DEFINITIONS, SOURCES AND METHODS
ENDANGERED SPECIES
Definitions
According to the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources).
Number of species: The number of species of vertebrates living in the wild in Israel since
the beginning of the 20th century (including extinct species).
Species not in danger of extinction: A species that is not exposed to a grave danger of
extinction in nature. This category includes the following levels of risk: 1) vulnerable; 2) near
threatened and least concern.
Species in danger of extinction: A species that is exposed to a grave, or very grave, risk of
extinction. This category includes the following levels of risk: 1) endangered; 2) critically
endangered.
Species that have not been assessed: A species for which there is insufficient or
unavailable information for determining its level of risk. This category includes the following
levels of risk: 1) data deficient; 2) not evaluated.
Extinct species: The cumulative number of species that have become extinct since the
beginning of the 20th century. The data on extinction relate to becoming extinct on a local
level; therefore, there may be cases in which there is a drop in the number of extinct species,
due to the return to the wild of certain species by humans, or due to the natural return of
species from other areas.
Sources and methods
2002 data have been obtained from "The Red Book of Vertebrates in Israel".1 1987 data
were obtained from the publication "The Names of Vertebrates in Israel".2 1975 data were
obtained from "The Survey of Extinct and Endangered Plant and Animal Species in Israel".3
Because the data has been collected by researchers from various fields, and are based on
subjective assessments and various methods of categorization, there is a need for caution in
comparing data between the various periods.
1
Ed.: Amit Dolev and Avi Prevolutzky, published by the Nature and Parks Authority and the Society
for the Protection of Nature, 2002.
2
Ed: Shoshana Ashkenazi and Edna Haham, published by the Nature and Parks Authority, 1987.
3
Moshe Agami, published by the Institute of Nature Protection Research, Tel Aviv University, 1975.
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SALINITY AND LEVEL OF GROUNDWATER IN THE MOUNTAIN AND COASTAL AQUIFERS
Definitions
Salinity of groundwater: The salinity value (concentration of chlorides in milligrams per liter
of water) is the average of measurements carried out several times during the year at various
points.
Groundwater level: The height of the water surface, in meters, above sea level, in selected
drillings.
Aquifer: A permeable, water-conductive, underground layer which makes possible the
creation of natural, underground water reservoirs (groundwater). The water source of the
aquifer is the penetration of rainwater, and of irrigation runoff. Israel has seven aquifers:
coastal, mountain (Yarqon-Tanninim), Western Galilee, Carmel, Kinneret, eastern mountain,
the Negev and the Arava. The two main aquifers are the coastal aquifer and the mountain
aquifer (Yarqon-Tanninim).
Coastal aquifer: The aquifer stretches from Binyamina in the north to Nir Am in the south. In
the east the aquifer is bordered by the foothills of the mountains and the plain of the central
mountain ridge, and in the west by the Mediterranean. It has a good collection capacity, and
is fed by rainfall, artificial recharging of flood water and from effluents at selected sites.
Mountain aquifer (Yarqon-Tanninim): The aquifer stretches from the ridges of the Judea
and Samaria hills to the east and reaches the Mediterranean coast in the west. In the north,
the aquifer is bordered by the southern slopes of the Carmel and Tanninim Stream. In the
south, it is bordered by the Be’er Sheva Valley. The main flow of water to this aquifer is from
the Rosh HaAyin and Tanninim Stream springs.
Sources and methods
The data is obtained from administrative files of the Water Authority, and are based on the
Hydrological Service measurements.
EMISSIONS OF GREENHOUSE GASES
Definitions
Greenhouse gases: Gases in the atmosphere that can be penetrated by ultraviolet solar
radiation. These gases absorb infra-red radiation emitted by the earth. The infra-red radiation
that is absorbed by greenhouse gases turns into heat, which causes global warming.
Emissions of greenhouse gases: The amount (in tons) of the three main greenhouse
gases – carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide – that are emitted per year.
Carbon dioxide: A greenhouse gas created by complete combustion of materials containing
carbon.
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Methane: A greenhouse gas created by the breakdown of organic waste under anaerobic
conditions (without oxygen) in landfills and sewage purification plants; animal digestion
processes, mainly those who chew their cud; and anaerobic decomposition of animal
secretions.
Nitrous oxide: A greenhouse gas created by the combustion of fossil fuels, as well as by
microbic processes in land and on water, caused by the use of fertilizers containing nitrogen.
Sources and methods
Emission data for 1996 and 2000 were obtained from the Air Quality Division, Industry
Cluster, of the Ministry of the Environment. The 1996 data were taken from the publication
"Inventory of Emissions and Removals of Greenhouse Gases in Israel"4 and the 2000 data
were obtained from the publication "Greenhouse Gases in Israel, Inventory Update of
Emissions and Removals for 2000”.5
Emissions data for 2003 – 2006 were calculated by the CBS according to directives of the
IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (except for cases in which local
coefficients were developed), based on data from a variety of sources.
POPULATION DENSITY IN THE MEDITERRANEAN COASTAL REGION
Definitions
Population density: The number of people per sq. km. of land.
Population density in a locality: Total number of population in the locality, divided by the
size of the locality.
The Mediterranean coastal area: In accordance with international definitions of a coastal
area, the localities included in the indicator are localities on the coastline of the
Mediterranean within Israel’s boundaries, which include all the localities bordering on the
coast within local authorities, regional authorities or in municipalities whose area of
jurisdiction borders on the coastline.
Urban locality: A locality whose population numbers 2,000 residents or more.
Sources and methods
The calculation was performed according to population data at the Central Bureau of
Statistics and data on the authorities’ area of jurisdiction, based on the geographic layer of
the areas of jurisdiction that appear in the records of the Ministry of the Interior.
