Sunday, October 3rd

Conservation of the Tremendous Diversityof Wildlife and Plants in Israel

Exploring Climate Change Solutionsin Arid & Semi-Arid Landscapes

14:30-16:30 Presentations

Bird Migration Including Raptor RehabilitationDr. Ohad Hatzofe

Conservation of Endangered Species - Effective Monitoring andIn-Situ ConservationDr. Noam Leader

Reintroduction of Locally Extinct Species (such as Arabian Oryx)Dr. Tal Polack

Technology for Monitoring and Enforcement of Wildlife Conservation, & the Preventionof Human-Wildlife Conflict Dr. Noam Leader & Dr. Simon Nemtzov

Wildlife GPS Alert System to Fight Against Poisoning and other Factors that are Endangering Wild Birds Dr. Ohad Hatzofe & Dr. Simon Nemtzov

Panel discussion

Speakers are joined by Dr. Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary General, Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) Dr. Umberto Gallo-Orsi, Coordinator of the Memorandum of Understanding on theConservation of Migratory Birds of Prey in Africa and Eurasia (Raptors MOU)

Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael (KKL-JNF)& The Ministry of Environmental Protection cordially invites you to a hybrid seminar on:

October 3-5, 2021Thematic Week: Climate Change and BiodiversityLocation: Events Room, Israel Pavilion, EXPO Dubai The event will be hosted digitally by webinar(links for registration next to each session)

17:30-18:30 KKL-JNF Introduction: Innovating Sustainable Solutions

How will the Global Change affect Biodiversity in the Middle EastProf. Marcelo Sternberg, Tel Aviv University

18:30-18:45 Coffee Break

18:45-19:45 Short Presentations

Forests in Israel as a Biodiversity Conservator Ms. Shani Gleitman, Forestry Division, KKL-JNF

The Agamon Hula Wetland: Turning an Environmental Challenge into a Regional OpportunityDr. Doron Markel, Chief Scientist, KKL-JNF

Bird Migration in a Changing ClimateMr. Yaron Charka, Chief Ornithologist, KKL-JNF

19:45-20:00 Coffee Break

20:00-21:00 Evening Event: A Billion Wings Across the Great Syrian African Rift Valley

Keynote Presentation: Agamon Hula Wildlife Rehabilitation CenterMr. Yaron Charka, Chief Ornithologist, KKL-JNF

Celebrating Bird Migration - Photograph Exhibition

Sunday, October 3rd

Biodiversity as a Driving Force to Mitigate Climate ChangeDigital Venue

Register Here

Digital VenueRegister Here

The Interaction Between the Forest and Climate Change

Monday, October 4th

KKL-JNF as a Living Laboratory for Natural BasedSolutions (NBS) for the Climate Crisis

10:00-11:00 Keynote PresentationSustainable Reforestation as a Driver for Climate Change MitigationProf. Dan Yakir, Weizmann Institute

Mobilizing Institutional Investments in Agriculture and Forestry to Mitigate Climate

ChangeMr. Anas BaChar, CEO 12Tree Impact

11:00-11:15 Coffee Break

11:15-12:30 The Interaction Between the Forest and Climate Change

Rehabilitation of Deserted Areas – NBS for Climate Crisis: the KKL-JNF Experience Mr. Yotam Perlman, Southern Region Forester, KKL-JNF

The Climate Forest: A Multi-Sectoral Approach to Urban AfforestationMr. Daniel Katz, The Good Energy Initiative

Preparation of Sandy Soil in Sudan for agriculture - A proposal by Ein Mahil Comprehensive School, as part of the ISDGs CompetitionDr. Doron Markel, Chief Scientist, KKL-JNF

12:30-13:30 Lunch Break

13:30-16:00 KKL-JNF Supports Cleantech and Climate Technologies for a Brighter Future

KKL-JNF Acting Against Climate Crisis: Introducing KJCCC (KKL-JNF Climate Crisis Center)Dr. Doron Markel, Chief Scientist, KKL-JNF

Introducing Israeli Climatech Companies

Agri-Light Energy: A leading agri-voltaic technology developer providing clean energyand sustainable farming innovationMr. L. Elisha Rubin, Executive Chairman & Founder

Setpoint: Climate intelligence platform revolutionizing indoor climate automation in commercial buildings for personalized indoor climate comfortMr. Iftach Cohen, CEO

Watergen: Patented atmospheric drinking water (AWG) technology that creates high quality drinking water from air for people everywhereMr. Michael Rutman, Co-CEO & Mr. Roni Litinetsky, Vice- President of Sales

Homebiogas: A world leader in developing groundbreaking, simple-to-usebiogas systems which enables people and businesses around the globe toturn their organic waste into self-made clean energy, on-siteMs. Chen Levy, Head of B2C Department

