Forestry & Geology Cooperation
Beginning in 1987, the United States Forest
Service (USFS) and the Jewish
National Fund (JNF) have cooperated in firefighting and
conservation efforts. The relationship was forged when Israel
was suffering one of the worst fire seasons in its history.
Terrorists were setting the country's precious forests ablaze,
and Israel urgently needed to modernize its firefighting
systems to cope with the widespread arson.
JNF officials contacted Lawrence Amicarella, director
of the Forest Service's Fire and Aviation Department
and, in December 1987, three top American forestry and
fire experts traveled to Israel to assess the damage.
The team recommended the implementation of an intricate
system of fire stations throughout Israel's forests,
backed up by a modern communications network and firefighting
equipment suited to the terrain.
Based on USFS recommendations, JNF devised a wideranging
plan that helped to stem the arson. It included a fleet
of 15 fire engines capable of reaching remote forest
areas and hilltops, 15 new 45foot watchtowers equipped
with modern firefighting tools, hundreds of kilometers
of new forest access roads, and a stateoftheart
communications system to provide for rapid response
during an emergency.
While in Israel, the USDA team members were impressed
by JNF afforestation techniques. "They're growing
trees where it's impossible!" stated Mr. Amicarella,
surveying JNF's afforestation of the Negev Desert. "If
there are four inches of rainwater, they save four inches,"
he said. "Nothing I have seen in other countries
of the region equals what JNF is doing."
In 1990, the two agencies signed a master memorandum
of agreement in which they agreed to "develop and
share research information, conduct scientific exchanges
and coordinate studies which will improve the management
of the natural resources of both countries." Two
years later another agreement was signed calling for
an exchange of information on strategic planning processes.
The United States wants Israeli expertise in two areas
in particular: water harvesting and soil reclamation.
The latter is important to America because 25 percent
of the country is arid land that is being lost to desertification.
As the only country gaining land, Israel can make a
contribution to the global amelioration of this problem.
"If every country were doing what Israel is doing,"
said Dale Robertson, then chief of the Forest Service,
"we would make significant progress to insure the
survival of our environment." Robertson added that
because of the similarity in climate and growing conditions
of Israel and parts of the United States, it was possible
to learn a great deal, "particularly in the field
of land development and soil conservation in arid zones."
During exchange visits in Israel and the United States,
JNF and Forest Service personnel have continued to learn
and share their knowledge and experience. The Forest
Service has helped to protect Israel's forests from
arson and natural disasters, while JNF has shared with
the Forest Service its expertise in arid land afforestation
and water conservation.
Both agencies have contributed their expertise to
the International Arid Lands Consortium (IALC), which
they and five major U.S. universities founded in 1987.
The IALC is an independent, nonprofit organization whose
purpose is to conduct research and develop applications
in arid and semiarid land technologies, and to
apply its research in the United States, Israel and
other countries.
In 1985, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Israeli Earth Science Research Administration signed an agreement to establish a seismic research observatory in Israel; however, the USGS is no longer involved in the seismic station.
Today, Jordan, Israel, and the U.S. are working on a Middle East Regional Cooperation Program (MERC) project to measure gravity. MERC has also proposed a study on earthquake research with Israel and Jordan. This study is related to finding a better way to detect nuclear test bans.
Sources: Partners for Change; Jewish National Fund (JNF) |