Home > Planting the First Tree to Rehabilitate the Northern Forests
KKL-JNF Chairman, Efi Stenzler, Mayor of Kiryat Shemona, Haim Barbivai, JNF America President, Ronald Lauder and Minister of Interior, Roni Bar-On planted the first tree today (21.08.2006) in the "Rehabilitation Planting" project. Within KKL-JNF, it is estimated that rehabilitating the forests in the north will take many years.

KKL-JNF Chairman, Efi Stenzler said: "It is my pleasure and my honor to plant the first tree in the process of restoring the Green of Galilee. This tree will bring tens of thousands of other trees to be planted by KKL-JNF in the next few years. I call upon you all to join forces and take part in renewing the Green of the north."

JNF America President, Ronald Lauder has come to Israel for the third time to support the emergency campaign of Friends of JNF America to restore the trees. He said, "I was not prepared for all this devastation. However, I do feel that the war has united the Jewish people, even those who do not live here. We will send as much money as we can to help rebuild the North."

Mayor of Kiryat Shmona, Hairm Barbivai asked to publish this photo in Internet sites. "The enemies of Israel will understand that residents of the North are not afraid. We will continue to build our future for many generations."

As a result of the fighting in the north, over 750 thousand trees went up in flames, over 12 thousand dunam of forest and 40 thousand dunam of open spaces were burned down.