In the heart of Jerusalem, a city often defined by its layers of stone, history, and conflict, a special, quiet scene unfolds daily: a herd of over 100 endangered wild mountain gazelles roaming freely through the grasslands of a restored valley. Even in a time of war, Israeli children can be heard laughing along the winding trails. Birdwatchers hide from migratory birds while viewing their natural beauty.
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This is the Gazelle Valley Urban Nature Park, one of Israel’s first urban wildlife refuges and one of the most powerful symbols of what the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) stands for: a belief the nature belongs to everyone, and that green space-especially in cities- is not just a sanctuary, but a solution.
Founded in 1953, SPNI emerged from a grassroots protest against the draining of the Hula Valley wetland. This move destroyed biodiversity and compromised the water quality of the wetland in northern Israel. Though the campaign failed in its goal of stopping the project, it gave rise to one of Israel’s and the world’s first environmental NGOs.
Today, SPNI operates a diverse portfolio that encompasses biodiversity conservation, sustainable urban planning, education, and advocacy. “If you learn about nature, you’ll love nature, and you’ll want to protect it,” says Jay Shofet, Director of Partnerships and Development at SPNI, who has lived in Israel for over 40 years.
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While SPNI’s base and roots are in wildlife protection, preserving nature reserves, restoration, and defending against habitat loss, its focus has shifted to cities where over 90% of Israel’s population resides. This shift is embodied in SPNI’s “Promoting Urban Nature” initiative. The goal of this initiative is to combat pressure to utilize land reserves for housing. SPNI works with the Israeli government and, more importantly, municipal leaders to create plans to make Israel’s cities greener. The key to this is creating and lobbying for urban nature sites. The sites offer residents a unique experience of nature in an urban setting, distinct from traditional parks. They emphasize natural biodiversity. The sites not only help nature but also help people. Their work is also “About protecting nature for our health and enjoyment,” says Shofet. SPNI emphasizes the mental health and physical health benefits that nature has.
No site better captures this philosophy than Gazelle Valley. Located in western Jerusalem, the valley was once planned for the construction of 30,000 living units. However, with passionate residents by their side, SPNI organized a campaign to preserve it—the result: Israel’s largest urban nature site. Gazelle Valley boasts 64 acres of restored open space, where mountain gazelles, one of hundreds of species, roam freely with wetlands, food, and care at their disposal.
Gazelle Valley is also a fully functioning, living lab. SPNI and other researchers track biodiversity indicators, such as the gain or loss of dragonflies and otters, both indicator species, and collaborate with scientists from various institutions, universities, and private organizations, as well as the government, to monitor numbers and migrations. Educational programs are held on-site that educate youth and members of government and business.
SPNI is one of Israel’s leading organizations in environmental education, helping to create Israel’s nationwide mandate to integrate nature studies into the school curriculum. The work started over 30 years ago and is now expanding with the support of the Ministry of Education.
“We teach the teachers,” Shofet explains. Through short-term development programs, classroom materials, and outdoor field experiences, SPNI helps facilitate environmental education for Israeli students. Urban sites, such as Gazelle Valley, serve as outdoor classrooms, providing children with the opportunity to learn about ecosystems, biodiversity, and sustainability, even in an urban setting.
Additionally, education helps inspire and promote environmental activism. “The environment is a great entry point to activism,” says Shofet. “Educate, Love and Protect,” Shofet adds, are the three primary keys to SPNI’s mission.
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As urbanization continues to grow and intensify around the world, Israel may hold a hopeful model. SPNI’s integration of ecology, education, health, and urban planning remains a driving force in this space. SPNI plans to expand its Urban Nature initiative in 2025 and beyond, particularly to Israel’s rebuilding of northern and southern cities. Their goal is simple yet ambitious: to bring nature to every Israeli, regardless of their location or background.
::SPNI
