Geographical Area
Eilat is located at the northern tip of the Gulf of Aqaba. It is the southernmost city in Israel, distant from other large communities and the country’s center.
- 68,000 Residents
- 3,000,000 Tourist every year
- 100% RE during day time
Associated Regions
Israel: EIMA – Enhancing marine conservation in Eilat through the integration of BioProtect tools for community engagement and ecosystem-based planning
What BioProtect Solutions will be replicated
- BioProtect PPGIS Analyser
- BioProtect ABM-DSF
- BioProtect Marine Planner
- BioProtect Good Practice Recommendation on Improved Governance
By implementing the BioProtect PPGIS Analyser, we will engage local communities in the decision-making process, integrating their perceptions of threats to coastal areas into spatial planning efforts. Furthermore, the BioProtect Marine Planner will allow us to visualize the cumulative impacts of human activities and identify priority areas for conservation, while the BioProtect ABM-DSF will provide a robust, participatory framework for managing and reducing these pressures. We will also implement the BioProtect Good Practice Recommendations on Improved Governance, which will guide the integration of sustainable management practices into our local policies. Our replication activities include co-designed workshops, mapping software, collection of environmental data, data analysis tools, socio-economic impact analysis, forecasting climate impacts and identifying climate refugia in the region, specifically for coral reefs.
Challenges
- Pressure on a Unique and Vulnerable Coral Reef System
- Urban development, tourism, pollution, and maritime traffic are exerting increasing pressure on the coastal and marine environment.
- Climate Change Vulnerability
- Limited Community Involvement in Planning
- Fragmented or insufficient data hampers the ability to plan spatially or assess cumulative impacts.
Ecosystem Characteristics
Eilat is home to one of the northernmost coral reef systems in the world, supporting a high biodiversity of marine species. However, this vulnerable ecosystem is under increasing pressure from human activities. Thus, Eilat’s coastal ecosystem necessitates a comprehensive and adaptive management strategy.
Responsible Team
