Prof. Dror Halana talks about lizards, wars, oil disasters, nature conservation in general, and his love for the desert. An interview with the incoming Chief Scientist of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority about the challenges of the role
By Tomer Atir, Angle - Science and Environment News Agency

Do you know the children who play naturalists, and the wildlife outside attracts them more than their studies at school? Maybe you were, or have, such children? Then know that those dreamers can go far. That is exactly what Prof. Dror Balana of the Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, Institute of Life Sciences at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, who recently took on the role of Chief Scientist of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority (INPPA), was like.
"At the age of 14, I began researching wild boars in Carmel. Since my performance in school was not so-so, they decided that the research would be the basis for a thesis. Prof. Heinrich Mendelsohn and Dr. Dan Baharav agreed to guide me and were my connection to the academic world and the [Nature and Parks] Authority, which was then called the Nature Reserves Authority. As part of the work, I helped local inspectors with the issue of illegal hunting," says Balana in a special interview on the occasion of his new position.
And even before the army, you also dealt with tigers.
"Before the army, I came to Ein Gedi to volunteer for the authority's research on tigers. After the army, when I was a ranger at the Ein Gedi Reserve and then a regional ranger, I was responsible for tigers in the Judean Desert. The last one I saw in 2006 was a tiger that I named Khariton after the father of the nuns in the Judean Desert, because even then it was clear that there were no females left. Unfortunately, as far as we know, there are no tigers left in the country."
What animals do you currently specialize in? What is special about them?
"I studied biology at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, and during my undergraduate degree I did a thesis with Prof. Amos Buskila. We looked at how KKL-JNF plantings affect reptiles like the Beersheba spotted lizard. That's when [they] defined it as an endemic species, meaning they split it off from the North African species. It turned out that it was a species found only in Israel, and critically endangered "This is our Be'er Sheva panda."
Balena continued to research the topic, and in his doctorate he examined how planting trees affects the risk of predation experienced by the skunks. "There is nothing special about the Beersheba lizard, like most animals. But every animal that you start to deal with in a more focused way becomes very interesting, and the more you study it, the more interested you become. When I started researching this species, I saw that the young individuals have a blue tail and stripes. I was sure that it was a different species; I was convinced that I had played with it and that I had found a new species. But it turned out that they only hatch with a blue tail and stripes, and within about two or three weeks they change their body pattern to spots and their tail to brown. The study of the Beersheba lizard taught us that planting trees in desert areas can cause a phenomenon known as an 'ecological trap.' According to which, lizards migrate to areas where their survival is lower, which can cause the population to collapse in nearby natural areas as well. In order to save this special species, we promoted the Helles Park Reserve, which is a primary refuge for this species and other species such as the great jerboa and its relatives."

What do you do as the Chief Scientist at the RTG? How do you bring the research to fruition in the field?
"The role of the Chief Scientist and the Science Division is to scientifically direct the Authority's activities in aspects of nature conservation. We have many professionals who work in various fields, and we are the factor that integrates the rich and diverse activities of the National Park Authority. In a country full of pressures and problems, this is a great challenge. In national parks, whose role is to absorb an audience and serve the public, we make sure that they are run well and that we receive benefits for nature conservation. In nature reserves, the situation is completely different, and there the goal is actually to preserve nature, while making it accessible to both the public and research."
What challenges in nature conservation have you identified recently?
"Habitats are managed actively or passively. This means that even when we decide not to actively engage with them, it is a management decision. Inaction is also a policy. The lack of space is the number one threat factor in the country. Everything begins and ends with space, because if we did not have any habitat (I'm not even talking about its type), it is clear that many of the species that live in the country would no longer be able to live here. This is especially true with regard to flat habitats such as the loess plains in the northern Negev or the thorny plains in the Arava, which are in demand for urban and agricultural development and are less visually impressive [and richer in species]. The phenomenon known as the 'rock and ice syndrome' (protection "The Tel Aviv region is known worldwide for its attractive places for scenic views or for adventurers, regardless of its biodiversity. In Israel, it's on steroids. A major challenge for us is to protect the [diverse] habitats; preserving them will preserve many species."
Does nature conservation also have a positive side?
"Nature conservation, by definition, has no positive side. It's loss management. As long as the world's population keeps growing and the quality of life keeps improving, we need more resources. In nature conservation, we try to preserve as much as possible so that in the future – if we learn to do things right, and the situation stabilizes – there will be something to bequeath to those who come after us. We try to slow down the deterioration.
