Hundreds of millions of birds migrate between Europe, Asia, and Africa twice each year. Today, Israel is the lone refueling station left on their grueling journey.

But Israel’s habitats are disappearing. Without them, the consequences would be devastating.

TO SUCCEED, THEY NEED YOU.

VIEW THE STORY BEHIND START-UP NATURE

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THE FUTURE OF THE FLYWAY IS IN YOUR HANDS

Your partnership with Start Up Nature will establish the Yossi Leshem Wildlife Sanctuaries, a network of world-class, biodiversity-managed rewilded wetland sites that will:

Secure the future of migration for hundreds of millions of the world’s birds

Support critical biodiversity spanning three continents

Generate an estimated $4.5M in tourism revenue each year

Attract 150,000 visitors annually

Start-Up Nature creates a win-win solution where both Nature and humankind can thrive, while overcoming the challenge of sustainable habitat restoration in population-dense, industrialized areas.

SPNI.

SPNI. Your Partner in Innovative Conservation.

For more than 60 years, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel has been Israel’s most influential and trusted conservation organization. SPNI has shaped the face of Israel for future generations, protecting Israel’s natural spaces through ground-breaking scientific research, policy, and public awareness campaigns.

Start-Up Nature will be led by Dan Alon, SPNI’s Director of Nature Protection and Environmental

Conservation. Dan Alon is the world renowned visionary behind the Hula Lake Reserve, co-founder of the Champions of the Flyway International Birding Race, and one of TIME Magazine’s Heroes of the Planet (1999).

For more than 60 years, the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel has been Israel’s most influential and trusted conservation organization. SPNI has shaped the face of Israel for future generations, protecting Israel’s natural spaces through ground-breaking scientific research, policy, and public awareness campaigns.

Start-Up Nature will be led by Dan Alon, SPNI’s Director of Nature Protection and Environmental Conservation. Dan Alon is the world renowned visionary behind the Hula Lake Reserve, co-founder of the Champions of the Flyway International Birding Race, and one of TIME Magazine’s Heroes of the Planet (1999).

RESEARCH PARTNERS

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START-UP NATURE'S VISIONARY DONORS

Join visionary donors on a bold initiative to revolutionize conservation in the modern world.

Dan Pava

Campaign Chair, US

Yoav Ben Yaacov

Campaign Chair, Israel

Rabbi Paul Citrin

Committee Member, US

Martin Lowenstein

Committee Member, US

INITIAL FUNDING PARTNERS

  • Open Landscape Fund
  • Ministry of Tourism
  • Ministry of Finance
  • The Ministry for the Development of the Periphery, the Negev and the Galilee
  • Ministry of Jerusalem and Heritage
  • The Goldberg Group, Toronto
  • Kibbutz Kfar Ruppin
  • Kibbutz Maagan Michael

OUR GOAL

PHASE I

$4 million raised

  • Initial funding secured
  • Lease has been signed with Kibbutz Kfar Ruppin
  • Construction has begun and reservoirs have been flooded
  • Lease has been signed with Kibbutz Maagan Michael

PHASE II

$11 million raised

Your phase of the plan

  • These funds will permanently sustain the first two sites of Start-Up Nature’s revolutionary conservation model.

$15 Million

PHASE I

$4 million raised

  • Initial funding secured
  • Lease has been signed with Kibbutz Kfar Ruppin
  • Construction has begun and reservoirs have been flooded
  • Lease has been signed with Kibbutz Maagan Michael

PHASE II:
YOUR PHASE OF THE PLAN

$11 million raised

  • These funds will permanently sustain the first two sites of Start-Up Nature’s revolutionary conservation model.

$15 MILLION

GIVING LEVELS

Your partnership in Start-Up Nature will ensure the permanence and long-term success of these critical sanctuaries, and your ever-present support will be recognized by all visitors to the sites for generations to come.

START-UP NATURE NAMING OPPORTUNITIES*

Kfar Ruppin

  • Kfar Ruppin Birding Center
  • Riverside Wetland
  • Jordan Valley Birding Center
  • Osprey Pool
  • Bee-Eater Trail
  • Stork Pool
  • Purple Heron Pond
  • Egret Pond
  • Kingfisher Pond
  • Purple Heron Hide
  • Bunting Pool
  • Kingfisher Hide
  • Little Owl Meadow
  • Bee-Eater Ridge

Kfar

  • $6,000,000
  • $2,500,000
  • $1,500,000
  • $1,000,000
  • $1,000,000
  • $1,000,000
  • $1,000,000
  • $500,000
  • $500,000
  • $250,000
  • $250,000
  • $150,000
  • $100,000
  • $100,000

Maagan Michael

  • Maagan Michael Birding Center
  • Sandpiper Lagoon
  • Pelican Lagoon
  • Maagan Michael Gateway
  • Education Center
  • Tern Island Lagoon
  • Gull Lagoon
  • Research Center
  • Sea Turtle Lookout
  • Sandpiper Hide
  • Warbler Pool

Maagan

  • $6,000,000
  • $1,500,000
  • $1,500,000
  • $1,500,000
  • $1,250,000
  • $750,000
  • $750,000
  • $500,000
  • $500,000
  • $400,000
  • $150,000

*Each naming opportunity is available as one unit only.

Learn More.

Click below to learn more about Start-Up Nature and how you can take an active, innovative role in protecting and securing a globally critical migration flyway.

Case for Support
Funding Proposal

SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURE IN ISRAEL

+972(0) 3 638-8648
international@spni.org.il

  • Yossi Ben Artzi, Chair
  • Iris Hann, CEO
  • Dan Alon, Director, Nature Conservation and Environmental Protection
  • Jay Shofet, Development Director

NATURE ISRAEL™
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURE IN ISRAEL

1 (800) 411-0966
aspni@aol.com

  • Jonathan Silverstein, Chair
  • Robin Gordon, Director, Member Relations
  • Jessica Lewis, Director, Marketing and Development

THE CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION OF NATURE IN ISRAEL

1 (416) 917-6648
info@cspni.ca

  • Carl Mandel, Chair
  • Avi Sadiv, Executive Director
  • Michael Meyer, Development Director