EuroNatur has been active in the Middle East for many years now. Cooperation with local conservationists in Israel and Palestine has been established for more than ten years, and also in times of political troubles, when many other initiatives in this area were stopped, contacts were maintained and activities continued.
Israel is one of the most important passage areas for migrants on the east route of European migrants. Numbers of migrants passing and resting here each year rise into the millions. Counts carried out in northern Israel in October 2005 produced the incredible number of 52.256 eagles on one single day! In the Israeli valley of 'Hula', EuroNatur and its partners succeeded in the renaturation and protection of dried-up wetland. Part of this protected area is also the 'Hula' sea and its large reed belt, converting the region into a paradise for birds and a Mecca for nature lovers who are offered excellent bird-watching opportunities on guided tours.
EuroNatur is also engaged in the protection of migrants in the Palestine section of the Jordan valley, by means of educating programs for children and youth. Even under difficult political tensions our local partners are performing an excellent job.
Since 2005, EuroNatur is active in Lebanon as well, implementing a project for the protection of migrants, with the financial support of the DBU (German Federal Foundation for Environment). Our local partner is the Society for the Protection of nature in Lebanon (SPNL).