Subscribe to Print Edition | Wed., October 15, 2008 Tishrei 16, 5769 | | Israel Time: 01:20 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Easy Start Travel Week's End Anglo File

MKs saving urban trees from the chop By Zafrir Rinat Israel has a lot to be proud of when it comes to protecting wildlife, wildflowers and forests. But urban trees, even those many decades old, have been at growing risk of being cut down in recent years. This increasingly common phenomenon recently prompted the Knesset to start on work on legislation to protect such trees. Urban trees are frequently cut down to make room for infrastructure or housing, even though in many cases, the trees are protected species. The Forestry Ordinances list about 60 protected species, and a permit is required to cut down any of them. Advertisement In Petah Tikva, for instance, 20 cypresses over 60 years old were cut down two months ago in order to build an underground parking lot, said a city resident, Yonatan Tal. Tal was one of those who fought unsuccessfully last year to protect a huge eucalyptus after the city claimed it was a safety hazard. The executive director of the Israel Union for Environmental Defense (Adam Teva V'Din), Tzipi Iser Itzik, said one of the main problems is that the municipal inspectors who are supposed to keep an eye on protected trees tend to give priority to the cities' building needs. "The result is that over 90 percent of requests to cut down trees in cities are approved," she said, adding that her organization has received complaints of trees being cut down unnecessarily in more than 10 municipalities. "One of the most significant holes in the Forestry Ordinances protecting the trees is the total disregard of trimming or a specific definition of what constitutes cutting down," she continued. "In many cases, trees are 'trimmed' in such a way they cannot recover and all that is left is a meter-high stump." The urban tree problem recently reached the Knesset Internal Affairs and Environment Committee, and last month, the panel decided to advance a bill that would require real estate developers to present plans that give priority to leaving trees in place. In cases where there is no choice but to cut down the tree, the builder would be required to plant another in its stead. Moreover, the Interior Ministry's planning authority recently decided that all trees must be marked in construction plans, and their existence must be taken into account when approving plans. This has never been done before, and approval for cutting down trees has often been granted to prevent delays in construction. The city of Bnei Brak, which has a serious shortage of open, green spaces, provides a good example of the problem. A few months ago, a group of women from the ultra-Orthodox town learned of plans to cut down the ficus trees along one of the main streets and concluded that this would be a serious blow to their quality of life. They therefore attempted to save the trees, with assistance from Yehuda Ganot, founder of the ultra-Orthodox environmental organization Haredim Lasviva and manager of a fitness club to which some of the women belonged. But in the end, the trees were cut down to widen the road. "In Bnei Brak, trees have special importance," noted Ganot. "People walk a lot and do not use cars, and they need the shade the trees provide. They also contribute to the scenery and to preserving air quality." Yet Ganot said he received no support from bodies such as the municipality or the Jewish National Fund, and everyone he approached sent him to someone else. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Seeds of the future An Israeli biofuel project using Africa's jatropha plant may end Mideast oil power. PFLP threat A Palestinian militant group vows to kill MK Lieberman to avenge Acre riots.

Read & React Bradley Burston: This year, this Jew is embracing Jihad Responses: 49 Jesse Jackson: Obama will rid United States of 'Zionist' control Responses: 16 Police arrest driver who sparked Acre riots for 'harming religious sensitivities' Responses: 294 Sources: Hamas has raised price of Shalit deal in wake of Kuntar release Responses: 101 More Headlines 22:13 IDF troops kill Palestinian fire-bomber near West Bank settlement 00:52 Hezbollah hails 'heroic' Arab fight in Acre against 'barbaric' assaults 19:30 Rice pledges to pursue Israel-PA peace until she leaves office 22:12 Labor MK Pines-Paz: New role for Barak in gov't is 'pathetic' 07:37 This year, this Jew is embracing jihad 00:09 Jesse Jackson: Obama will rid United States of 'Zionist' control 21:09 Israeli biofuel project could spell end of Mideast oil power 16:34 Palestinian group vows to kill MK Lieberman to avenge Acre riots 13:54 Syria formally establishes diplomatic ties with Lebanon 01:01 Woman dies in crash while driving pregnant daughter to hospital 16:50 Israel Bank Chief Fischer: This is not the end of capitalism 00:45 U.S. plan to pump $250b into banking system lifts Wall Street stocks 01:15 Acre group to partially reopen festival shut by clashes 20:06 Israel trip helps Brad Pitt shoot Angelina Jolie breastfeeding pics Previous Editions Select Day 14 oct 13 oct 12 oct 10 oct 09 oct 08 oct 07 oct 06 oct 05 oct 03 oct 02 oct 01 oct

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved