Eco-System Restoration at Project Wadi Attir

A Guided Tour at the Project Site

This tour brings you to a recently established 40 hectare model sustainable farming project near

the Hura Bedouin community. The project, a joint initiative of the New York based Sustainability

Laboratories and the Hura Municipal Council, showcases implementation of holistic sustainability

principles developed by The Lab.

Following four years of planning and capacity building, the last two years have seen intensive

action on the ground, with watershed management, biosphere conservation and tree planting

efforts transforming a piece of degraded wasteland into a lush, biodiverse and green oasis, that in

the near future will also provide a sound economic base, job opportunities and income from

organic livestock management, medical plants and health related products, eco-tourism, and

further business opportunities in agriculture, and environmental education.

Project principles:

Sustainable dryland development;

Soil conservation and improvement;

Organic agriculture

Waste recovery and reuse;

Renewable energy;

Biodiversity conservation and restoration;

Community based socioeconomic development;

Greenhouse gas and energy balance,

The tour comprises 11 stations – approximately 2 hours on an easy terrain

Water and hat required!

Contacts and enquiries:

Dr. Michael Ben Eli: michael@sustainabilitylabs.org

Dr Stefan Leu: stefanleu3@gmail.com

Fig. 1: Wadi Attir site and tour description

Station 1:

Panoramic site overview at view-point near the future visitor’s center

Subjects addressed:

Left stream and terrace agroforestry

Central stream agroforestry and windbreak

Irrigated pasture (Alfalfa) with interspersed wind-break limans

Traditional Bedouin dryland agriculture across the river

Medical plants and traditional crops

Agro-Industrial complex

Fig. 2: Left stream correction, agroforestry and soil and water conservation

Fig. 3: Central stream correction, agroforestry, windbreak and soil and water harvesting

Station 2:

Importance of trees and watershed management:

Slopes without vegetation get crusted, rain accelerates to energies sufficient to dig gullies and

wadis; raindrops fall with great energy, loosen and break soil surface;

Erosion is the key mechanism in desertification leaving infertile rock unable to absorb and store

water;;

Terraces or dams stop water runoff, reducing flowing speed and soil erosion;

Trees provide litter to increase soil water infiltration and reduce runoff;

Tree canopy reduces speed of rain-drops to limit damage to soil;

Trees reduce wind speed to reduce dust erosion in summer;

Trees fix nitrogen, enhance soil fertility and growth of annual vegetation for grazing; Nitrogen

fixation – Acacia;

High value agroforestry;

Flowering and bees;

Resins and oils;

Fig 4: High value resins, high value oil, agroforestry, nitrogen fixation and soil improvement by native and

nectar trees, in limans 1-3;

Fig, 5: Native dryland agroforestry, nitrogen fixation and soil improvement, native biodiversity and nectar

trees in Limans 13 – 15:

Fig. 6: Runoff-control and water harvesting by low invasive soil conservation measures;

3. Waterfall-pool biodiversity reserve (no entrance, no disturbance allowed):

Rocky slope, dry waterfall and a temporary pond;

Shrubland and Wadi vegetation;

The importance of biodiversity for desertification control and agriculture:

Animal species of interest to observe:

Plant species of interest:

Rare and protected plants

animals;

birds

Topography and geology

runoff intensity and solution

Fig. 7. A dry waterfall provides an unique ecosystem with abundant protected plants and a significant

reptile population;

Fig. 8: Those two late blooming protected species provide blooming into the dry summer months;

4. Olive grove, antique byzantine farm, recovering rocky shrubland –

biodiversity hotspot and panoramic view:

Byzantine farm and view-point:

Settlement of the Negev during the Byzantine Period

Geography and routes

Olive grove with soil and biodiversity recovery

Tree crops of the past

Strategy and security

Plant and animal biodiversity

Rare plants

Ecology of arid shrublands;

Fig. 9: Ruins of byzantine farm near olive orchard;

Fig 10: Recovering rocky shrubland and biodiversity reserve

Fig 11: Recovering animal biodiversity in restored vegetation;

5. View-point agroforestry

View and explanations on soil conservation;

Erosion in loess soil and restoration;

High value agroforestry species – Argan – Marula - Moringa;

Soil improving trees;

Some trees and their functions;

Traditional farming, soil erosion and gullies across the river;

Soil restoration and runoff control by A. victoria

Fig. 11: Native agroforestry trees in water harvesting terraces

6. Stone-age site, loess and riverine biodiversity reserve

A short but ancient side valley is full of archeological finds; now in part terraced for water harvesting and

erosion control;

Fig. 12: Pottery remains and Stone Age tools are abundant along the slopes of the valley;

Fig. 13: The conserved loess plain and valley are maintained as biodiversity rich reserves;

7. Dam and antique agriculture terraces, riverine biodiversity

Model of restored byzantine farming system

Water harvesting and terrace agriculture in ancient agriculture;

Biodiversity along major Wadi now and then;

Fig. 14: An ancient rock dam apparently built to stabilize agricultural terraces along the river. The

rock barrage damming the river may have served to create a temporary reservoir during winter.

The Wadi is a major through-route for grazing livestock, and vegetation is greatly depleted;

Fig. 15: The variable topography and riverside vegetation nevertheless provide a diverse and

dynamic sight throughout the year;

8. Antique farm house

Farm remains;

Pottery styles and abundance;

Agricultural exhibits;

Crops of the past;

Dryland farming in the course of time: wheat, sheep and goats;

Olives, figs and grapes;

Conserved biodiversity hotspot in loess plain.

Fig. 16: A byzantine farmhouse likely exploited the nearby dam and agroforestry terraces;

Fig. 17: The protection of the antique site also includes protection of some diverse loess plain

vegetation;

9. Riverine biodiversity reserve and soil conservation

• Conserved versus degraded soil;

• Geography and geology;

• Importance of biodiversity conservation in agriculture and pest control;

• Conserved vegetation along small Wadi, followed by conserved loess formation with

antique rocks;

• Agroforestry and biodiversity;

• Windbreaks and honey

Fig. 18: A small Wadi crossing the site (central stream) has been causing massive erosion during

the last five years. The most eroded areas were filled and terraced, the central parts are conserved

as biodiversity reserves and demonstration site.

Fig. 19: A manure covered patch (left) shows the maximal productivity, producing about 10 times

more biomass than the control area shown to the right.

10. Byzantine Farm 2:

View on other farms, explanation on past farming;

Conserved plots, dryland fruit trees;

Wind-break – soil conservation and fodder limans;

Fig. 20: An ancient byzantine farm near a small Wadi, an antique site conserved also for its

interesting biodiversity

Fig. 21: This site is surrounded by wind break limans with fodder trees, native nitrogen fixing

trees and honey trees and shrubs to rapidly grow and provide wind break and soil protection

functions;

11. Medical plants

• Drylands and medical plants;

• Bedouin medical plant traditions;

• Facts or fiction, the science of medical plants;

• Stories: Achilles and Achillea;

• The economic potential of medical plants;

Fig. 22: Various medical plant species are already successfully cultivated at Wadi Attir project