Forests for People

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A ‘near-native’ type of forest ecosystem is currently

evolving, embodying elements of the pioneer afforesta-

tion plantings, mostly pines, along with a regenerating

native Mediterranean oak maquis.

Afforestation in semi-arid regions

Afforestation is practised on a large scale in the semi-arid

regions of Israel as part of the effort to combat deserti-

fication and to rehabilitate degraded areas, as well as to

provide ecosystem services for the people residing in the

Negev, the Southern region of Israel. It is based on plant-

ing drought resistant species and on proper management

of soil and water resources. There are two main planted

forest types in the Northern Negev, depending on the

topography and soil characteristics. The first type is

common pure, even-aged Aleppo pine forests, mostly

planted on hilly slopes. These forests were densely

planted in the past, about 3,500 seedlings per hectare.

Today, the planting density is about 1,500 seedlings per

hectare. These forests are gradually thinned to leave only

300 to 500 trees per hectare. The second type is sparse

planting (‘savanization’) of native species such as

acacias

and tamarisk, and exotic species, mostly

eucalypts

– up

to 200 seedlings per hectare, on moderate slopes, plains

and valleys.

This type of forest depends on water harvesting,

based on ancient methods used by farmers in the Negev

for food production. Today, modern techniques and

knowledge provide the soil with the moisture needed

to grow planted trees, natural shrubs and herbaceous

vegetation. Runoff water, harvested on slopes along

Afforestation and reforestation in Israel’s Mediterranean

and semi-arid zones

Israel is divided into three phytogeography regions: the Mediterranean

region, the Irano-Turanian region (semi-arid) and the Saharo-Sindi

region (arid). The Mediterranean region has a yearly average rainfall

of over 400 mm, which in the North may reach 1,000 mm or more.

The mean annual temperature is 19

C. This area is characterized by

natural Mediterranean oak trees, pistachio, Aleppo pine and carob.

The Irano-Turanian region extends from the Beersheba district in the

Northern Negev to the high elevations of the Negev Mountains. The

average rainfall in this region ranges from 150 to 400 mm and the mean

annual temperature is 20-23

C. Isolated pistachio (

Pistacia atlantica

)

and Christ’s thorn (

Zizyphus spina-christi

) are native to this region.

The Saharo-Sindic region extends in the south up to the Red Sea, and

includes the southern part of the Jordan Rift. The average annual rain-

fall varies in this region from 25mm to 150 mm and the mean annual

temperature is 25

C. Tamarisks grow sporadically or in groups in the

sandy and partly salty soil and

Acacia

in oases and wadis.

Afforestation and reforestation in the Mediterranean region

The first generation of the afforestation project in the Mediterranean

region was mainly based on pure, even-aged Aleppo pine forests,

which were established on hills and mountains. Aleppo pine was

later replaced by brutia pine because of its susceptibility to pests.

In the coastal plain and valleys,

eucalypts

dominate the planted

forests, which were the outcome of a massive national programme

to reclaim and restore Israel’s degraded Mediterranean landscape.

Over time, a more complex set of forest stands evolved resulting

from the re-colonization of native tree and shrub species into the

understory, the diversification of simplified stand structures, and the

planting of mixed species.

Thousands of scenic roads, observation points, hiking and biking trails and natural parks have been developed

Image: KKL Archive