Survey of trees in Haifa - Hila Laufer, city council member from the Green Movement of Haifa in a query to the city council
Laufer writes in the query:
"In recent months, I have witnessed multiple tree cuttings, without any warning, without any explanation. Residents who come home from work and find that trees have simply disappeared from their place."
The importance of trees in the urban space
"I fear that the current government does not at all understand the importance of trees in the urban space," Lauper continues, "from a future perspective, the local government is not concerned with everyday life. Summer is here, and what are those who walk on two and those who walk on four are looking for? Yes... shade! The trees provide A lot of things are important to us, among others - shade. Shade that has no substitute, not even in the form of small and strange umbrellas such as those placed in the Talpiot market."
I asked for information - I did not receive it
"Cutting down healthy trees is a crime and a tremendous damage to the environment. How does the Haifa municipality even know which trees should be cut down due to diseases that cannot be restored and which trees should be preserved? I asked for information and I did not receive it, so I am asking for the intervention of the legal advisor to order the transfer of the information to me."
Lauper's questions:
- Is there an organized annual tree survey? I will request documents from the years 2018-2022
- Is there a tree safety survey in educational institutions? I will request documents from the years 2018-2022
- Has the Haifa municipality been sued for injury to a person or property by fallen trees, branches that hit a vehicle, etc.? I would like to know how many claims have been filed from 2018 until now and what the amount of each claim is.
- Is there an orderly follow-up procedure for external parties that carry out pruning such as an electricity company? Does anyone from the municipality accompany in such a situation that an agricultural worker comes to prune branches? I would like to see the work procedure.
- Is there an organized treatment protocol for ongoing preventive treatment of trees, for example the palm weevil? If so, I will ask for documents proving this.
- How many trees were dried and cut down each year from 2018?
- How many trees fell ill and were cut down each year from 2018?
- How many healthy trees were cut down and what was the reason for cutting each year from 2018?
- How many trees were cut down for construction each year from 2018?
There is no normal mayor who cares about the city, so the city has long been bankrupt, no city engineer, nothing, total destruction of the entire Old City area of Haifa, unorganized construction, incorrect building permits, parking cars on sidewalks and blocking the way for pedestrians, roads with recurring potholes, unworthy managers Their job is total chaos
I am appealing to the leaders of the city of Haifa:
A. Please take care of the mature trees in our city!
on. A mature shade tree is a mandatory infrastructure in the urban outline!!!
third. Kudos to the City Council for its fight on the issue.
d. Little by little, covertly and openly, trees are being damaged and gnawed, especially in sites of accelerated development...
Below is an example case from the Horev center.
A pedestrian path that connects Horev Street and Netka.
Until recently, the path enjoyed shade with the help of 7 impressive Bengal ficus trees. (The trees are at least 45 years old).
About two months ago ~ the old ficus trees were cut down in a significant way, that is - they were 'hung'.
(Girdom = felling according to the Ministry of Agriculture)
I'm afraid that this happened due to the 'Evacuation - Construction' project in Hantaka 2-4 which is expected to start soon...
God. In the past we knew how to respect and protect the trees:
As in the early 2000s, an expensive project was carried out to treat + preserve the old trees on Deer Boulevard.
I wish you would come to your senses by being extra careful with the rules and procedures.
Is there anything to complain about?
By the way, the trees in Pezner 68 are also disturbing
Pine trees are silent killers!
Since they took down a pine tree that was sitting on the window and the roof, I don't have rashes and tachios
There is a huge variety of trees that can be planted there, just release the idolaters already and let the citizens live!
Death to the pine trees, long live the choice is coming! you are welcome !
How right you are. tree. nature. shadow. Air, beauty, life. In the endless weight of asphalt concrete buildings the wood gives the balance.
Thanks to Councilwoman Norit Laufer for the important query! Even here in Afula, it is not clear to me what the criteria are for the multiple felling of trees, and I also did not receive a clear answer to my question (as a member of the environmental protection committee in the city for 12 years) where the cut trunks and branches go (which are worth quite a bit of money). We must continue to press and arouse public opinion on the issue. Before shade and beauty and fruits and biological diversity and much more that the trees give us - first of all they give us nature!!!! This should be emphasized because absurdly many people do not know this!
About a week ago, in front of the Rothschild house, where the path leading to Keller, in the territory of Gan Mania, they cut down some trees, and a truck immediately arrived, loading the large trunks from the place. Does anyone know any details? Why did they cut them?? and leave cut trunks in the ground. why? God forbid someone falls?
Even the ultra-Orthodox, and especially the Gur Hasidim, cut down trees for balconies that they sew outside the building without a permit for Sukkots that they also build in the courtyards of synagogues. They cut down trees in Haifa in Hadar, where they live. They cut down ancient trees that are over 100 years old and healthy trees. They don't care, the main thing is that they be comfortable.
It seems that in this matter too, there is no law and no justice.
The contractors do whatever they want in the city.
At each Tama 38/2 site, 5-10 mature trees are cut down for "parking lots". Since there are about 100 such construction sites per year, it is about 500-1000 trees. 2000 trees were destroyed in Givat Zemer.
In the Moriah and the President streets, analyzing silhouettes from the past, 400 trees were cut down in the last decade.
The city is getting hotter and hotter and instead of shade there is hot asphalt that traps heat. The forestry official turns a blind eye to Tama 38 damage
In new construction, no space is left in front of the entrance to the building for shade-giving trees, but small planters next to paved parking lots. That's how they hurt the grass, animals, trees with no place to grow.
The truth is that many try to hide and deny that many trees are brutally uprooted out of nationalist sentiment and hatred.
Would like to know who would dare deny my words?????
It's good that you put the trees in the focus of the discussion.
Our streets are becoming shadowless. The municipality talks about proceduralism and works against it!
Interesting query -
How many trees for preservation were declared a safety hazard at construction sites and cut down?
I'm guessing you'll find one on almost every construction site