Upon approval of National Master Plan No. 22 for (Forests) the KKL-JNF, as Israel ’s afforestation agency has become the leading expert and national agency that serves as custodian of Israel ’s open spaces. This constitutes a responsibility not only toward today’s public, but also to future generations. It is therefore incumbent upon the KKL-JNF to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy their country’s landscape at a scope and quality than is equal to that enjoyed by today’s Israelis. In addition to its forests, the KKL-JNF is committed to improving, rehabilitating, and stabilizing the rest of Israel ’s open spaces.

The KKL-JNF will therefore ensure that there is no deviation whatsoever from National Master Plan No. 22 and will act to prevent all physical development in areas designated as forest under National Master Plan 22 or other statutory plans. This principle can also be implemented by designating alternative areas that may be substituted through afforestation of lands in the same proximity that are no smaller in size or lower in quality, and ecological function than the woodlands in which development is allowed. Any decision on such substitutions shall be made only after approval on a professional level of the Afforestation Division, and in consultation with the Subcommittee for Sustainable Development of the KKL Board of Directors.

Beyond preserving of lands zoned as forests pursuant to Israel’s Building and Planning Act, the KKL-JNF will act to protect forest lands from development by all available legal and other means, including declarations, leasing, registering liens in the land registry, etc.

Forests constitute a historical and cultural resource. The natural land of Israel landscape includes expanses of forest that served as the backdrop to historical events in our region from Biblical times to the birth of Christianity and Islam until today. It is important that afforestation activity seeks to serve as a link between today’s and tomorrow’s generation and the nation’s scenic heritage, while attempting to replicate the forest and open spaces that have been destroyed over thousands of years of conquest and / or neglect.

The Land of Israel holds an agricultural heritage that bears global importance. Most of its scenery is “cultural”, meaning that humans shaped it over many generations. The nature of agriculture in the modern era led to a neglect of vast expanses of agricultural areas. The abandonment of agricultural plots causes significant damage to the scenic heritage of terracing practiced in the Mediterranean basin, as well as to the destruction of desert agrarian practices involving the collection of runoff water in the Negev .

The neglect of these plots moreover causes desertification and erosion. The KKL-JNF will strive to restore and nurture agricultural plots and croplands, including the gamut of oasis areas and other agricultural installations, as a representative expression of traditional and ancient heritage in the Land of Israel and its rich diversity of cultures.

The KKL seeks to obtain from the State greater legal authorities in the domain of Israel ’s forest and open space management.  Accordingly it will be able to act in concert with government agencies to adva nce primary and secondary legislation that will give the KKL-JNF more adva nced and efficient tools for the management and the conservation of Israel ’s forests, as well as trees outside the forests.

The management of the Afforestation Division, the Forest Commissioner appointed as per the Forest Ordinance of 1926, and those granting approval on his or her behalf, will take care to prevent the uprooting of trees, particularly old and / or unique trees. Special permits for lumbering, as well as their non-issuance, together with arguments supporting the relevant decisions, shall be published annually on the KKL-JNF web-site.

Notwithstanding its efforts to reduce the amount of forests that require ongoing care and maintenance, providing high quality forests and open spaces requires investment and intervention on the part of the KKL, today and apparently in the future as well. This imposition is justified, given the KKL-JNF’s responsibility for providing future generations with quality open spaces.  It is legitimate because such spaces, which require ongoing care, will be preserved and nurtured for the generations to come by the KKL-JNF, even as it seeks to reduce, to the extent possible the associated burden

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