Water-Sensitive Cities Discussed at Desertification Conf'

The extensive work being done in conjunction with KKL-JNF to promote water-sensitive cities was presented at the International Conference on Drylands, Deserts and Desertification, which took place last week at the Sde Boker campus of Ben Gurion University. The conference covered a wide range of topics related to drylands, deserts and desertification, such as agriculture, urban planning, wastewater treatment, climate changes, water economy management, green construction and other topics. The four days of the conference included lectures, workshops and tours to relevant sites in the Negev, including a day of touring KKL-JNF projects in the Negev.

Participating in the conference were the best scientists in the field, professionals and students, Israelis as well as guests from different countries. They all had in common an understanding of the importance of coping with the phenomenon of desertification, and a desire to learn from innovative research studies and projects.

The symposium on the topic of water-sensitive cities was one of the important sessions at the conference, in which a number of leading scientists, members of the applied research team for creating water-sensitive cities in Israel, took part. This program is being implemented with the support of KKL-JNF Israel and JNF Australia. 

Water-sensitive cities are characterized by the management of their water economies through the creation of sustainable solutions, utilizing suitable technologies and increasing public awareness. The conference addressed different aspects of water economy management, such as water system characterizations, technology, planning requirements and community involvement.