(Hai Pa) - Trees produce life • What is the state of greenery and trees in the city of Haifa? Where does the Ministry of Environmental Protection's urban forestry program stand, within the framework of which Haifa was chosen to serve as a pilot? And what do you need to know before deciding to cut down a tree whether in public or private land?
National program for shading: The rescue project is in the process and is expected to be completed in the coming months
In January 2022, the government approved a national plan for shading and cooling the urban space through street trees in preparation for climate change.
In an interview we conducted with Dr. Amiel Wassel, senior director of the "Climate Resilience" Division at the Ministry of Environmental Protection, he said that after the government approved the program, the shadow mapping operation in Israeli cities was carried out and completed, and for this purpose 14 cities were selected for the pilot, among them the city of Haifa. The Haifa Municipality updates that The project is in the process and is expected to be completed in the coming months.
Areas in Haifa, where a large amount of trees will be planted
The issue of planting a large amount of trees is also an important issue for Deputy Mayor Avihu Han, who holds the portfolio of environmental quality.
In an interview we conducted with him recently, Hahn said that the Haifa municipality is now locating areas where a large amount of trees will be planted, so that they can start producing the urbanism they want.
Han says that the plan is to start in Kiryat Haim, on Achai Street in Eilat:
"We will plant thousands of trees every year, because the planting brings life to the city and creates a more pleasant climate, will lower the temperatures and raise the quality of life in Haifa."
Avihu Han: "I am optimistic - the city of Haifa can be put back on track after five difficult years"
Along with the blessed projects, we witness again and again the cutting of trees in parks or public areas or in areas intended for construction, a subject that greatly disturbs those who love the shade and those who protect the trees. We have written and published many articles on the topic of living here.
So what does the law really say? And does any felling or copying require the approval of the municipal forestry official?
According to the law on felling trees, it is forbidden to cut down mature tree, even if it is on private property. Cutting down a tree without a permit, even if the operation takes place on private land, is considered a criminal offense in every way. If you want to cut down the tree or move it, you must get a tree cutting permit from the municipal forestry official.
The amount of the fine for cutting down a tree on private land, without a permit, reaches up to 15,000 NIS
Cutting down a tree, whether on public or private land, that meets the definition of a "mature tree" or a protected tree, without the permission of the forestry official, requires a substantial fine. The fine for cutting down a tree on private property ranges from NIS 7,500 to 15,000. If more than one tree is cut, the fine must be multiplied by the number of trees that were cut down in violation of the law. If the fine is not paid, the law stipulates an option of imprisonment of up to six months.
mature tree
The definition of a mature tree, according to Amendment 89 to the Planning and Construction Law, is a tree that is at least 2 meters above the ground and whose trunk diameter, measured at a height of 130 centimeters above the ground, is at least 10 centimeters. As part of this amendment, almost all mature trees in the country are protected, and not only the protected trees specified in the "Forestry Decree".
According to the law, it is allowed to cut down or copy a mature tree in several situations:
- The tree touches the power lines.
- The tree is sick and rotten.
- The tree blocks access.
- The roots of the tree create problems.
A decision on felling or replanting is made, by the forestry official, after testing and examining a variety of solutions: pruning, if unsuccessful then replanting, and if that is not possible then felling.
Haifa Municipality operates according to the Forestry Ordinance
The Haifa Municipality stated: "In regards to cutting down trees, the Haifa Municipality operates according to the Forestry Ordinance as published on the municipality's website. Also, the Haifa Municipality is working to promote a strategic plan for urban forestry as part of a call for shading issued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection.
Another project that is being promoted in this framework is a pilot to carry out shadowing in Barah Ahi Eilat. Both projects are in the process and are expected to be completed in the coming months. Apart from that, regular plantings are also carried out in the public space as well as plantings in the schools."
Once again, the article ignores the TMA 38 thermal industry in the Carmel Range.
