If you were going to use one word to describe Israel, the word “construction” would be a definite possibility. Visitors who come to Israel within intervals of only a few years are often shocked at the rapid development in the country. At only 60 years old Israel is constantly building and developing, and sometimes it feels as though a crane should be right up there on the Israeli flag next to the star of David. While great for the economy, however, this construction often takes its toll on the environment.
Especially on trees. Trees that get in the way of construction.
In the rush towards making room for infrastructure or housing, cutting down urban trees usually isn’t given a second thought. According to a resident of Petach Tikva, 20 cypresses over 60 years old were cut down in the city two months ago in order to make an underground parking lot. They literally paved paradise and put up a parking lot. There are many more examples of urban trees – even those with history or which are of a unique species – being treated as second or even third rate elements of the urban landscape.
Luckily the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environmental Committee took notice of the problem recently, and a month ago the panel decided to advance a bill that would require real estate developers to present plans that give priority to leaving trees in place. And in cases where trees absolutely must be cut down, developers will be required to plant other trees to replace them. Lastly, the Interior Ministry’s planning authority recently decided that all trees must be noted in construction plans as an integral (and thus unchangeable) element, and that their existence has to be considered when approving plans.
This Green Prophet’s favorite urban tree preservation story is of the sycamore trees in the center of King George Street in Tel Aviv. The trees (which have thick, gnarly trunks and a whole lot of character) are as old as Tel Aviv itself – which is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. When King George Street was been paved, instead of simply uprooting the trees, a small island was created in the middle of the street so that the two urban elements could coexist. Hopefully this new bill will create other beautiful urban mixtures of the natural and the architectural.
Read more about the environment and urban design:: Tel Aviv’s Rothschild Boulevard Just Got a Little Greener with Dani Karavan and Urgently Needed: Intelligent Urban Design
:: Haaretz
Author: Karen Chernick
Much to the disappointment of her Moroccan grandmother, Karen became a vegetarian at the age of seven because of a heartfelt respect for other forms of life. She also began her journey to understand her surroundings and her impact on the environment. She even starting an elementary school Ecology Club and an environmental newsletter in the 3rd grade. (The proceeds of the newsletter went to non-profit environmental organizations, of course.) She now studies in New York. Karen can be reached at karen (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
“Good on yer” to those attempting to protect Israel’s urban trees for future generations. It’s not a wonder that Israelis have become so nostalgic about Israel’s past; the generations that planted these street and yard trees demonstrated their wisdom and values in a very concrete way. Mature and historic trees should be conserved in the same way that Israel’s historic buildings are (hopefully) preserved.
All levels of government need to take responsibility for Israel’s arboreal assets. Cutting down a mature tree should require planning permission, and that permission should be given in only the most exceptional circumstances. Where trees do need to give way, they should be replaced, and the trees themselves should be transplanted rather than simply being felled or bulldozed.
It also won’t be enough to simply pass legislation. Those laws must be enforced “without fear or favour”. South Africa, for instance, has one of the best constitutional and legislative frameworks around, but is probably one of the most violent and lawless societies in the world…
Altneuland: Replacing felled trees: necessary but insufficient
http://blog.altneuland.info/2008/04/replacing-felled-trees-necessary-but.html
when the contractor demolished the house i was renting, a few days after the contract finished the bulldozer came , 3 very large pistachios atlantica, olive tree the citrus trees chesek, the mrytle
the juniper, big trees . maybe 70, 80 years of growth wiped out in 2 days homes to mongoose, kingfishers chameleons, woodpeckers, hedgehogs. noone blinks an eye. green it, i wish i had your optimism but ive seen this happen too many times .
“They literally paved paradise and put up a parking lot.” – Well I guess it’s not just an expression anymore! That aside, this is good news. The development phase is the absolute best time to get some trees in the picture. I’d love to see the results after a decade.