Elsinox Good morning Elsinox! You are right and this nice Australian acacia growing along the roads is a problem now. But anyway better to have something green around instead of sand 😉 Of course, just like in your country, work is constantly underway to combat this. Cities are removing to the parks ficus trees, which are breaking sidewalks with their roots and burying their fruit on cars and streets beneath them. The same is true for huge eucalyptus trees etc. etc.
From Wiki:
At the beginning of the 20th century, the territory of modern Israel was severely deforested and environmentally degraded: forests had been cut down, soils were damaged by erosion, and much of the land was considered poor and semi-arid. Overgrazing and overexploitation had destroyed much of the natural vegetation, leaving very little forest cover .
Because of this, trees were planted on a large scale to restore soils, prevent erosion, retain moisture, create shade, and make the land more livable. Afforestation became a national effort, and today a significant share of Israel’s forests are man-made.
Due to the harsh climate, native species were not always sufficient, so trees were introduced from around the world.
Eucalyptus was widely planted because it grows quickly and helped drain wetlands. Acacia species were used because they tolerate drought and poor soils, making them suitable for arid regions .
However, some introduced species became invasive.
Australian acacia spreads aggressively and displaces native plants.
Eucalyptus is associated with the spread of pests and can alter local ecosystems.
Today, this is taken into account. Israel increasingly:
limits the spread of invasive species
uses biological control methods
and shifts toward more ecologically balanced planting, combining resilient non-native trees with native vegetation
Conclusion: Trees are planted in Israel out of necessity, but modern policy focuses on balancing afforestation with the protection of natural ecosystems.
