Foresters From Around the World Come Together to Protect the Environment

Jewish National Fund
Wednesday, 15 August 2001

Jewish National Fund Delegates From Israel Take Part in International Seminars Hosted by USDA Forest Service

August 2001 – Denver, CO – Jewish National Fund (JNF) foresters from Israel are joining hundreds of foresters from around the world for two training seminars hosted by the USDA Forest Service in the northern Rocky Mountains of the western United States. These international seminars stimulate deliberations and interactive problem solving in the areas of environmental conservation, preservation and rehabilitation, taking advantage of the rich experiences and multiple cultural viewpoints of participants from around the world.

Zvika Eylon, Director of Recreational Resource Development and Avinoam Alon, District Manager of Forest and Parks in the Negev and Arava region are foresters from JNF in Israel who are participating in these seminars. They will attend a seminar on Protected Area Management from August 9 through August 25 in Missoula, Montana. A second seminar on Forest Management will run from August 26 through September 13, beginning in Colorado. These foresters hope to gain valuable knowledge and insight to bring home with them and apply to their and JNF's vital environmental work in Israel.

Eylon's goal is to learn how to better develop public facilities and at the same time preserve their natural beauty. This is part of JNF's overall plan of opening up forests to the Israeli people for recreation and to improve quality of life. "There are some wonderful models that we hope can apply to Israel. Not only will I learn about environmental management, but I will learn about how to utilize these facilities for the people's benefit. It is so important for the public to understand, appreciate and respect this precious green resource," says Eylon.

For Alon, who works in semi-arid regions of Israel, his biggest challenge is developing forests in the desert. "Working in an arid environment like the Negev Desert is a different situation than what most of the participants attending the conference are facing," says Alon. "I am very excited to attend these two conferences and learn how to maintain and continue developing open green spaces for all to use."

During the first seminar, Eylon and Alon will visit protected areas in the northern Rocky Mountain region, including national parks, wildlife refuges, tribal reservations, land conservancies, forests and grassland reserves. The second seminar will bring them to Grand Canyon National Park, North Carolina and will conclude in Washington D.C.

For more information, or to contact Jewish National Fund, see their website at: www.jnf.org