Since its establishment, "the Negev Center for Regional Development" has led a variety of unique projects with proven contribution to the region. The center has initiated and promoted several studies and spatial surveys, held conferences for professionals and academics, and published various papers dealing with different development issues in the Negev region. As such, the center was situated as a leading research institution in the field of spatial development.
The Negev is a region in South Israel, with semi-arid to arid climate conditions. It constitutes about 60% of Israel's total land area, but populates less the 10% of its population. The region population is socially and culturally diverse living in cities, towns, and rural settlements, and the Negev Bedouins living in recognized and un-recognized settlements. Since Israel was established the Negev has counted as the periphery of Israel, and in spite of formal declarations and operational programs to develop the region, it is still mostly regarded as an underdeveloped periphery. Recently however, governments have identified the Negev as a prioritized region for development to realize its potential. Various development projects and investments are at different operational stages nowadays. Such projects and their similars have social and environmental impacts, alongside with their economic contributions.
Regional development of the Negev is one of the core fields studied at "the Negev Center for Sustainability". Several activities are being initiated and promoted by the center, aim to identify and inspect legacy processes that have designed the present of the region, to review different development practices and understand their potential contribution to the well being of the region's residents, and to promote sustainable development within the region. The center renews past activities and promotes new initiatives, that will take into consideration intricate interactions between human and natural systems in the Negev, including preservation of desert habitats, assessment and preservation of cultural and social diversity, and promotion of economic development.
