Earth Day 2025: Protecting Israel’s Nature

For ASPNI Nature Israel, every day is Earth Day. But this April 22 marks the 55th anniversary of this special global day to educate people about how important it is for us to take care of the planet, starting with the places we care about most.   

Earth Day emerged in 1970 as a rallying cry for environmental protection. Its roots stretch back to transformative moments: Rachel Carson’s 1962 groundbreaking book Silent Spring, and the growing realization that not all human progress benefits life on Earth. Carson’s book exposed the devastating effects of pesticides like DDT on ecosystems, sparking public awareness and laying the foundation for the modern environmental movement. 

Azaria Alon, z”l (1918 – 2014), co-founder of SPNI and Israel Prize-winning environmentalist.

Remarkably, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI) came to this realization even earlier, in 1953. At a time when Israel’s pioneers sang of draining swamps and making deserts bloom, Azaria Alon of Kibbutz HaShita and biologist Amotz Zahavi from Tel Aviv University recognized the devastating impact of such endeavors. They founded SPNI to protect the Hula Valley wetlands—a critical resting and feeding ground for hundreds of millions of migrating birds. Israel is the second largest bird migration flyway in the world and an extraordinary biodiversity hotspot at the intersection of three continents.  

“The earth does not belong to us—we belong to the earth.” Azaria Alon once said, a belief that became the moral foundation of SPNI. 

Although much of the wetlands were drained by the government and JNF to create farmland, SPNI is now reversing this damage through its visionary Start-Up Nature program. By rewilding former fish farms and restoring water to the land, they are reclaiming a vibrant haven for wildlife and demonstrating the power of SPNI’s innovative conservation efforts. 

Migrating birds soar over Agamon HaHula, a key stopover on the world’s second-largest flyway. Photo by Nadav Israeli.

SPNI’s founding vision may have been inspired by early 20th century naturalist movements. SPNI’s founders shared a profound belief in the intrinsic value of nature—a philosophy championed by John Muir, the founder of the Sierra Club. Like Muir, they saw undeveloped wilderness as awe-inspiring and worth protecting not merely as resources, but for its beauty, importance to other species and simply life itself.

SPNI’s founders turned their understanding into action—not just by opposing harmful practices but by educating and fostering a culture that values nature. It’s a reminder that real change isn’t only about stopping what’s harmful but also building something better in its place. 

An Israeli girl smells a wildflower along an SPNI trail. Photo by Tomer Avni.

SPNI, which provides all environmental education in Israel in all school systems, has educated generations of Israelis to love and appreciate its natural world. In fact, spending holidays and weekends camping, hiking or even just picnicking in natural spaces is a core part of Israel culture. 

True, campsites and trails can become very crowded, but the millions of Israelis that enjoy them have actually been the supporters of Israeli nature conservation all these years. 

Like the Sierra Club, SPNI built a model of self-sustaining conservation, recruiting individual Israelis to become paid members. Also like the Sierra Club, they charge a fee for guided eco-tourism. This income has provided the financial support for SPNI’s vital work instead of relying solely on overseas donations like most Israeli nonprofits. For 72 years, SPNI has been supported largely by Israelis who cherish their land and its biodiversity.

There is a great irony here. SPNI is one of Israel’s first and largest nonprofit organizations and arguably one of Israelis’ favorites. It is woven into the very fabric of Israeli culture and society. There is no one in Israel who doesn’t know it. It has been my experience that whenever I say that I work on behalf of SPNI, whoever I am speaking with breaks out into a huge smile, and proceeds to tell me about their, their cousin’s, their sibling’s, etc. experience at the field school, on some nature trek, or other story. 

Moments of wonder on the beach of Eilat during an SPNI summer camp program. Photo by Rishuat HaKrit Eilat.

SPNI’s early advocacy efforts formed the basis for Israel’s national park system, protected the coral reefs, wild flowers, the Hula Valley, and so much more. 

Given this fact, it is truly shocking how relatively unknown SPNI is in the United States among American Jews. Even among Jewish community leaders, unless they have family in Israel, or they themselves lived there for a time, most people have not heard of it. 

Because it has been supported by Israelis for the most part, SPNI has not spent its time or resources developing a major presence abroad. 

Today, in honor of Earth Day, take a moment to learn about SPNI (and its American affiliate Nature Israel). They are true leaders of the global environmental movement from 1953 until today. 

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To learn more, visit www.natureisrael.org