More than 1200 square kilometers of planted forests and 4000 square kilometers of natural scrubland were burned, some 12,000 buildings were hit by rocket attacks, and some 20,000 square meters of asbestos structures were damaged during the recent war in the North. These are only some of the findings of a special report released by the Chief Scientist of the Ministry of Environmental Protection on the environmental damages of the war. According to the report, released on August 27, 2006, some 400 fires broke out as a result of rocket hits in more than 1200 square kilometers of planted forests in Israel?s North, with some of the worst damage caused to the Naftali mountain range, where 70% of the forest was burned. The direct costs of extinguishing these fires exceeded 20 million shekels ($4.6 million). In addition, some 50 fires destroyed about 40 square kilometers of natural scrublands in open spaces, of which 12 square kilometers were in nature reserves and national parks. In the wake of the fires, widespread damage was caused to flora and fauna, including reptiles, birds and young mammals. Within the built-up environment, some 12,000 buildings were damaged as a result of rocket hits, 400 of them public buildings. The Prime Minister's Office estimates that some 2,000 buildings/apartments were totally destroyed. It is estimated that between 100,000 to 700,000 tons of construction and demolition waste will have to be crushed and landfilled, at a cost of about 50 shekels per ton for landfilling and 30 - 65 shekels per ton for crushing. Assuming that 85% of the waste will be landfilled in authorized sites in the Haifa and North regions, the total cost will reach 4.25 million shekels for landfilling and 0.9 million shekels for crushing (low estimate) or 30 million shekels for landfilling and 6.3 million shekels for crushing (high estimate). Yet another problem highlighted in the report is the damage caused to 25 asbestos structures due to rockets launched from Lebanon into Israel during the war. The destruction of asbestos-cement structures, including industrial, agricultural and residential buildings, led to the release and dispersion of asbestos fibers into the air. Based on current data, it is estimated that a minimum area of 20,000 square meters of asbestos structures was damaged. Monitoring within a bedroom within one of the damaged buildings showed measurements of 2,300 asbestos fibers/cubic meter (in comparison to the recommended guideline of 1,400 fibers/cubic meter for ambient exposure to asbestos). It is estimated that treatment of damaged asbestos structures, including professional removal and disposal of the asbestos, will reach tens of thousands of shekels. Direct damage was also caused to the Safed wastewater treatment plant due to a hit while several wastewater treatment plants, including the ones in Nahariya, Haifa, and Karmiel were forced to dispose of sludge to sea or to release biogas to the atmosphere due to safety considerations. In addition, hits and leaks were reported in various facilities storing hazardous substances including canisters storing liquefied petroleum gas, ammonia, CFCs, pesticides, diesel and other unidentified hazardous substances. In addition to damage to life and property, animal rights groups and local authorities invested major efforts in finding and picking up some 500 - 700 abandoned dogs. In total, some 8000 dogs in the North received some form of veterinary treatment. A few dozen dogs died in the streets because help was not immediately accessible.
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