KKL-JNF at the 10th UN Forum on Forests

The 10th UN Forum on Forests began on April 8, 2013, in Istanbul, Turkey. The delegation of experts from Israel attending the conference includes representatives from the Israel Foreign Ministry and from KKL-JNF. The focus of the forum this year is forestry and economic development.

Israel became a member of the directorate of the UN Forum on Forests (UNFF), as a member of the OECD, and in view of this function is in the forum administration. KKL-JNF personnel will be participating in the course of the conference at a round table discussion on the topic of forests and economic development, and will also be holding a side event on the issue of forest and landscape rehabilitation in Israel, which will feature a video on the subject and include lectures given by the KKL-JNF members of the delegation, Mr. Gill Atsmon, Forest Manager in KKL-JNF's Northern Region, and Mr. Aviv Eizenband, Director of KKL-JNF's Forestry and Professional Development Department

Forests begin as small saplings at KKL-JNF's tree nurseries. Photo: KKL-JNF Photo Archive

The State of Israel and KKL-JNF have always appreciated the value of forests, and over the years, have turned Israel into an innovative forestry laboratory. As a result of theoretical and applied research, Israel has accrued comprehensive knowledge and experience in the field of forestry and ecosystems. By means of active policies for the rehabilitation of forests, preservation, and sustainable maintenance of forests, Israel is one of the only countries in the world with more trees today than one hundred years ago.

There will be delegations from 193 countries attending the UNFF this year. The Israel Foreign Ministry has been working in recent years on involving Israel in the global agenda of the UN. Agriculture, forestry, water and combating desertification, along with sustainable development, which are KKL-JNF's main fields, merit Israel acclaim and visibility.

A liman growing in the desert.