Forests for People

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contour terraces, is a renewable and sustainable resource, which

can be provided to the planted sites even during droughts. Terraces

are up to 0.7 metres high and the distance between terraces ranges

from 8 to 25 metres. Excess runoff water flows through a spillway

system, avoiding erosion damage during extreme rain and flood

events. Trees and pasture are developed along the terrace.

In areas with rainfall below 100 mm, trees are planted in limans

(ponds) constructed in wadis and valleys. Limans are dammed sites,

into which floodwater flows to the planted trees. The area of limans

usually ranges from 0.2 to 0.6 ha and is supplied by watersheds

10-100 times as large. They can be used for recreation, fuel or shade.

Implementing water harvesting methods and afforestation on a

watershed scale provides a means for flood and erosion control.

Controlled grazing reduces fire hazard and provides additional

runoff for planted trees. Soil-conservation measures, such as gully

head and bank control and proper drainage of cultivated areas, are

major components in the rehabilitation effort.

Natural forests in Israel

Nearly one third of the forests in Israel are unplanted ‘natural forests’.

They are mostly composed of Mediterranean vegetation, similar to the

Californian maquis or chaparral. In protected sites, there are large trees

of the same species that grow in the maquis areas. This indicates that

maquis formation is the outcome of centuries of overcutting, overgraz-

ing and fires. Natural forests are mainly located in the mountain regions

in the central and northern regions of Israel and cover about 40,000 ha.

The main tree species in the maquis areas are oaks (

Quercus calliprinus

Quercus boissieri

and

Quercus ithaburensis

Pinus halepensis

Ceratonia

siliqua

Pistacia palestina

and

Cercis siliquestru

Ecosystem goods and services from planted forests

Israeli forests, both planted and natural, are multifunctional, ecological

landscape systems, which are managed for multiple services to the public

and ecology of their surrounding regions. The primary goal

of KKL is to protect the planted and natural forest resources

and maintain quality forested environments.

Timber production

In Israel, forests are not planted for timber production,

but there has been some wood production as a result

of forest management (thinning, sanitation operations

and clear cutting after fires). The timber serves mostly

for firewood and some industrial uses. As a result of

the rising cost of fuel and other energy resources, the

demand for firewood has increased significantly. In the

last five years, a programme has been run in rural areas

to provide families with free firewood from the forests.

Non-wood/timber products such as mushrooms, fruits

and herbs are also collected on a small scale.

Grazing pasture

Most of the forests in rural areas are used for grazing,

mainly for cattle, but sometimes for sheep and goats. In

open spaces, special groves are being planted to provide

shade for animals as well as for honey production.

Recreation and tourism

KKL provides recreation and tourist services, park infra-

structure and sustainable development for the more

than 12 million people who visit the forests every year.

Thousands of picnic sites, scenic roads, observation

points, hiking and biking trails, playgrounds, natural parks

and historic sites have been developed or reconstructed,

all open to the public free of charge. KKL has initiated

‘e-yarok’, a green newsletter that offers information on

activities, field trips and cultural activities in the forests.

The oases and wadis are home to groves of trees that provide welcome shade to people and animals

Image: KKL Archive