JNF starts the rehabilitation of the fire-ravaged forests
Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF) has begun the rehabilitation process of forests and open areas that were damaged in the current wave of fires.
Revival of plants following the massive fire in the Carmel in 2010
Credit: KKL-JNF Archive
KKL-JNF forest management policy, emphasising the natural rehabilitation process of the forest. KKL-JNF is preparing for a long restoration process at the end of which the forest will be naturally rehabilitated according to the topography
The damaging wave of fires last week destroyed about 4100 acres or 16.6m square mtrs of KKL-JNF forests, from them seven 7,500 Dumans only in the Jerusalem hills. In total the area devastated by the fires is 10,131 acres or over 40m sq mrs,
KKL-JNF work crews have started the rehabilitation process, which includes several important stages. The rehabilitation process takes place in accordance with KKL-JNF’s forest management policy, which includes experience acquired from previous similar fires, scientific studies, and lessons learned from the Carmel fire as well as fires in the Naftali Hills and Sha’ar HaGai.
These days KKL-JNF foresters are estimating the damages, starting with detecting dangers from burnt materials, and monitoring surviving trees to protect them from parasites. A full rehabilitation will take many years, but actions will already be taken in the first four years following the fires.
In the first stage, which has already begun, KKL-JNF work crews monitor the scope of the damage, remove safety hazards and reduce the risk of soil erosion. Taking into consideration aspects of scenery and esthetics, ground preservation, accessibility and implementation capacity/feasibility. Estimated time is several weeks.
KKL-JNF personnel estimate that the removal of the burnt materials can take up to four years.
In addition, as part of the monitoring activities, KKL-JNF work crews locate surviving trees in the burnt areas, and start operations to withstand damages from pests. The surviving trees will shape the view in the first years of the forest’s rehabilitation, their survivability is essential to the re-development of nature.
In the next stages, estimated to take between two to four years, the relevant bodies will decide the scope of the planting, should it be required. This decision will be made depending on the situation on the ground – the survivability of the tress and their natural rehabilitation, following which, a long-term forest management plan will be prepared specifically. KKL-JNF believes that this fire can be utilized as an opportunity for renewal and a natural rehabilitation of ancient infrastructure and terraces.
During the rehabilitation process, KKL-JNF will explore the possibility of increasing the accessibility of forest areas to the public as well as the establishment and renovation of resting areas.
