The world forests play a crucial role in the mitigation of global climate change by carbon fixation and its sequestration in plant biomass and soil organic matter. However, there is little information about the carbon pools in most forests and natural ecosystems in Israel, and about the factors affecting carbon sequestration. This project aims to quantify the contribution of afforestation to carbon sequestration in Israel, and to assess the effect of climatic factors and land management on carbon sequestration in planted forests and nearby unplanted natural ecosystems. The research findings will provide information about the extent to which planted forests sequester carbon and about the combination of factors that maximizes carbon sequestration. 

Funding: KKL

Collaborator: Ittai Herrmann, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel 

Co-workers: Yair Ben Tsion, William Mlelwa (MSc students)