2000. Sustainable Regional Development, Case Study: The Hula Project (Israel). Paper presented at the 40th European Congress of the European Regional Science Association

The dilemma of creating sustainable jobs is a major problem in regional development. This objective lead to opposite policies: in the early 1950’s to draining of a marsh and in the mid 1990’s to re-creating the marsh. In both cases the environmental arguments and the job situation were leading to what seemed as ‘the sustainable solution’. In the early 1950’s the Hula, a wetland in the Upper Galilee (in Northern Israel) was drained. It was hoped that besides solving the environmental ill effects of mosquitoes it would provide many jobs in agriculture. The forty years that passed showed that the solution of one environmental problem created others, not less severe, and has not solved the employment problem. The environmental problems encountered include nitrification of Lake Kinneret, the main source of drinking water in Israel, a loss of endemic species, etc.. The quick deterioration of land caused agriculture to become not profitable, and the employment opportunities in the region decreased. In the mid 1990’s the area was partly re-flooded. The recreated marsh includes islands and is designated to become a tourists ’ and recreationists ’ attraction: safari, birds ’ sanctuary, hotels, etc. We studied the recreational patterns in the area, and expect recreation to generate impacts on the economic situation in the area at large. The paper discusses expected recreation in the Park, the region, and impact on demand for hotel stays. Regional development and environmental quality must be balanced, otherwise the growth will be short termed. A sustainable impact requires to consider both environment and economic development.