American Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (ASPNI)

ASPNI is the US non-profit supporting The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI). SPNI (in Hebrew HaHevra Haganat HaTeva) is the oldest and largest environmental organization in Israel. 2023 marks its 70th anniversary. Nature Israel was founded in 1986 by 4 well known American environmentalists (Dan Singer, Rafe Pomerance, Brent Blackwelder and Henry Diamond) and has a mission to educate the American public about the nature of Israel and the environmental protection work of SPNI, and to support this work through environmental advocacy and fundraising. Over the past 37 years, Nature Israel has supported environmental programs, legislation and education critical not only to Israel, and today is more relevant than ever to fight biodiversity loss and climate change. 

Respected by Guidestar (Gold Status) and Charity Navigator (3 stars), we are a cherished and time-tested brand that annually contributes significantly to SPNI’s environmental protection. This includes SPNI sites such as the Jerusalem Bird Observatory, over ten Israeli field schools, the Gazelle Valley, the Levi Eshkol House and a growing number of rewilded habitats for the 500 million birds migrating twice yearly. SPNI is also a leading organization for environmental advocacy, creates new protected nature sanctuaries on and off shore, maintains the Israel National Trail and runs countless educational and outdoor programs for the Israeli public to assure that Israel’s wildlife, open spaces and urban nature are loved, enjoyed and maintained. SPNI is a part of the fabric of Israeli society and benefits all life in the region, 2 legged (humans), 4 legged, winged, scaled, and all things that live and grow.