Far-fetched calculations by developer engineers regarding the non-resistance of buildings to earthquake standards, false statements by municipal engineers that back up the trend of these faulty calculations, deep excavations that endanger neighboring buildings and tenants, the backing of the legal advice that accompanies the granting of construction permits in violation of the law, permission to cut down trees by unauthorized persons Legal for that - and this is TMA 38 in its essence in the Carmel Ridge.
Companies without enough experience in building underground parking lots build parking lots that after one winter are full of cracks, moisture and leaks. What is frightening is that the public cannot check the knowledge that the contractor has to carry out what he is doing, the municipal enforcement is below any criticism, or without criticism at all. There is no criticism of the sealing, no criticism of the amount of iron in the foundations and columns, no criticism of the quality of the concrete. Then people buy the building above that looks new and beautiful
And they don't understand that the foundations are rotten. that the building is more dangerous than the old building they replaced.
Everything begins and ends with a city engineer who produces anywhere and everywhere, opening the door to corruption, lack of enforcement, Tama 38 that engineers and planners submit who are not authorized to submit it, incessant easements that bite into sidewalk areas and cause trees to be cut even outside the boundaries of the lots, allowing contractors to leave sidewalks with a minimum width instead of a maximum, The provision of a "parking floor" that requires in advance the cutting of everything above it.
Tama 38 = Dozens of hazards to the quality of life in the neighborhoods, this is just one of them.
Don't be impressed by the beautiful buildings, underneath the infrastructure is rotten and the damage is huge from the density that is created without any response in any area of it.
They cut down a mature mature tree behind my house this week. A tree that is more than 30 years old, healthy and green, but what - it blocks the view from the neighbors' balconies.
Without informing anyone, they received permission from the forester and came one morning and cut it down.
Willing to intervene that the procedure is tainted with corruption and calls on the municipality to investigate the issue
Trees are planted and after a year everything is cut down.
It is important to emphasize that trees require care and control like anything that is planted or protected. The municipality cannot plant and neglect because the trees also have hazards such as blocking sunlight and the view to the apartments. Like dropping fruits and leaves and making sidewalks slippery and dangerous. Like birds and bats that are nuisances in large numbers. Like pests that can lead to dry and flammable wood. Like roots that can damage sidewalks and roads. Like branches that may fall in winter over sidewalks and roads.
In a planting plan, the municipality should take into account the types of trees and future nuisances that may create and determine an annual plan for the control and maintenance of what is planted.
Tenants in condominiums also have the option of pruning until there are tree leaves or branches that interfere with the air conditioners, enter the windows or hide the sun, for example from a solar collector or from windows.
The main problem with trees on urban roads is the lack of pruning or overly aggressive pruning.
A second problem is the planting of trees that do not provide shade, such as palm and olive trees, which takes decades to grow into trees that provide shade, even in a small area.
A tree next to houses is like having a gas barrel next to a house.
Especially when it's dry.
As usual, the neighborhoods, the neighborhoods, the sidewalks and the squares are bare and hot, there are hardly any trees and the ones that are, are small and shabby. This is especially true for new projects boasting of a "high quality of life" where planting trees by the contractor is mandatory and sometimes not even that.
You don't need a law or a project to understand what every person with 2 functional brain lobes understands: trees = shade = coolness and quality of life for the residents of our sun-struck country!
The municipality and the "Forestry Clerk" would indeed have done their job, the article was completely unnecessary. Instead of quoting laws and regulations... the requested article is: how every tree that is within the building line in Tama 38 is automatically set for cutting or copying, and who has any idea where the trees are copied... if at all... and not actually cut down. No supervision..no proper inspection..and the article also did not touch on an equally acute problem, which is the severe pruning that the trees undergo for some reason right when new tenants arrive and the tree blocks their view...ouch....The main thing is that in Eilat there will be a pilot and another V will be marked.
A resident is allowed to prune a tree in his garden up to a dalish of the tree's foliage.
Just as shade is important for apartments, air and sun and scenery are also important, which are defined as a vested right.
Can a neighbor decide to cut a branch that blocks his air or view or sun or thin out several branches of a tree or branches that penetrate the windows of his apartment?
The answer is yes and he does not need any approval.