"Three years ago, not long after the failed battle to prevent a road paving in the Hanita Forest, a Jewish National Fund (JNF) guide pointed out orchids growing along the road route to Clil Adar, the JNF Forest and Community Coordinator for the Western Galilee. "That frustrated me," Adar says. "Had I known during the battle that orchids bloom in this area, I would have enlisted them in the struggle to influence public opinion. Perhaps we would have saved the land." ... On Thursday, 110 volunteers arrived to assist Adar... in the Hanita Forest. The volunteers came from all parts of the country to survey the orchids...
In practice, the survey conducted by botanists, researchers, students, and nature lovers will create a tool with which JNF employees can plan and manage the forest in the future. When analysis of the results is complete, it will be known, for example, where orchid concentrations are located. ... Adar says. "We also now know that orchids bloom under the pine canopy despite years in which everyone defamed the pines, claiming that nothing bloomed in their vicinity. I am happy to report, thanks to the survey, that there is plenty to see... and rare orchids enhance the pine forest." After the data is processed, the next step will be to connect the community to the forest. Adar hopes, "School children and adolescents will become attached to the forest and participate in activities involving the preparation of hiking trails. I believe that involvement, local pride and concern will develop here. This will mainly surround the orchid, which we now know more about." The survey will also shed light on how to better preserve what already exists. For example, when trees are felled to thin out the forest, workers will have knowledge of areas where orchids... may be affected... Development activities, like paving roads, constructing neighborhoods and creating dirt paths, must now take survey results into consideration. Adar is certain that the orchid's presence will assist him in future endeavors at the site. "... There are people who are nuts about orchids and would go anywhere in the world to see them." " article URL : http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/836451.html *********** Regards, VB _______________________________________________ the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD) [email protected] http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
