Northern Israel has become an intense battlefield, arguably more so than the southern regions post-October 7. The relentless skirmishes with Hezbollah have inflicted a devastating toll on the environment. Trees, agricultural lands, and especially wildlife are the silent victims of this conflict. "Restoration will take years," experts lament.

An Unprecedented Environmental Catastrophe

Since the beginning of the year, more than 12,800 acres of nature reserves and natural areas in the Golan Heights and Upper Galilee have been scorched by Hezbollah’s rocket and missile fire. This grim tally has surged dramatically in the past two weeks, reflecting the escalating hostilities.

Northern Israel is on fire from Hezbollah rocket fire. Pray for Israel. 🇮🇱 pic.twitter.com/WFvQZlQAqD

— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) June 15, 2024

Vast Areas Reduced to Ashes

According to data from the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, the Upper Galilee has suffered approximately 7,400 acres of damage, while the Golan Heights has seen around 5,500 acres ravaged by fire. Astonishingly, about half of these burned areas are within nature reserves and national parks, with the rest comprising open spaces and forests.

In stark comparison, the incendiary kites and balloons launched by Palestinians in Gaza in 2018 resulted in 3,212 acres of reserves and national parks burning. The current devastation in northern Israel is nearly double, with 5,930 acres of protected lands torched since the start of 2024.

Why is the world silent? Children, women, schools, and hospitals in northern Israel are in danger. As Muslims and Arabs, we strongly condemn Hezbollah's terrorist attacks on civilians in Israel tonight. Fires are raging around Tzfat, where Muslims, Jews, and Christians live,… pic.twitter.com/SEKH22qNyX

— Amjad Taha أمجد طه (@amjadt25) June 13, 2024

Ecosystems in Peril

Amit Dolev, an ecologist for the Northern District at the Israel Nature and Parks Authority, expressed uncertainty about the long-term effects of these fires. "The ecosystem has been dealing with fires for thousands of years, but their intensity and frequency are now higher. We still don’t know the long-term consequences. The vegetation will usually regenerate by next year. Many trees regenerate after a fire, but some, like cypress and pine, do not. Due to the intense and widespread fighting we are experiencing today, the extent of the fires is large. We can’t reach most places," he said.

There's a reason why 800 people might flee this Lebanese village but the BBC won't say it out loud.

Hezbollah deliberately fires rockets from within Christian villages to draw an Israeli response. But it's far easier to portray Israel as indiscriminately bombing civilians. 🧵 https://t.co/N4Sj8275i1

— HonestReporting (@HonestReporting) June 16, 2024

Wildlife: The Invisible Casualties

The fires have taken a severe toll on wildlife. Small animals, such as reptiles, often cannot escape the flames. Larger animals, like wild boars, may flee but face a depleted food supply. "It’s hard for us to know what this does to them," Dolev adds, "but surely they will have less food available. We all hope that after the rains of the coming winter we will see fewer fires. Tabor oaks will usually manage to regenerate, even if they experienced a large fire, but it will take them many years to reach their former state."

Relentless Flames and Heroic Efforts

Fires reignited on Friday in the north, and by Saturday, additional blazes erupted in Nahal Dishon and the northern slopes of the Golan Heights due to hostile exchanges. The Israel Nature and Parks Authority’s teams have been battling these complex fires, often under the threat of rocket attacks. In the Yehudiya Nature Reserve, flames reached the entrance of the site but were ultimately extinguished by the dedicated efforts of the teams.

The war with Hezbollah is just in its initial stages, and 52k dunams of nature reserves and forests in northern Israel have already burned due to rocket fire from Lebanon. Video from Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights, which is Israel’s richest wildlife and plant habitats. pic.twitter.com/dFZce8L2g8

— Alexey Amunts (@A_Amunts) June 16, 2024

A Bleak Outlook

"Thousands of acres have burned. We know that some areas burned with intense fire, and others less so," says Eran Heims, director of the Upper Galilee region at the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. "Ultimately, every area that burns also destroys the habitat of wildlife and vegetation. We try to reach the fire center as quickly as possible as soon as it starts, but it is important to understand that our work is carried out in areas where there are rocket falls."

Conclusion

The environmental devastation in northern Israel is a stark reminder of the broader human and ecological costs of the conflict. As the fires rage on, the path to recovery remains uncertain, with nature and wildlife bearing the brunt of this ongoing struggle.