Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon (Kulanu) announced this week his decision to add and expand a total of five nature reserves.
The reserves in question are Katzir, Lahav Darom, Makhtesh Raom, Har Giora, and Harei Yehuda.
Their total area amounts to 543.6 acres (2,200 dunams).
The 279.7 acre (1,132 dunam) Makhtesh Ramon (Ramon Crater) nature park will become a national park, after serving until the early 2000s as a large strip mine. There are still enormous holes in the area, which needs rehabilitation. However, the exposed rock which is now visible is beautiful, fascinating, unique, and draws much public interest.
As a result, the Nature and Parks Authority and the Mitzpe Ramon Council have decided to restore the crater and build a geological garden in its center. Enormous strides have already been made: the strip mine has been restored, a road has been paved, and the site now serves as an attraction for hikers looking to discover the "land of the craters."
"The State of Israel was blessed with an abundance of natural beauty and a unique heritage," Nature and Parks Authority Head Shaul Goldstein said. "The Nature and Parks Authority, together with the relevant government and public authorities, has a moral obligation to preserve the country's nature reserves and national parks for future generations."
"Our task becomes more challenging with each passing year, and the process of declaring nature reserve takes over ten years."
The Katzir nature reserve is spread over 29.8 acres (121 dunams), and is located in Wadi Ara, east of the town of Katzir. It is covered mostly by Mediterranean woodlands, with oak trees, evergreen trees, terebinth, and broad-leaved phillyrea.
The Lahav Darom reserve will be expanded by 7.78 acres (31.5 dunams), and the Har Giora preserve and Harei Yehuda parks will be expanded to 222.5 acres (900 dunams), creating a continuous strip of unadulterated nature.
The new parks and reserves are free and open to the public.