DDD Conference

Facebook Twitter Linkedin

Tours

Agriculture/Dead Sea Tour organized by Naftali Lazarovitch, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research (BIDR)

Bedouin Arab Society in Southern Israel: Difficulties, Challenges & Opportunities organized by 
Dr. Sarah Abu-Kaf & Dr. Orna Braun-Lewensohn
Conflict Management & Resolution Program
Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), Israel
 
The Bedouin Arab population in the Negev region of Israel numbers 270,000 and comprises about 27% of the population of the Negev. This ethnic minority group faces enormous difficulties in the social, cultural, political, and financial domains of everyday life. This population is the youngest in the country (over 51.2% are under age 18) and is considered to be a disadvantaged minority population, suffering from very low levels of education, lower levels of employment (mainly among women), and high levels of poverty (about 60% of families live below the poverty line; CBS, 2020).  In addition to these difficulties and challenges, individuals within this population are currently experiencing rapid changes in cultural values and social structure. Members of Bedouin Arab society live in three types of communities: older and recognized towns (the city of Rahat and six other towns); recognized, but undeveloped villages (11 villages); and unrecognized villages (34 villages). About 50% of the Bedouin population live in recognized towns, 17% live in recognized, but undeveloped villages, and 33% live in unrecognized villages. During the tour we will visit the three types of communities and hear about the unique difficulties and challenges of these communities. In addition, we will be exposed to local initiatives aimed at improving the situation and tackling the range of difficulties and challenges in the areas of education, welfare, health, and economics.

Brackish Water organized by Ron Kasher, BIDR

The purpose of the tour is to get to know the phenomenon of brackish groundwater in the Arava region, a place that is far from the national water network, where brackish water is used for agriculture.  

Ecohydrology in Ramon Center organized by Elli Groner, Dead Sea and Arava Center

Healthy Placemaking Meets Climate Change: organized by Nadav Davidovitch, Ben Gurion University of the Negev (BGU), & Maya Negev, University of Haifa

A Practical Seminar to learn new healthy placemaking methodologies showcasing various communities in the Negev as examples and case studies.

 

Practical Methods for Rainwater Harvesting and Watershed Management in Semi-Arid and Arid Regions Tour organized by Asaf Karavani & Shani Rohatyn-Blitz, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL)

A tour of KKL’s successful work in the restoration of streams and plantings in the Negev Desert and in particular the Mahsani forest.

Renewable Energy Management in the Negev Highland  organized Moshe Herzberg, BGU

The purpose of the tour will be to view the different types of renewal energy plants located in the Ramat Negev area. The Ashalim power plant which has 3 different types of energy production will be toured as well as talk with Marom Energy, who are planning on building a 45 million NIS  solar project on Bedouin lands in the Negev.

Viticulture: How Desertification and Climate Change Affect Wine Making organized Aaron Fait, BIDR

The purpose of the tour will be to convey the challenges of the Negev region regarding the climate crisis. This area is a model that can serve as a example for other regions that are experiencing warming and droughts due to climate change.

Skip to content