KKL-JNF, The National Fire and Rescue Authority, Israel's Nature and Parks Authority, Ramat HaNadiv, Israel Defense Forces, The National Security Council and Regional Councils Representatives Join Forces in Fighting Fires

The conference, organized by different parties who are in charge of fire prevention and firefighting in Israel, had 140 professional participants.

Commissioner of Israel's National Fire and Rescue Authority Eyal Caspi presented the challenges that the authority faces in time of climate changes, a representative of Israel Meteorological Service presented a prediction of fires until the end of the century, and the fire-prevention policies of KKL-JNF, the IDF and Israel's Nature and Parks Authority were presented. Different case studies we also discussed, including the 2021 fire at the Judean Mountains that could not be reduced in size despite preliminary preparations, the survival of the Eitanim Hospital while fires were burning around it, and the changes in preparations following the Carmel Mountain fire of 2010.

Gilad Ostrovsky, KKL-JNF Chief Forester and manager of the KKL-JNF Forestry Division presented the resources and actions that KKL-JNF devotes and takes to prevent fires and reduce their number. "Establishing buffer zones and maintaining them is now a top priority at the forestry work plan for 2023."

Dr. Yehoshua Shkedy, the Chief Scientist of Israel's Nature and Parks Authority called for an urgent change in the current situation, and argued that so far, attempts at establishing buffer zones in Israel have not been successful despite the 2021 Judean Mountains fire proving their efficiency in fire prevention.

In the concluding discussion, chaired by Professor Avi Perevolotsky, the different participating parties have made an urgent call to improve their mutual work interfaces and establish a national organization with representative from each participating organization.