (R.S.) by satellite to evaluate study site (computer lab).
8:00-12:00 - Interest groups digitize maps.
12:00-13:00 - Presentation of interest maps.
14:00-16:00 - Planning groups meet to evaluate maps.

Wednesday continued....
17:00-19:30 - Planning groups digitize maps.
Evening - Conference program.

Thursday June 26

6:00 - 7:30 - Conference field trip.
8:30-9:00 - Planning groups complete digitized maps.
9:00 -11:30 Summary and evaluation.
15:00 -17:30 Theme group presentation of digitized maps at conference exhibition.
Afternoon and evening conference program.

Friday June 27
Departure
Optional two day tours.

Due to intense midday heat, field trips are scheduled for early mornings and late in the day.