How is the fate of a tree in Haifa determined? The controversy over tree felling and proper public administration

(haipo) Decision-making regarding tree felling in the city of Haifa has become a charged and complex issue in recent years, more than a purely environmental matter. Environmental activists, public representatives and residents express resentment, and sometimes even suspicion, in the processes for approving tree felling: regarding publication procedures, appeal periods and reasons leading to the uprooting of old trees from the urban space.

The struggle does not focus only on the trees themselves, but on the values they represent – quality public space, a healthy urban environment, and a balance between development and construction and urban nature conservation.

The tension between construction and tree preservation: The case of Sderot Hatzvi

Sderot Hatzvi in the center of Carmel is a clear example of the battle for the urban green lung. Environmental activists say that in recent years they have been forced to keep their eyes open at every given moment, facing construction processes, which sometimes lead to the cutting down of old trees and landscape assets.

For developers, trees are a planning and economic obstacle, and there is often a desire to remove them in order to streamline the construction process and minimize costs. On the other hand, residents and environmental activists believe that planning solutions that allow existing trees to remain should be preferred, even if this means making the construction process more difficult and expensive.

Why trees in the city are about much more than just a landscape

Many see trees as an integral part of the quality of life in the city: trees provide shade and make public spaces pleasant to walk in. They create a sense of nature, a calm and inviting space. Trees also contribute to balancing the local climate, filtering pollutants and reducing noise. A city built entirely of concrete and brick, without the presence of greenery, is a city whose services may be efficient, but it lacks the health and aesthetic dimension that urban nature provides.

Important query: The case of 50 Einstein Street

City Council members from the "Our Home" faction, David Etzioni and Zeev Sonenzon, submitted a query regarding the process of cutting down four Jerusalem pine trees at 50 Einstein Street.
They raised pointed questions about the procedures of the Haifa Municipality and the forestry official, and claimed that the felling process in this case raises many doubts about its properness. The query was submitted following a request from a resident who did not understand how the trees were felled without being given the opportunity to file an appeal as required.

Times and questions: Was the amputation performed before the appeal date?

According to the query, on 11.5.25 a logging permit was issued, which stated that the deadline for filing an appeal was 25.5.25.
However, in practice, the trees were cut down as early as 18.5.25, that is, a week before the end of the appeal period. In an appeal sent to Bracha Sela, Responsible for the city councilEtzioni and Sonenzon asked to clarify with the forestry official the validity of the procedure.
Forestry official, In his response dated 22.6.25, he wrote:
"The issue was reviewed and it was found that a felling permit was issued immediately, without the possibility of appeal and without 14 days of publication, due to a safety and harmful condition found in the trees and fear of spreading to other trees in the area."

Contrary to this answer, it was found that the logging permit stated that there was an appeal period, and the issue was published in the municipality's list of logging licenses, without mentioning the claim that this was an expedited procedure.

Etzioni and Sonenzon raise a series of questions:

• Funding the opinion: Was the review funded by the tenants or by the municipality?
• Is there a clear provision in the law for the cancellation of the appeal period? If so, who is authorized to invoke it?
• Why was the fee exemption not specified in the logging license?
• Were signatures collected from 75% of the house's residents as required?
• Why were the application documents for the felling permit not filled out in full?
• How many trees have been cut down in the city in recent years, and how many have been planted in their place?

According to the two, these are administrative and regulatory questions that require in-depth examination by the municipal auditor.

Council member Zeev Sonenzon: "We have no confidence in the procedure"

In a conversation with a Haifa reporter, Council member Zeev Sonenzon said: "The process by which the trees at 50 Einstein Street were cut down, before the end of the appeal period, requires a thorough investigation. There is a feeling that the municipality sometimes operates without sufficient supervision, and as a result, residents lose confidence in the procedure. We want to ensure that these processes are carried out according to the law, with full transparency and with public participation."

He adds that the questions sent to the municipality are not an accusation, but a demand to ensure that all stages of the procedure are carried out properly, both from a bureaucratic and environmental perspective.

Is it appropriate to transfer the issue of amputation to municipal audit?

The call to transfer the issue of tree felling to municipal control is growing stronger. According to council members and residents, there is concern that fellings are being carried out without sufficient control, without presenting alternatives, and without transparency. This is not a war on every tree, but a fundamental demand: every tree in the city is worth a real examination. Every license must be accompanied by full information, and each year there must be monitoring of the number of trees cut down, in relation to the trees planted.