The KKL-JNF has many sites and forests that were damaged in the northern region: Biriya Forest, Harei Naftali Forest (Ramim Ridge), Nabi Yusha Keren Naftali Forest, Bar'am Forest, Meron Forest, Rosh HaNikra Forest (Ladder Ridge), Kachal/Amiad Forest, Golan Heights Katzrin Forest, Daliot Forest, Seleucia Springs, Hanita Forest (Matzuva).
Since the start of the war about 20,000 dunams have been burned in these areas as a result of enemy ordnance impacts. KKL-JNF estimates that after they reach all the areas (which are currently declared closed military zones), the damage will increase even more.
The tour began in Biriya Fortress, from which the entire northern region can be viewed and the enormous damage that occurred was apparent at a glance. The KKL-JNF Chairwoman, Ifat Ovadia-Luski, Shelly Ben-Ishay, Northern Regional Director at KKL-JNF and Eli Haputa, the Galilee-Golan Regional Director at KKL-JNF, shared what the organization must deal with on a daily basis, how things are done in the field, and the difficulty in handling multiple fires simultaneously.
Later on, Rami Zariski, the Supervisor for Forest Fire Safety in Emergencies at KKL-JNF presented the operating methods and the great efforts made in order to put out all the fires. During the meeting, the Regional Command Center was shown for managing large fires and the "Tinshemet" technological development, which enables precise photographing of the area. The Firefighting Department of KKL-JNF includes 26 fire trucks and 300 KKL-JNF employees, who deal with firefighting in addition to their professional position. The Department takes an active role in putting out forest fires throughout Israel. There is full cooperation with the security forces, Israeli Police, IDF, local authorities, alert squads, firefighting and rescue teams, and NPA.
Later on, a meeting was held with Yaron Cherka, the Chief Ornithologist at KKL-JNF, on the issue of fire damage and their impact upon nature and animal life. Cherka presented the enormous damage to animal life in the forest including the bird population. While the adult birds can save themselves and fly to other nesting areas, the young birds are not yet able to fly and are therefore burned in the nest. In addition, due to the fires, the many reptiles and short-toed snake eagles whose nests have not been damaged, have a harder time finding food.
At the Arik Shamir Observatory, a meeting was held with Ilan Tibi, Director of the Grazing Unit at KKL-JNF, and with Amir Bader from Safed who, raises cattle in the Naftali Mountains and in the area of the Biriya Forest and with Lior Haber, who raises cattle in the Lower Galilee. The cattle ranchers attested to the enormous damage they have sustained during the war, and the Great deal of aid given to them by KKL-JNF. They are dealing with damage amounting to tens of millions of shekels, the burning of the herbarium forces them to buy food for their herds at astronomical costs.
The enormous damage to cattle also undermines the nutritional security of the country and the ecological balance. The herds of cattle and sheep located in the forests are managed by the Grazing Unit of KKL-JNF, which was established in order to deal with the number of forest fires that have increased dramatically in recent years. The herds in the open areas of KKL-JNF feed on the flammable herbarium, thus preventing about 80% of fires in open areas. Due to the damage and danger in the area (miscarried calves, herds that scattered and disappeared from the area and animals that were burned), KKL-JNF provided aid such as a mobile stockade and fences as an alternative for protecting the grazing area.
At the end of the tour, a meeting was held with Eitan Lavel, Director of "Bat-Ya'ar" Farm. Lavel attested to cooperation with the residents of the neighboring Amuka, who assist in preserving the farm and act in order to create a firebreak within the forest in order to prevent fires from reaching the area and contain it. Lavel added that due to the situation, the farm has not been in operation since the start of the fighting, and it does not receive any aid from the state in participating in the upkeep of the place, which entails a large financial investment. The farm is located 10.4 kilometers from the border, but the government decided that any entities and localities located within 9 kilometers of the border will receive aid.
Regional Control Center for Managing Forest Fires. Photograph: Michael Huri, Public Relations Department, KKL-JNF