AFFORESTATION IN PALESTINE AFFORESTATION IN PALESTINE AND LATER IN ISRAELAND LATER IN ISRAEL

Gabriel Schiller,Gabriel Schiller,

Department of Natural Resources,Department of Natural Resources,Institute of Plant Sciences,Institute of Plant Sciences,

Agricultural Research Organization,Agricultural Research Organization,The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, IsraelThe Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel

Sahara-Arabiandeserts

Asian steppes

Mediterranean scrublandsN

32o

40 km

30o

Dry-sub humid

Semi arid

Arid

Hyper arid

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340030002600

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Evaporationmm

Annual Annual AverageAverage

EvaporationEvaporationmmmm

Average AnnualRainfall (mm) AverageAverage AnnualAnnualRainfall (mm) Rainfall (mm)

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Ecosystem HydrologyEcosystem HydrologyEcosystem Hydrology

TheThe

dependence of ancient civilizations on ample supply of dependence of ancient civilizations on ample supply of timber led to the eventual destruction of the supply base, timber led to the eventual destruction of the supply base, especially within the East Mediterranean region. especially within the East Mediterranean region.

InIn

the two last centuries two large and significant timber cuttingthe two last centuries two large and significant timber cuttings s campaigns rolled over the country:campaigns rolled over the country:

TheThe

first one by Ibrahim Pasha from Egypt in 1830, first one by Ibrahim Pasha from Egypt in 1830, TheThe

second during the first world ware 1914second during the first world ware 1914--1917.1917.

InIn

addition, as the result of population expansion during the 19addition, as the result of population expansion during the 19thth

century, timber supply mainly for building and charcoal century, timber supply mainly for building and charcoal production and grazing further impoverished the landscape. In production and grazing further impoverished the landscape. In 1940 caravans still transported timber of 1940 caravans still transported timber of Acacia raddianaAcacia raddiana from from the Jordan reefthe Jordan reef--valley to Cairo.valley to Cairo.

Roman imperial forest demarcation stone in Lebanon

AFFORESTATION TIMELINE

ISRAELI GOVERNMENT

FOREST DEPARTMENT

1960

BRITISH MANDATORY

GOVERNMENT

1948

OTTOMAN EMPIRE

1918

GERMAN TEMPLARS

19001860

Jewish National Fund

1908PRESENT

After the first world ware the process of revival of the country has inspired many which tried to contribute to the afforestation efforts by sending seed lots from very many forest ecosystem in the world. Unfortunately seed didn’t germinate or seedlings didn’t survive the harsh environment. Today the main species used in afforestation are: 1. Pinus halepensis, P. brutia, P. pinea, P. eldarica, P. canariensis,2. Cupressus sempervirens, C. arizonica, C. glabra, C. atlantica,3. Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. gomphocephala, and about 15 other drought resistant species used in the green belts around settlements in the dry zone together with several Australian and endemic Acacia species. 4. Native species used are: Quercus ithburensis, Q. calliprinos and Q. boissieri; Ziziphus spina-christi, Ceratonia silqua, Pistacia atlantica, P. palaestina.

Increase of Forest Increase of Forest plantations area plantations area from ~1870 until from ~1870 until 1947.1947.

Forest plantations area by different organizations

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Israel's Official Statistics : Forest plantations area

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During the 50’S, 3 to 4 rows of mainly Eucalyptus camaldulensis, introduced to Palestine in 1884, were planted along the main roads of Israel at that time by pre-military organized youth groups with the aim to change the microclimate and to camouflage the traffic. For many years these plantations supplied up to 45% of annual yield. Most of these plantings were removed during the years to widen the narrow roads with no substitute plantings

Forest platations and other woodlands area of Israel Hectars

1. Plantations (mainly Pinus, Cupressus, Casuarina and Eucalyptus ) ~100.000

2. Autochtonuous woodlands (composed mainly by vegetatively regenerated oaks, pistachio and phillyrea) ~85.000

Total woodland ~185.000

Total woodland in % of the country's area ~8.5%

Total woodlands in % of the country's Mediterranean climatic zone ~12.5%

Typical Degraded Landscape from the 1930Typical Degraded Landscape from the 1930’’ss(Walter Clay Lowdermilk)(Walter Clay Lowdermilk)

““Of all the lands there are for dismal scenery, I think PalestineOf all the lands there are for dismal scenery, I think Palestine

must must be the prince. The hills are barren, they are dull of color, thebe the prince. The hills are barren, they are dull of color, they are y are unpicturesque in shape. The valleys are unsightly deserts fringeunpicturesque in shape. The valleys are unsightly deserts fringed withd with

a feeble vegetation that has an expression about it of being sora feeble vegetation that has an expression about it of being sorrowful rowful and despondentand despondent…….It is a hopeless, dreary, heartbroken land..It is a hopeless, dreary, heartbroken land.””

