Forestry and Fires

Thursday we visited a forest run by the Jewish National Fund (a campaign started in the early days to buy land) and the KKL (started in pre-state Israel to plant trees). Forestry scientists there are researching and managing the forests – the best trees to plant, how to care for the land. Particular questions arise during forest fires. Israel has virtually no natural wildfires. All the fires are of human origin, primarily through army training mishaps and recreational/agricultural accidents. What, then, should the managers do in cases of fire? Allow the fire to run or suppress? (Little debate is here…most agree that suppression is the best method, at least in Israel.) In the damaged areas, should the burnt trees and brush be left to recover, or should the terrain be replanted? Issues of erosion and runoff enter the equation, here.
After an introduction to the project, we collected data on soil hydrophobia. Fire often causes soil to transform such that it will not soak up water. Places that have high aversion to water are extremely hydrophobic – a drop of water can sit on top of the soil without filtering through. It was interesting work, and fun to hypothesize about what different factors would increase or decrease hydrophobia.
After a break for falafel, we had a lecture on Israeli trees and forests – what kind of work the forest managers do, the history of trees and forests in Israel (they think the hills were forested before being cut down for charcoal and steam engine fuel), and what kind of trees are native, invasive, and planted in the region.