As part of a plan to rehabilitate streams among Bedouin communities in the Negev, including Nahal Gerer, the Ministerial Committee on Settlement Regulation and Economic Development of Bedouin Society approved the proposal of Minister of Environmental Protection Idit Silman and Minister of Social Equality Amichai Shikli to formulate a plan for the rehabilitation and development of the Gerer River and its tributaries within 135 days.
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The approval of the proposal to formulate the plan joins intensive inter-ministerial work that took place over the past year between the Ministry of Social Equality, the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Budget Division of the Ministry of Finance and other government ministries to rehabilitate the river. The plan will affect the entire region. The river and its tributaries pass through the municipalities of Rahat, Bnei Shimon, Merhavim, Ofakim, Sdot Negev, Netivot and Eshkol.
Minister Silman: "The ministries decided to prepare a plan that will include ecological rehabilitation and preservation of the Gerer River and its tributaries, by removing and advanced treatment of waste from the stream, and turning the area into an urban nature park, with a rehabilitated stream in its center, shaded walking and bicycle paths, and an open public area and values in its vicinity. All this in order to provide the residents of the area with a quality river park that helps cope with the effects of climate change and preserve the ecological corridor and green infrastructure."
Minister of Environmental Protection, Idit Silman, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The goal of the plan is to maximize the environmental potential of the river, create a connection between the two parts of the city of Rahat, create a rich community life for the entire area and the river's tributaries, and to plan an urban park that extends over 1,500 dunams along the river. The park's plan will include a visitor hospitality space, areas for leisure, recreation and sports activities, public buildings, commercial buildings and tourist sites.
Simulation of the appearance of a tow stream after rehabilitation,
The park is expected to be a generator of economic and social growth for the city, since combined with the development of local Bedouin culture, it is expected to attract not only residents from the city itself, but also tourists from all over the country. Apart from the economic-tourism development of the park, the plan will maintain an integrative view of the ecological and environmental aspects along the entire route of the river and its tributaries, in Rahat and in the region.
Minister of Social Equality, Amichai Shikli, Photo: Jonathan Shaul
A unique encounter of nature and residents
The Gerer River is the largest tributary of the Basor River, about 50 kilometers long. The stream is located in the northern Negev, in a habitat of loess soils.
The northern Negev is a transition zone between desert habitats and Mediterranean regions. This connection is identified with populations from here and here, who create a unique puzzle with a particularly high variety of species. The area of the river is identified with unique ancient sites of settlements along its length throughout history.
The river is marked as green infrastructure and ecological corridor in the ecological corridors plan due to its unique location and character. In addition, the stream cuts through the loess soils while creating a unique valley landscape, with topographical differences of 20 meters between the stream channel and the banks.
The route of the stream begins its way in the Lahav Forest, crosses Rahat in two, and continues into the reserves of Nahal Gerar towards the settlements of the western Negev where it flows into the Basor River. The stream is a disappointing stream that characterizes the geographical area in which it exists, but maintains a succession of springs along its length. Creating a continuum of a rehabilitated and ecologically functioning stream enables unique encounters of nature and the inhabitants of the area, as well as maintaining a continuous flow path.
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