(haipo) - The Ministry of Agriculture is launching a new digital system that will allow the submission of requests to cut trees or to copy them, online. The new system offers citizens, entrepreneurs and entities involved in construction and development projects, the possibility to view all applications submitted for logging licenses, including licenses that have been approved or rejected, or that are available during the process.

Reducing the bureaucratic burden and increasing transparency
The service will operate within the "Yaala" system, which brings together the online services of the Ministry of Agriculture. The system will allow the general public to view licenses that have been granted or denied, without the need to register in advance. In case of submitting an application, the applicant is required to register in the system, fill out the application details and attach the required documents. After review, the municipal forestry official will approve or deny the application, and the applicant will receive an update on the decision. In case of approval, the license will be issued digitally.
Dr. Erez Barkai, Chief Forestry Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture:
"The new system improves public transparency and allows the public to have immediate and full access to any license granted. In addition, it reduces the bureaucratic burden and streamlines the licensing process for cutting down trees for the benefit of construction and development."
following public complaints
בLive here - the news corporation, a large number of articles dealing with the issue were published over the years, from which complaints arose from residents who objected to the cutting of trees in public, private and shared areas. In some cases, claims were even made that trees were allegedly cut down, without the appropriate permits being obtained. On various occasions, residents contacted and reported a tree that was cut down against the law or about to be cut down without permission. Be that as it may, for many years there was a feeling of non-transparency regarding the issue and the process involved.
The transition to a digital service will make the information accessible to the general public, and will allow residents to follow logging requests and ensure that any logging is carried out in accordance with the law. In this way, the Ministry of Agriculture hopes to reduce the phenomenon of illegal felling and increase public oversight of the process of approving the felling of trees.
Cutting down a tree without a permit is a criminal offense
According to the tree felling law, it is forbidden to cut down a mature tree, even if it is on private land, without permission from the municipal forestry official. Felling that is done without a permit is considered a criminal offense, and the punishment for it may reach a fine of up to NIS 15,000 per tree. In serious cases, when several trees are cut down in violation of the law, the fines are doubled according to the number of trees cut down. In case of non-payment of the fine, the punishment may reach up to six months imprisonment.
Transparent system - at the push of a button
The launch of the new digital system is a significant step in improving public transparency regarding the cutting of trees and their copying in Israel. The possibility for every citizen to check licenses at the push of a button will strengthen the supervision of these procedures and ensure better protection of the trees in the public and private space.
Maybe a home inspection should be done regarding who is responsible in the municipality for issuing the permits....
Hannah there is a link at the end of the article
I would love to receive a link in the article to the new system of the Ministry of Agriculture. I searched the network and did not find it
It's a hot country and despite all that, trees are being cut down here left and right, this is in addition to the burning of forests by terrorists... It's better to leave and live in the forests abroad