The fire which broke out in the Carmel on Thursday, December 2^nd, 2010 was exceptional in its scope, intensity and the heavy toll it wrought on human, animal and plant life. Fires in forests, woods and thickets are usually a natural process, one that people have dealt with in the Mediterranean for several thousand years. However, this particular forest fire caused severe damage to the ecological system, to the area’s recreational and scenic values, its flora infrastructure, destroying habitat and the wildlife that dwelled there, primarily reptiles and invertebrates. There is also a potential threat from soil erosion with the coming winter rains. Though it is impossible to completely prevent forest fires, the area must be managed and monitored continuously to reduce the probability of large-scale fires and the damage they wreak to man and nature.

There have been several large forest fires in Israel in recent years. In their wake, scientific knowledge was gained, and research improved, informing us on successful rehabilitation methods and how forest fires can be better prevented. The ecological process of forest regeneration is expected to happen over the course of many years. Successful regeneration is affected by several variables, including the type of fire, history of past fires, geology, soil type, vegetation formation and density, topography, and the age of the forest. The outline of the Carmel rehabilitation should be based on previous scientific knowledge, focusing on the conclusions of professional committees established after previous forest fires. We must avoid repeating past mistakes. One of the main lessons learned from past fires instructs us that the Carmel rehabilitation must be based solely on natural regenerative capacity of the area, based on the seed bank found in the soil and not artificial planting. 

A study of rehabilitation of Sha’ar Ha-gai (literally translated to “Gate of the Valley” and located just west of the Jerusalem Hills) Forest Fire in 1995 taught us that planting new trees did not achieve the desired result that rehabilitation project directors had hoped for. Research also showed that the areas which were planted did not grow or rehabilitate faster than areas that were not re-planted. Today we credit 80% of the trees in that area to natural growth and renewal. In order for the rehabilitation and restoration efforts to succeed, it must be led by professionals and we must invest wisely in managing the resources for long term processes. It is also critical to invest resources in the sections of the forest that were not burned to prevent future fires.

Outline for Carmel Rehabilitation

1. Establish Professional Committee – led by scientists, this committee should oversee the rehabilitation efforts, incorporating lessons from past experience
2. Create a Database – gather data about processes and changes in the area, determine if any artificial assistance is necessary, and if so, make recommendations
3. Allow the area to recover naturally – maximizing the existing natural bounty of the seed bank in the ground, and allowing it to take root
4. Aim for ecological diversity – aspire to ecological diversity, to create a range of habitats – human intervention in the natural process should be to this end
5. Ensure a heterogeneous habitat – Avoid the long-term buildup of dense homogeneous space which will hamper the regeneration of leafy plants and geophytes, and preventing passage of animals and hikers. For example, trails should be developed.
6. Avoid any new planting, especially in the first stage – planting, if any, should be done only after ecological assessment, to prove their necessity and should be carried out only in strategic and limited areas. Completely avoid planting non-native trees, which, in case of fire, cause the fire to spread out of control.
7. Hold Off on Removing Dead Trees to prevent soil erosion – Avoid (as much as possible) the removal of burned trees and tamping down of the earth – to prevent soil erosion. The removal of dead trees can be carried out only in limited areas and only after the areas have been ecologically assessed.
8. Create a Long Term Plan – to prevent future fires, including
   1. ensuring reducing potential sources of particularly dense pine forest and flammable species
   2. creating buffer zones with thinner vegetation coverage in belts surrounding residential areas, etc.
   3. avoiding building new roads in sensitive areas
   4. monitoring the ecological area and adapting and responding based on the strategy of the professional committee
   5. strengthening and reinforcing the fire department

We recommend organizing community events, to educate the public about the natural rehabilitation of the Carmel and encourage public dialog on the subject, and channeling the resources to monitor the situation.

Sources:

Noy Meir A. et al., 1990. Summary of discussions and recommendations: rehabilitation of burned areas and protection from future fires. Professional Committee for Rehabilitation and Development of the Carmel.

Sapir G., Carmel Y., 2010. Predicting vegetation regeneration after a fire in artificially planted pine forests. Ecology & Environment, Issue No. 3.