New research studies in the field of agriculture, forestry, water and recreation, which were undertaken with the support of the KKL-JNF Land Development Authority and with the assistance of friends of KKL JNF worldwide, were presented at the annual conference at the Volcani Institute of Agricultural Research in Beit Dagan, May 9, 2012. The conference featured an award ceremony for the 2012 grants received from the René Karshon Foundation, which supports this research.
“If there was ever anyone who thought that it was possible to manage open spaces by intuition,” said KKL¬JNF World Chairman Efi Stenzler, “we all understand by now that in order to do things right, we need serious and extensive research. A hundred and ten years ago, the inhabitants of this country did not enjoy the forests that we have here at present. Our job is to consider future generations, so that they too may enjoy these trees. KKL-JNF is not alone in this endeavor, however. We have been devising systems of cooperation in Israel and abroad, and we do not keep our findings only for ourselves. We share them with our neighbors in the Middle East and with other countries overseas.”
Yosef Eyal, Acting KKL-JNF Deputy Director-General and Director of Human Resources, said that research is an essential part of KKL-JNF's diverse activities. “These research studies have additional value. They attract interest from all over the world, and this is an honor for the scientists and the KKL-JNF professionals that work with them.” Eyal especially noted the field of agriculture in arid regions, for which KKL-JNF is famous all over the world.
Avi Perl, Chief Scientist at the Israel Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, declared that the research fund for scientists intends to continue investing in the fields of environment, ecology, forestry and pasture. “We aspire to broaden our collaboration with KKL-JNF,” he said, “in view of our understanding that research assists in forest preservation.”
Gershon Avni, KKL-JNF Land Development Authority, concluded the opening greetings by defining the aim of research, which is to identify gaps in knowledge and determine priorities. “Together with the academic institutions, we will take the greatest possible advantage of each and every study. As everyone knows, research is not enough. We also have to invest in the dissemination and assimilation of our findings.”
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Ahuva Bar-Lev
KKL-JNF – Information and Publications
Phone: 972-2-6583354 Fax:972-2-6583493