"The work in nature conservation is frustrating and Sisyphean. Nature conservation is not mentally rewarding work. Even if you succeed, then you never succeeded. Losing is easy: once you lose, you lose. If they decide to build a city on an area you wanted to preserve, then the story is over – you lose. And even if you manage to make it a protected area, you don't necessarily win. The threats don't stop. Even if you've already declared a reserve and managed to manage it, global issues come along, and it's possible that everything you've done will be affected by something beyond your control."
Wars, for example?
"Before we even talk about damage from the fighting itself, we are talking about the need to address direct and indirect hazards created by military activity. In the early stages of the fighting, hasty decisions were made without regard to the environment, which resulted in significant damage as a result of the breaching of roads, the establishment of defenses, and deployment and assembly areas."
"In terms of rehabilitation, I separate the north from the south because of the soil and the rock. In the south, there are loess plains and areas that are easier to physically rehabilitate than in the north, where the topography is different. There are challenges from the direct effects of war (such as frequent fires) and indirect ones (such as the entry of stray dogs that endanger wildlife and an increase in jackal populations that increases the risk of rabies and other diseases, which could lead to harm to wildlife as a result of poisoning). Unfortunately, many layers of problems have developed, and currently all of them must be dealt with simultaneously with physical rehabilitation."
What about the issue of transporting oil through the Gulf of Eilat?
"Any accident or [pollution] incident in the Gulf would damage one of the most important natural assets we have – the coral reef. In the event of a significant spill in the Gulf, it is an immediate and absolute threat – we will lose it. This would be irreversible damage to nature and would bring an end to nature tourism in this area. It is important to remember that the coral reef in the Gulf of Eilat is one of the most important in the world, as it is less sensitive." For whitewashing events".
In early December, the Israeli government canceled the policy "Zero additional risk" In the Gulf of Eilat. Following this decision, the EPAC will be able to increase the amount of oil that arrives by ship to Eilat and is distributed through pipelines to the Mediterranean Sea. "We have already seen that disasters happen and when they happen they are very, very big. These pipelines pass through the most sensitive places we have in the Negev, and any malfunction will cause a disaster – like in Evrona or the Zin Valley."
What attracts you most about Israeli nature?
"Personally, I love the desert very much." He says that this love led him to his current position, as well as to one of his previous positions where he served as the ecologist of the Southern Barat District. He also says that it is a seemingly simple system, but with a low repair capacity - due to the lack of water - which makes it sensitive and intriguing. "The understanding of processes in the desert is based on understanding gained from other ecological systems, and it turns out that this is not necessarily true." He adds that the research literature treats the desert as a marginal system - which is a shame. "I think we are missing a lot. Focusing on this system in particular might teach us how other systems can work."
"Many of the fathers of desert exploration came from Israel," he boasts, noting the Prof. Emanuel Noy Meir The late and Prof. Moshe Shahak, who received a lifetime achievement award from the Israeli Society for Ecology and Environmental Sciences last September. "Much of the knowledge that exists in the world about desert ecosystems comes from here. I am excited to continue the work of these research giants."
In this regard, he explains, we have a great advantage and the opportunity to stand out and advance the field. "We are such a small country that within an hour and a half to two hours, from anywhere, you can reach the desert. Unlike other deserts where you have to work hard and there is a problem with infrastructure, it is easy to do research in the desert here." In addition, Balana mentions that we are a Western country with resources, and also with good nature conservation. For these reasons, he explains, Israel can use the knowledge accumulated here to help other countries facing similar challenges.
Our conversation brought up quite a few frustrations regarding nature conservation. Is there anything optimistic to conclude?
"The beauty of nature conservation is that people with passion and creativity can make a real and significant difference in nature conservation. Many of the successes of nature conservation in Israel are the initiatives of individuals who inspired others. Every person can make a change even if they are not involved in the issue professionally, through personal conduct such as collecting waste and adhering to the rules designed to protect nature for all of us." Balana sees great importance in reporting hazards, in order to address them and prevent their recurrence. He gives an example of a recent poisoning incident, in which 17 jackals and a hyena were found dead, which were found by hikers. Evidence of previous incidents was found at the same spot, and as a result of the report, criminal action can be taken against a serial poisoner.
"If the public is aware and cooperates, it will help a lot. We have a volunteer division at the RTG, and people who want to help can take part. These are activities of cleaning, enforcement and research. If anyone wants to lend a hand, it is welcome."
More of the topic in Hayadan: