The Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael - Jewish National Fund (hereinafter: the KKL-JNF), through its Land Development Authority, is the official afforestation administration for Israel , pursuant to a covenant signed with the government in 1961. The KKL-JNF’s afforestation policy is designed to serve all of Israel ’s citizens today and in the future, and shall be based on the principles of sustainable development. Consistent with these principles, KKL-JNF forest management will entail:

1. An ecological approach that will be implemented consistent with the natural ecosystem, and not counter to it;
2. Societal considerations according to which the forest serves the public and the community;
3. Promotion of economic uses and initiatives that include tourism development, grazing, timber industries, etc.;
4. Opening the forests to the public for free, with unrestricted access, in keeping with the principle of intra-generational equality; and
5. Preservation of the extent of Israel ’s woodlands and their quality out of concern for future generations

The KKL-JNF is committed to the implementation of international treaties to which Israel is a signatory in the sphere of afforestation and environmental protection, such as Agenda 21, as well as the implementation plan pursuant to the afforestation sections of the Johannesburg Convention, the War on Desertification, Biodiversity conservation, and more.

The objectives of afforestation are:

1. Improving the landscape and ensuring its diversity;
2. Providing vacation, recreational, and hiking spaces for the public;
3. Preservation and strengthening of Israel ’s ecosystems and natural processes in order to enable the forests to sustain ecological services
4. Increasing the planting of trees by the public, as well as strengthening its connection to Israel ’s forests;
5. Increasing the economic utilization of forests and of other areas planted with trees;
6. Creation of employment during times of economic crisis;
7. Arboreal protection; and
8. Participation in the preservation of Israel ’s open spaces.

Financial income from forests, whether from wood production or otherwise, will be considered a secondary output of forest maintenance, and shall not constitute a primary objective of afforestation in Israel .

Planting forests and / or their rehabilitation, and likewise the care of existing woodlands, shall be performed at maximum efficiency and shall be implemented using the most natural processes possible.

Applied afforestation policies shall be based on afforestation and ecological theories, as well as on the vast practical experience accumulated in the management of Israel ’s open spaces. The concept of sustainability will be manifested in the creation of sustainable forests together with the establishment of professional principles of management, accordingly:

1. Determination of the composition of forests will be made in order to maximize the natural renewal of trees, supplemented with planting, based on the diversity of existing eco-systems in forested areas.
2. Consultation with the public, afforestation professionals, and stakeholders will be made in order adapt the objectives and the physical makeup of forests to the expectations of their users and others who will be affected by them.
3. The tree plantings and maintenance of the forest will be conducted in a manner that will not harm the environment in the long term.
4. Use of the forest for recreation and for grazing will be carried out without causing harm to natural systems.
5. Planning the mix of forests will be made with the objective of increasing to the extent possible ecological durability and natural renewability, while minimizing as much as possible ongoing management activity.
6. Physical, legal, and administrative protection of woodlands and open spaces will be taken against development in order to ensure their availability for future generations
7. Protection of trees is done in order to preserve natural scenery and heritage.
8. Ongoing improvement of management practices is based on up-to-date knowledge, information, and experience based on research, and forest monitoring