4
Jean Koch, Uri Dayan and Abraham Mey-Marom, published by the Ministry of Enviromental
Protection, 2001.
5
Jean Koch and Shlomo Shafat, published by the Ministry of Enviromental Protection, 2002.
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FORESTED AREAS
Definitions
Forest: Land with at least 10% of its area covered in trees, and whose size is over 5 dunams
(according to the OECD).
Forest area: Forest area in Israel, including planted forests under the care of the Jewish
National Fund (Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael), as well as natural forests.
Sources and methods
The data is based on various administrative sources used by the Central Bureau of Statistics,
and data from the Jewish National Fund.
The data of international comparisons are obtained from FAO (Food and Agriculture
Organization) data.
RATE OF MOTORIZATION
Definitions
Private vehicle: A vehicle that is not public or commercial, nor two-wheeled.
Passenger vehicle: A private vehicle, taxi or minibus that has up to eight seats (in addition
to the driver’s).
Rate of motorization: The number of motor vehicles per 1,000 residents (permanent
residents at the end of the year).
Sources and methods
The calculations are based on the vehicle file of the Ministry of Transportation’s Licensing
Division, and on annual population data.
The data of international comparisons are obtained from IRF (International Road Federation)
data.
RATE OF EXPENDITURE ON FOOD BY DECILES OF INCOME
Definitions
Household: A group of people living together in a dwelling, on a permanent basis, most
days of the week, and who have a joint budget of expenditures on food. A household can
comprise one person or more, as well as people who are not related.
Decile of income: A group that includes 10% of all households. Households are arranged by
income level (classifying income), beginning with the household with the lowest income in the
lowest decile, and concluding with the household with the highest income in the highest
decile.
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Expenditure on food by deciles: The ratio between the expenditure of a household on food
consumption, and the net total income of that household. The population is divided into
income deciles, and for each decile a calculation is made of the percentage of the
expenditure on food consumption out of the total income of the household.
Sources and methods
Data on food expenditures were obtained from the Household Expenditures Survey that the
Central Bureau of Statistics conducts on an ongoing basis.
Income data are based on the integrated sample of the Income Survey and Household
Expenditures Survey that the Central Bureau of Statistics conducts.
LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH
Definitions
Life expectancy at birth: The average number of years that a newborn is expected to live,
assuming that the existing mortality rate of all ages will remain permanent throughout its
lifetime.
Sources and methods
The data are based on the Central Bureau of Statistics’ population estimates, and on the
Ministry of Health’s "Live Birth Certificate" and "Death Certificate" forms.
The data of international comparisons were obtained from a report by the World Health
Organization.
INFANT MORTALITY
Definitions
Infant: A newborn who has not yet completed one year of life.
Infant mortality: The number of infants who died per 1,000 live births.
Sources and methods
The data are based on the Central Bureau of Statistics’ population estimates and on the
Ministry of Health’s "Live Birth Certificate" and "Death Certificate" forms.
The data of international comparisons were obtained from a report by the World Health
Organization.
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HOUSEHOLD WASTE PER CAPITA
Definitions
Household waste: Waste generated by household usage – food scraps, packaging
materials and spoiled or outworn products. The indicator presents data on amounts of
household waste produced per capita per day.
Expenditure on private consumption: Sum of the expenditure on household consumption,
as well as the consumption expenditure of non-profit institutions that serve households, and
whose main expenditures are not financed by the government sector.
Sources and methods
The data on household waste is based on reports obtained by the Central Bureau of
Statistics from local authorities, and data from the Ministry of the Environment.
Data on the per capita expenditure on private consumption are composed of estimates of
expenditure of households and non-profit institutions, calculated by the Central Bureau of
Statistics.
The calculation of the indicator is based on waste data and data on private consumption
expenditure, divided by the average, annual size of the population, based on population data
of the Central Bureau of Statistics.
The data of international comparisons are based on OECD publications.
ENERGY CONSUMPTION PER CAPITA
Definitions
Energy consumption per capita: The per capita use of energy in the economy. The unit of
measurement of the data was determined as 107 kilocalories, and is equal to 1 ton of oil
(TOE – Tons of Oil Equivalent). Conversion into this unit is based on the net caloric value of
various energy products.
Sources and methods
The data on crude oil and its products are based on reports from the Israel Fuel Authority, oil
refineries, large consumers of fuel products and fuel companies, as well as data from the
Central Bureau of Statistics.
The data on electricity are based on reports of the Israel Electric Corporation and manufacturing
enterprises that have power stations with an output of 300 kilowatts per hour and over.
The calculation of the indicator is based on energy consumption data divided by the size of
the average, annual population, based on the Central Bureau of Statistics population data.
The data of international comparisons are based on World Bank publications.
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GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT PER CAPITA
Definitions
Gross Domestic Product (GDP): The sum of the gross value added of all domestic
manufacturers in manufacturer prices, with the addition of net taxes on imports (taxes on
import less export subsidies) and unreturned VAT, or similar taxes levied on the
manufacturer price, such as purchase tax.
Sources and methods
The data are based on Central Bureau of Statistics calculations, which rely on surveys and
administrative sources.
The data of international comparisons are based on OECD publications.
RATIO OF EXTERNAL DEBT TO GDP
Definitions
External debt: The total current, non-conditional liabilities, which will be paid in future by
debtors who are Israeli residents to creditors who are foreign residents, by payments of the
capital and/or interest.
Ratio of external debt to GDP: External debt divided by the GDP.
Sources and methods
The data are based on Central Bureau of Statistics calculations, which rely on surveys and
administrative sources.
The data of international comparisons are based on EUROSTAT publications.
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