Mark TwainMark Twain’’ss ““Innocents AbroadInnocents Abroad”” (1869)(1869)

Judean Mountains, 1945Judean Mountains, 1945

Judean Mountains, 1945Judean Mountains, 1945

Judean Mountains, 2008Judean Mountains, 2008

Mt. Carmel, 1945Mt. Carmel, 1945

Mt. Carmel, 2008Mt. Carmel, 2008

The Galilee, Mt. Meron, 1945The Galilee, Mt. Meron, 1945

The Galilee, Mt Meron, 2008The Galilee, Mt Meron, 2008

The Galilee: Mt. Canaan, 1945The Galilee: Mt. Canaan, 1945

The Galilee, Mt. Canaan, The Galilee, Mt. Canaan, the Birya forest, 2008the Birya forest, 2008

Landscape in the northern Negev, 1960Landscape in the northern Negev, 1960

TodayToday’’s northern Negev landscapes northern Negev landscape

Before and after afforestationBefore and after afforestation

Northern Negev hilly landscapeNorthern Negev hilly landscape

Preparing for afforestation in the northern Negev, Preparing for afforestation in the northern Negev, prevention of runoffprevention of runoff

Preparation for afforestation, Preparation for afforestation, Runoff catchments terracesRunoff catchments terraces

The main objectives of afforestation activity in The main objectives of afforestation activity in Palestine and later Israel since the early 20Palestine and later Israel since the early 20thth

century are: Amelioration of the landscape, century are: Amelioration of the landscape, Supply of work, Prevention of soil erosions, Supply of work, Prevention of soil erosions, Recreation. Timber production has only secondary Recreation. Timber production has only secondary importance.importance.

Today, the afforested area, mainly with pioneer Today, the afforested area, mainly with pioneer species such as Pines and Eucalyptus, covers species such as Pines and Eucalyptus, covers aboutabout

100.000100.000 ~ ~

ha; the natural scrub vegetation ha; the natural scrub vegetation

of mainly oaks, pistachio and phillyrea covers of mainly oaks, pistachio and phillyrea covers about ~85.000 ha. about ~85.000 ha.

The Yatir forest plantations planted mainly with The Yatir forest plantations planted mainly with pines between 1964 and 1980 are the largest pines between 1964 and 1980 are the largest coherent forest in Israel covering 3000 ha.coherent forest in Israel covering 3000 ha.

Today, with the maturation of the monoculture Today, with the maturation of the monoculture pioneer plantations they are managed with help of pioneer plantations they are managed with help of natural regeneration where ever possible to natural regeneration where ever possible to become mixed uneven aged forests with the aim to become mixed uneven aged forests with the aim to enhance their sustainability. enhance their sustainability.

Aerial photo of the Yatir Aerial photo of the Yatir ForestForestNN

But, with your permission I would like to rise one issue that has received only low attention, which too determines the ability to withstand climate change, drought or surplus water, namely the genetics. Just to remained you about the lecture at the meeting in Zagreb.

In Europe, the case of Abies alba,

In Israel the case of Pinus halepensis.

We should not forget that much of western Europe is planted, the seed sources are unknown, probably from different ecological regions.

גדילה והתפתחות עצי אורן גדילה והתפתחות עצי אורן ירושלים שמוצאם ממקורות ירושלים שמוצאם ממקורות

ומידת ומידת ) ) אקוטיפיםאקוטיפים((שונים שונים השרידות ש לה ם בתנאי יער השרידות ש לה ם בתנאי יער

..יתיריתיר0

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היום -ע ו צ מ ת ה דיו ת הש ע ת י ת ה מ מו צ ע ת ב צה רי נמדד בשיטת נמדד בשיטת (( ש ל אקו טי פי ם שו נים בי ת י ר) לי ט ר בש עה (

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Mt. Carmel Telagh (A-31)Elea (A-2) Beit-J'ann

השוואה בין אקוטיפים שונים הגדלים בבית דגן וביתירהפוטוסינטזה ויעילות השימוש במים, הדיותבעוצמת בעוצמת

) Infra-red Gas Analyzerנימדד ב עזרת (

Transpiration Photosynthesis Water use Provenances at millimol/m2/s-1 micromol/m2/s-1 efficiency

Bet Dagan

Otricoli (Italy) 0.610a 3.054a 4.451b Telagh (Algeria) 0.619a 3.215a 4.782a Elea (Greece) 0.597a 2.931a 4.719a Mt. Carmel (Israel) 0.616a 2.808a 4.015b

Prob>F 0.348 0.071 0.037Significance n.s. n.s. **

Yatir

Telagh (Algeria) 0.389a 1.220b 2.106b Elea (Greece) 0.413a 1.668a 3.077a Mt. Carmel (Israel) 0.408a 1.217b 2.240b Bet J'ann (Israel) 0.401a 1.401ab 2.770ab

Prob>f 0.658 0.001 0.001Significance n.s. *** ***

השינוי ברמת השונות הגנטית באקוטיפים שונים הנטועים ביתיר לעומ ת אוכלוסיות המוצא

)כניראה תוצאה של לחץ ברירה על ידי התנאים האקולוגיים הקשים ביתיר(

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Natural forests

Planted at Yatir

Excess / הילע

Deficiency / רוסחמ

Thank you for your attentionThank you for your attention