International Conservation Group Faces False Accusations of Land Grabbing for Israel
The international volunteer organization TiME (This is My Earth), which purchases valuable natural areas worldwide to protect them, was recently targeted by a Mexican social media influencer with false anti-Israel claims. Brenda Zavala accused TiME of being an Israeli organization aiming to seize local lands globally and exploit their resources for Israel. Uri Shaines, a zoology professor and TiME founder, refuted these allegations in an interview with ynet, explaining that TiME is an international nonprofit established about 10 years ago to conserve biodiversity hotspots through crowdfunding. Anyone worldwide can donate as little as one dollar to help buy and preserve critical natural areas, with 100% of donations going directly to land acquisition and protection.
Shaines detailed that TiME works with local and indigenous communities who legally own and manage the lands, reporting regularly on their condition. The organization has acquired land in 12 locations across South America, Central America, Africa, and Asia, including a recent project in Colombia. He emphasized that claims about extracting water or minerals for Israel or profiting from carbon credits are completely false. The viral video reached over 150,000 viewers with many supporting the influencer’s accusations, but TiME’s partners, including local landowners in Peru’s Amazon rainforest, were shocked and chose not to respond publicly.
Shaines acknowledged the challenge of handling such misinformation but noted the incident also brought some positive exposure. He plans to attend an international conservation conference in Mexico next year to present TiME’s work. According to Shaines, each donated dollar protects about 20 square meters of forest and prevents approximately 700 kilograms of carbon emissions. The organization’s land purchases are vetted by an international scientific committee, ensuring genuine conservation efforts. TiME continues to expand its global conservation projects despite the recent unfounded accusations.
