As a renowned global leader in afforestation in semi-arid regions, and the struggle against desertification, KKL-JNF represented Israel at the 13th United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF13) held in New York in May.
The United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF) is an intergovernmental forum for forestry policy. Forum members include all the UN member states, as well as permanent members, the Forum’s secretariat, and several organizations in the field of forestry. The Forum was established in 2000 by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The 13th session of the Forum, held in New York from May 7 to 11 of this year, focused on implementation of the UN Strategic Plan for the Forests (UNSPF) 2017-2030, with an emphasis on their contribution to the United Nations sustainable development goals (UNSDGs) for the year 2030.
The State of Israel is a member of the Forum on Forests, and its official representative is KKL-JNF’s chief forester and Head of Forest Department
Dr. David Brand.
Dr. David Brand said: "We work closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Israeli delegation to the UN, with the goal of ensuring that the
forests will continue to be healthy for both the current generation and the generations to come. The Afforestation Division's participation in the Forum on Forests is part of the ongoing activities of the Land Development Authority, in which senior professionals represent KKL-JNF on the subject of afforestation and the environment in various international forums."
This year, the Forum on Forests discussed the states’ commitment to the sustainable development goals (UNSDGs) for the year 2030, as defined by the United Nations.
Aviram Zuk, KKL-JNF’s Upper Galilee and Golan Regional Director, read a statement in the UN assembly emphasizing Israel's commitment to the sustainable management of forests in accordance with the targets set out in the UN Development Goals.
Asaf Karavani, Coordinator for Research and Foreign Relations at KKL-JNF's Afforestation Division, noted:
"KKL-JNF has reason to be proud of its involvement in the writing, planning and monitoring of international policy documents on afforestation and the environment. This enables the implementation and integration of international ecological standards in the management of
forests and open spaces under its responsibility, which correspondingly contributes to Israel’s attainment of the United Nations sustainable development goals for 2030. Consequently, it positions KKL-JNF in line with the afforestation services of the most developed countries, and promotes its branding as the most significant green organization in Israel, consistently leading and encouraging sustainable natural resources management in accordance with international conventions."