A new digital catalog, the fruit of an initiative by KKL-JNF and the Public Knowledge Workshop, offers an open and accessible tool for selecting trees suitable for the urban climate – with the aim of shading and cooling the streets in Israel.
Over the years, thousands of trees have been planted throughout Israel – on boulevards, squares and streets – and have become an integral part of the urban landscape. But today, in an era of significant increases in temperatures, especially in urban areas, the importance of trees goes far beyond the aesthetic aspect: trees provide shadowing, moderate the heat, improve air quality and contribute to the quality of life in the city. In Israel, where the summer is long, dry and hot – the need for shaded infrastructure is particularly critical. Here an equally important question arises: Do the authorities know how to choose the right types of trees for each environment? Those that will provide real shade, require reasonable maintenance and cope well with local climate and habitat conditions? A new digital catalog offers for the first time an accurate answer to these questions and allows for knowledge-based decisions that will affect the shade of all of us.
Not only on Tu B'Shvat
Studies many They point to the significant contribution of trees: they can lower the temperature under the tree canopies by four to five degrees, reduce thermal load by about 50 percent, reduce air pollution by about 20 percent, and even reduce urban noise by ten decibels. Therefore, it is not surprising that more and more local authorities are recognizing the challenge of urban shading and are working to change the reality: large-scale planting programs describe the planting of hundreds of thousands of new trees in public spaces – not just for beauty, but as an integral part of urban planning that encourages walking, spending time outdoors, and connecting with the community. However, local authorities and various professionals often choose to plant trees that are not suitable for the local climate – sometimes due to a lack of knowledge and sometimes for aesthetic reasons.
Recently launched Digital catalog which provides comprehensive and accessible information on tree species suitable for planting in urban areas. The catalog offers a user-friendly planning tool that allows searching and filtering of trees according to a wide range of characteristics such as adaptation to climate, habitat type, sidewalk width, tree height, crown structure, growth rate and water consumption. In addition, it is possible to search and compare trees based on recommended lists from public bodies and view an open image database built specifically for the project and including tagged photographs of trees in Israel by species and parts of the tree. The catalog is written in open source, is regularly updated and is available for use by the general public without the need for registration or payment. The tree lists on the platform were selected from official policy documents of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Tel Aviv-Yafo Municipality.
The catalog was first published last April in the journal "Ecology and Environment", as part of a joint initiative of the KKL-JNF Climate and Sustainability Division and the Public Knowledge Workshop, which decided to collaborate for a common goal. "The catalog was born from a call we published for climate-oriented environmental projects," says Assaf Karawani, Director of the KKL-JNF Climate and Sustainability Division. "The goal was to create a new, online, and user-friendly planning tool, intended primarily for decision-makers and professionals, and to assist in the correct selection of tree species for planting in urban areas. The platform allows you to do a digital search by tree type, compare different tree species, and offers similar trees that may not be familiar," he explains.
More and more cities around the world are looking for creative solutions and practical steps to help deal with the effects of global warming. Screenshot from the Street and Shade Tree Catalog website
Island of cold
The need for proper tree planting, especially in urban environments, is more essential than ever. Large cities tend to be significantly warmer than the surrounding areas – a phenomenon known as the “urban heat island.” There are many reasons for this: population density, traffic congestion, air pollution from cars and massive energy use – all contribute to rising temperatures in urban areas. according to Agency The American For protection הסביבהThe average annual temperature in a city of a million or more inhabitants can be 1.8 to 5.4 degrees Celsius higher than in the surrounding countryside. This difference is even greater in the evening: while rural areas cool down quickly after sunset, cities retain the heat for many hours.
It is therefore not surprising that more and more cities around the world are looking for creative solutions and practical steps to help deal with the effects of warming, especially during the summer season. This is especially critical for Israeli cities. "This project is part of the preparation for climate change and the fact that heat events – Especially extreme heat events "What were once the exception have now become the norm between May and October. Walking around cities without shade has become an almost impossible task. It's hurting our quality of life, our health, and our ability to simply be outside," explains Karavani.
The solution that will come from nature
I believe that the most effective and correct way to deal with the climate crisis and the constant rise in temperatures is through nature-based solutions, primarily planting trees and vegetation throughout cities.
The project relies on an approach known as a “no-regret solution” – an action that is considered beneficial not only in the present but also in the long term and in various future scenarios, including those in which climate change is mitigated or does not materialize. In this way, it also constitutes an indirect response to skeptics. And for climate deniers"It's not just a nature-based solution – it's a no-regret solution," Karavani emphasizes. "Even if the climate situation remains as it is for the next hundred years, we will still benefit from a greener environment, beautiful trees and a pleasant public space to be in. It's a win-win situation." Although the project is primarily intended for professionals, it is also open to the general public. "Anyone who Who plans a garden? "Whether it's a private individual, a gardener, or local authorities - the catalog is designed to serve everyone," he concludes.
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