Afforestation programs in the West Bank were first implemented during the British Mandate, and then the Jordanian Administration. In 1927, the first law for the protection and development of forests in Palestine were legislated by the British. About 230.6 hectares of mountainous and steep land in the West Bank were planted with Cupressus spp. and Pinus spp. At the same period forest rangers were appointed to implement the law enforcement on the site and all over Palestine. In early 1930s nurseries were established to distribute seedlings to local governments and people as part of a grand national afforestrataion scheme. In 1935 and at the British mandate period in Palestine only 90 hectares were afforested in Hebron and Nablus areas.
Afforestation continued during the Jordanian Administration and after that by the Israeli occupation authorities. In 1971, the total area of the human-made forests had reached to 3,361.6 hectares, planted mostly with Pinus, Cupressus, Eucalyptus, and Acacia spp.
Until 1971, the natural forests and nature reserves were distributed over different parts of the West Bank, occupying an area of 19,541 hectares, with the Jenin district featuring the largest area (18,637.1 hectares). The most prevalent trees were Ceratonia siliqua, Pistacia palaestina, Rhamnus spp., Styrex officinalis, Crataegus azarolus, Arbatus andrachini, wild Pyrus and Prunus, and Olea europaea. The dominant shrubs and woody plants are Sarcopoterium spinosum, Phlomis spp., Salavia spp., Organa syriaca, and Clematis cirrhosa.
As of 1971, Israel stopped all forestry activities and closed forestry nurseries in most districts of the West Bank. The only nursery left functioning was Wadi Al-Quof Nursery in the Hebron district, but its potential was reduced to only ten thousand tree seedlings per year. Since then, both types of natural and human-made forests were exposed too much destruction perpetrated by both Israelis and Palestinians. Large areas of these forests have been confiscated by Israel and declared as closed military areas and military bases. Large numbers of trees have been uprooted to clear areas for the construction of Israeli colonies. Photo (8) and photo (9) show the destruction of Abu Ghnaim Mountain to the south of Jerusalem district. Palestinians also deplete many forested areas through wood-cutting used for fuel (either as biomass or for coal production). These activities, combined with natural destructive elements such as wind, snow, soil erosion, ageing, and accidental fires left dramatic scars on forests in the West Bank. They resulted in a vast reduction of the natural and human-made forested areas.
The Palestinian Ministry of Agriculture in 1995 estimated the area of the natural forest at 10,070 hectares and the human-made forest at 1,940 hectares (Breghieth, 1995) The difference in areas is referred to that the Ministry of Agriculture estimates are based on the 1971 forested areas and that they considered each forested area as forest whether it includes trees or not. Most of these forests are located on fertile soil types (Terra Rossas, Brown Rendzinas and Pale Rendzinas) and in areas, which enjoy favorable climatic conditions for agriculture.
Photo
8: Abu Ghnaim Mountain, March
1997.
Source: ARIJ, 1997
Photo
9: Abu Ghnaim Mountain, April
1997.
Source: ARIJ, 1997
In 1927, the Jabalia forest (approximately 2500 dunums) was planted with Acacia cyanophylla, Eucalyptus spp. and Tamarix spp.. Poor maintenance and destruction by the Israeli administration (security reasons) has resulted in a few remaining stands of Eucalyptus and Acacia not worth calling a forest. To fix the mobile sands and dunes, the exotic Acacia cyanophylla has been used extensively. However, the strong colonizing characteristics of this tree possess problems for adjacent agriculture as roots and new sprouts invade the fields.
The indigenous Tamarix stands in stabilized dune sands are often preserved by the farmers as windbreaks. Small Tamarix and Eucalyptus stands are exploited along the Wadi Gaza. Although Eucalyptus trees were planted about 30-40 years ago along the main routes between Gaza town, Khan Younis and Rafah, water shortage and saline groundwater gradually reduced the vitality of these trees.
Threats and impacts:
- Lack of land use management
- Lack of management of forest and range resources.
- Lack of management of tourists’ activities.
- Lack of systematic research and monitoring.
- Inadequate clear management vision towards forest resources usage.
- Cutting of natural forests and vegetation for fuel and other house hold appliances
- Soil erosion and loss of soil natural environmental condition such as desertification.
- Encroachment of urban and agriculture over natural forest areas.
- Introduction of exotic species of forest species animal species.
- Transportation schemes and road buildings, affecting forest and tree abundance and natural distribution.
- Liquid and solid pollution in Forests.
- Air and atmospheric pollution and dust lift up from transportation and mining activities.
- Water over pumping from forests wadis, springs and watersheds.
- Illegal hunting in forests for key species.
- Introduction of exotic plant and animal species.
- Disappearance of faunal species important for forest balance and ecology.
- Manmade fires.
- Lack of human and financial recourses, and Inadequate law enforcement and legislation.