Theme Group #5
Sponsored by
The Society for Preservation of Nature (SPNI)

Living in the Desert

How Much Human Life can the Negev Desert Support?

For more than thirty years, ecologists have explored questions relating to how much plant- and animal life desert environments can support (its carrying-capacity). Deserts, by definition, cannot sustain as much life as habitats with more water and richer soils.

Some ecologists at the Blaustein Institute for Desert Research are also asking the same questions about human civilizations on the desert.

• What factors might affect how much human development the desert can support?

• Why were ancient Nabataean cities (more than 2,000 years ago) able to support hundreds of people?

• What strategies did the early Israeli pioneers use that allowed their settlements to thrive under desert conditions?

• How do these survival strategies differ from the nomadic Bedouin sheepherders that we see spread in small groups across the desert?

In this thought-provoking workshop, theme group participants will examine how several different desert civilizations throughout the past three thousand years have survived in the Negev. Most important, they will explore how each civilization’s technologies have affected the carrying-capacity of the desert.

The adventure will start in the extensive ruins of an ancient city and agricultural system built by the Nabataeans, masters of water management more than two thousand years ago. During the following week, participants will also visit nomadic Bedouin sheepherders, remains of pioneer agricultural settlements, and modern-day experimental desert farms.

By the end of the week, those involved in the workshop will build their own models of desert survival strategies. They will take home an appreciation of the complexities of desert life and an understanding of the many strategies that ancient and modern societies have used to enhance the desert’s carrying capacity.

About the workshop leaders

Ofer Shmueli, geography and geology teacher at the Environmental Education High School, recently completed his MS.c. in geology.

Avner Goren is a well-known Israeli archaeologist and field guide.

Isaac Meir is an architect in the Desert Architecture Department at the Blaustein Institute for Desert Research.

Other speakers to be added

Theme Group No. 5

Schedule

Sunday June 22
Afternoon - Conference registration.
15:00-18:30 - Theme group hikes to Wadi Zin and En Avdat together.
Evening - Opening ceremonies and dinner.

Monday June 23
6:00-11:00 - Visit Avdat, ruins of ancient Nabataean city and extensive agricultural development dating from 300 BCE to 600 CE (recently restored by scientists from Blaustein Institute).
Afternoon and Evening - Conference program.

Tuesday June 24
6:00-13:00 - Visit one of Israelite first three agricultural settlements in Negev (Kibbutz Revivim), then modern experimental desert farm (Ramat-Negev), followed by Kibbutz Mashabi Sade .
Afternoon and evening - Conference program.

Wednesday June 25
8:00-11:00 - Visit Bedouin sheepherders.
16:30-19:00 - Visit scientists at Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research.

Thursday June 26
8:00 - 11:00 - Visit Bedouin village.
11:00 - 13:00 - Prepare theme group presentation.
15:00 - 17:30 - Theme group presentations.
Afternoon and evening conference program.

Friday June 27
Departure
Two optional excursions.

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