The Jerusalem Post | By: KKL-JNF Staff | GPE – January 15, 2018:
An ancient land with new ideas for reclaiming ecosystem services and combating desertification.
Humans have lived in all regions of Israel, including the semi-arid and arid ones, since before Biblical times, with varying degrees of success. Some societies succeeded in developing very effective water-management systems and sustained prosperous economies even under relatively harsh climatic conditions. However, in the last hundred years, human activities and overexploitations of natural resources have driven the land toward desolation, producing severe land degradation, erosion, and salination.
Since its establishment in 1948, the State of Israel has embraced issues of sustainable land management and has adopted public policies designed to restore, develop, and manage its natural resources. About 240 million trees have been planted, particularly in the Mediterranean and semi-arid regions. Regulations have been introduced to control grazing and ensure effective water management. Due to these activities, Israel is one of the few countries in the world that has more trees now than it had a century ago.
After the first “pioneering” stage of afforestation in Israel, which was initiated at the beginning of the 20th century the Israeli Forest Service, KKL (Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael), updated a forest management policy, which includes actions encouraging the adoption of sustainable forest-management practices of the local planted forests.
In 1995 the Israeli Government ratified the National Master Plan No. 22: Forests and Forestry (NMP 22). Approval of this plan expanded KKL jurisdiction to areas beyond those of the planted forests. This plan gave a statutory status to 8% of Israel’s land, ensuring its continued existence for future generations.
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