Yossi Leshem

Researcher at the Department of Zoology of the Faculty of Life Sciences of Tel Aviv University, and creator of the International Center for the Study of Bird Migration, in Latrun, Israel

Professor Emeritus of the School of Zoology at Tel Aviv University, Leshem is the founder of the International Center for the Study of Bird Migration. He researches the migration of birds and the ecology of breeding birds of prey for 45 years. He led the national effort in Israel to use owls as biological agents of pest control in agriculture, significantly reducing pesticide use, and led an extensive research project in cooperation with the Max Planck Institute in Radolfzell (Germany) to track migratory storks using transmitters.

Since 1996, Prof. Leshem has created a series of successful joint projects with Jordanians and Palestinians using owls as biological agents of pest control in agriculture combining education, research and nature conservation. The project has become a national and regional project with 4,500 nesting boxes that have drastically reduced the use of pesticides in the region. Now, Prof. Leshem leads a trilateral project with Cyprus, Greece and Israel on the same subject. In parallel, he works with the Office of the Chief of Staff of Israel to implement the project “Forces of Nature Defense – Commanders Take Responsibility for Their Environment.”