Razia Zehavi
Northern District Planner, Israel Nature and Parks Authority
Razia Zehavi is the northern district planner of the Israel Nature and Parks Authority. She develops plans for areas that the state will declare as national parks and nature reserves. Razia manages a team of six workers who work with government agencies and private institutions to resolve short- and long-term planning conflicts regarding development and construction on undeveloped lands. These include matters related to expanding existing towns and industrial areas, installing wind turbines and other renewable energy facilities, extending Route 6 in the North, rehabilitating streams and valleys, and more. Razia coordinates a multidisciplinary district planning team of representatives of the Authority who specialize in ecology, infrastructure, development of public access, and environmental planning, to formulate the Authority’s positions and present them to state planning agencies. Her vision is to implement a balanced environmental planning approach in all government ministries involved in national planning, in order to protect Israel's nature, heritage, and unique landscapes. Razia wants the next generation of Israel, which is expected to have a population of around 16 million by 2040, to enjoy a good quality of life while respecting the natural environment. Razia holds a master’s degree in urban and regional planning from the Technion. She is married, a mother of three, and lives on Kibbutz Yuvalim.