Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael Jewish National Fund
Home page » Forestry and Ecology » International Day of Forests
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KKL-JNF's Afforestation Program
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 Yatir Forest in the Negev, Israel's largest planted forest. Photo: KKL-JNF Photo Archive
| A forest is more than just a cluster of trees; it goes beyond the sum of its parts. Forests are complex ecosystems, home to a myriad of plants and animals. No two forests are the same; young and old, broad-leafed and conifers, temperate and desert.
Each forest has a spirit all its own, and a unique character.
For many years, KKL-JNF was synonymous with planted pine forests in Israel. As awareness of the importance of biodiversity grew, KKL-JNF's approach to forestry changed. Today’s forests barely resemble those of the past – they are varied and open, providing a welcoming home to a broad range of plants and animals, and serve as wonderful recreation sites. KKL-JNF is also committed to forestry research to improve the quality of its trees, to develop environmentally friendly methods of dealing with pests, prevent erosion and desertification, and create forests that people can enjoy.
 The Carmel Forest is slowly healing. Photo: Yoav Devir
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To date, KKL-JNF has planted over 240 million trees for the benefit of people and the environment and maintains over 100,000 acres of natural woodland. KKL-JNF forests, among the largest planted forests in the Mediterranean Middle East, are a source of substantial carbon sequestration. Since its inception, KKL-JNF policy has been to open its forests and parks to the general public, and with the help of its friends worldwide, KKL-JNF has developed over 1000 recreation areas that host hundreds of thousands of visitors. Many of KKL-JNF's sites are fully accessible to the physically challenged, and to wheelchairs and baby carriages. If at the beginning of its history, KKL-JNF concentrated primarily on covering the bleak Israeli countryside with a carpet of green forests, in recent years the emphasis has been on care and maintenance. Forests change – trees grow older, fires break out and sometimes aggressive pests attack. To keep its forests healthy and thriving, KKL-JNF has developed a top-notch firefighting system and early-warning network, and it rehabilitates burnt areas. KKL-JNF also invests in forestry research devoted to finding innovative solutions to problems such as desertification.
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Community Forests
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Community Forests bring nature into the city, improve health and contribute to the community’s social fabric. Together with KKL-JNF, residents create and take care of facilities for recreation and leisure in forests near their homes.
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