KKL-JNF: 113 Years of Green Action

2014 was a complex year for Israel. The incessant barrage of missiles that were fired on Israel from the Gaza Strip led to Operation Protective Edge, and KKL-JNF supported the residents of Israel's southern region by providing portable bomb shelters, organizing respite tours to its sites throughout the country, paving security roads and more. Here are just a few examples:

Children from the south get away from the war and enjoy the north

Under Hamas fire, KKL-JNF paves a security road for Kibbutz Sufa

Life saving portable bomb shelters

Forests and parks are complex ecosystems, home to a myriad of plants and animals. They were not always part of Israel's landscape - the first Jewish pioneers who came to the land of Israel found a desolate land that provided no shade whatsoever. Today, KKL-JNFs's forests and parks are a major part of Israel's landscape and they have a catalyzing and positive effect on their surroundings.

Jerusalem Metropolitan Park: A green lung for the golden city

Ben Gurion Accessible Park transforms Negev city of Dimona

Beersheba River Park- an ecological hazard becomes an urban wonderland

In accordance with a decision reached over a decade ago, the IDF is transferring many of its bases in central Israel to the new Training Base (Bahadim) City in the Negev. This project is a major component of the plan to move the IDF to the Negev. As part of its commitment to promoting settlement in the Negev, KKL-JNF, with the help of its friends worldwide, is building soldiers-parents meeting corners and carrying out infrastructure works and environmental landscaping at the new Bahadim City.

What has been accomplished so far

KKL-JNF plants the first trees of the Bahadim City forest grove

As in previous years, KKL-JNF continued to share its knowledge and experience with countries and people worldwide during 2014, sponsoring and participating in numerous international conferences, along with showcasing KKL-JNF's technical experience and applied research to professionals visiting Israel.

KKL-JNF and Fair Planet in Ethiopia – Seeds of Hope
KKL-JNF and Fair Planet collaborate in providing high quality tomato seeds to farmers in eastern Ethiopia, which can thrive under semi-arid conditions.

UN Executive Secretary for Combating Desertification Visits KKL-JNF Negev Projects
Ms. Monique Barbut, the Executive Secretary of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification, was a guest of KKL-JNF in the Western Negev, where she learned about KKL-JNF's achievements in desert afforestation, soil erosion prevention, water reclamation and conservation, and more.

Regional research and development stations focus on agricultural research and development in peripheral regions of highest national priority. Their primary aim is to aid agriculture and to ensure the profitability of farms by developing new products, improve existing ones and invent new agro-techniques for crops. KKL-JNF shares many of these techniques with developing countries around the world, helping to improve food security for their citizens. In addition, forests and other KKL-JNF sites provide recreation areas and eco-tourism opportunities that also provide much needed 'green lungs' for city dwellers.

Cutting-edge agricultural R&D helps feed the world

Hula Lake Park– 21st century eco-tourism

The Vidor Center – A window to Arava agriculture

Timna Park – Desert magic attracts tourists from Israel and abroad

Israeli society is very vibrant and colorful, comprised of people of various ethnicities and religious beliefs. KKL-JNF celebrates this diversity and initiates projects that encourage spontaneous meetings between Israel's different sorts of people, along with honoring the Druze soldiers, who fight side-to-side with Jewish soldiers in the Israeli Army.

The Dalton-Gush Halav Coexistence Trail
Many different people use the trail every day, creating an atmosphere of friendship and harmony between Jewish and Arab citizens.

The Druze Sons Trail
The Druze Sons Trail race was held on Mount Carmel in memory of the 398 fallen IDF soldiers who belong to Israel’s Druze community.

KKL-JNF has devoted considerable resources in recent years to developing suitable facilities for the challenged in its forests and parks, along with supporting the challenged and disabled in many other ways. KKL-JNF's goal is to open nature to all sectors of the population by creating an environment through which challenged people can move safely and comfortably

KKL-JNF Missile-proofs Afula's Haemek Hospital

Retorno: Animal assisted therapy for addicts

ILAN accessible recreation site at Ilanot Forest