SeeTree: Digital platform built to create a new level of sustainability and environmental efficiency for our planet by optimally utilizing nature's most precious resource: treesMr. Israel Talpaz, CEO & Founder

Nostromo Energy: Enables integration of more renewable energy and supports the power grid during peak hours, with the latest energy storage technology for space cooling, which accounts for almost half of the peak demand for electricityMr. Yaron Ben Nun, President, CTO and Founder

mPrest: Decarbonization, decentralization, digitization, and democratization of energyMr. Guy Wiess, Vice President of Sales

18:00-18:15 Greetings

Ms. Tamar Zandberg, Minister of Environmental Protection, Israel

Mr. David Merage, President of the Merage Foundation Israel

Dr. Jonathan Menuhin, CEO of the Israel Innovation Institute

18:15-19:00 Introducing the Challenges and Opportunities of the Desert

1. A taste of the DeserTech MarketplaceOnline platform connecting desert-related challenges with cutting edgetechnological solutions

2. PanelHarnessing technology for regional collaboration and prosperity

Mr. Ivano Iannelli, Board Member, ESG FoundationMrs. Galit Cohen, Director General, Ministry of Environmental Protection Mr. Josef Abramowitz, CEO, Gigawatt GlobalModerated by Mrs. Nicole Hod Stroh, Executive Director of the Merage Foundation Israel

19:00-20:00 Launching the Merage DeserTech CompetitionA flagship annual event designed for innovative technologies that address global desert challenges. This year the competition invites companies from the UK, the Netherlands and Israel to offer their technological solutions for desert challenges.

Competition OverviewMs. Sinai Gohar Barak, Ecosystem Development, DeserTech Community

Dutch Companies Adapting to Arid ClimatesMr. Jasper Van Mastrigt, First Secretary Water & Climate, the Netherlands Embassy in Israel

Why Waterlogged Netherlands is Interested in Climate Adaptation Technologies for Arid LandsExpert Speaker from the Netherlands pavilion

With Over 170 Rainy Days in 2020 – Why Would the UK be Interested in DesertTechMrs. Keren Shurkin, Head of UK Science and Innovation Network, Israel

Monday, October 4th

The Merage International DeserTech Competition Launch EventDigital Venue

Register Here

Technology Combats Desertification

20:00-21:30 KKL-JNF & Ministry of Environmental Protection Cocktail EventIn the Presence of the Israeli Minister of Environmental Protection & KKL-JNF ChairmanMC: H.E Ambassador Gideon Bachar,Israel MFA Special Envoy for Climate Change and Sustainability

10:00-10:20 Opening

Ben Gurion University's Activity on Desert ChallengesProf. Dan Blumberg, Vice President for Regional & Industrial Development,Ben Gurion University (BGU)

Presenting the DeserTech InitiativeMs. Galit Cohen, Director General, Israeli Ministry of Environmental Protection

10:20-11:00 Advanced Research at the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert ResearchTED talks by BGU researchers

GroundwaterProf. Noam Weisbrod, Director, the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research

Greywater ReuseProf. Amit Gross, Director, the Zuckerberg Institute for Water Research

Desert AgricultureProf. Naftali Lazarovitch, Director, French Associates Institute for Agricultureand Biotechnology of Drylands

Urban Planning & Energy in a Desert EnvironmentProf. Evyatar Erell, Bona Terra Department of Man in the Desert

11:00-11:20 Climate Challenges Perspectives (recorded messages)

1. H.E. Tamar Zandberg, Minister of Environmental Protection, Israel

2. Prof. Jeffrey Sachs, Director, Center for Sustainable Development, Columbia University

3. Mr. Ibrahim Thiaw, Executive Secretary, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD)

4. Tentative: H.E. Mariam Almheiri, Minister of State for Food & Water Security, United Arab Emirates

11:20-11:30 Coffee Break

11:30-12:15 Expert Panel on Climate & Health

Prof. Itai Kloog, Department of Geography, BenGurion University of the Negev, Beersheba

Prof. Raanan Raz, School of Public Health, Hebrew University, Jerusalem

Dr. Lena Novack, Negev Environmental Health Research Institute, Soroka Medical Center& Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba

Moderated by Prof. Victor Novack, Negev Environmental Health Research Institute,Soroka Medical Center and BenGurion University of the Negev, Beersheba

12:15-13:00 Panel Discussion & ConclusionSpeakers respond to Climate Challenges Perspectives & Questions from the Audience

Tuesday, October 5th

DeserTech Conference:Innovative Solutions for Pressing Challenges in Arid Climates

Digital VenueRegister Here