The Climate Forest project by the Good Energy Initiative (RA) was founded with the mission of improving the quality of life of the residents of cities and towns in Israel, with a focus on the social periphery, and participating in the fight against climate change through the planting of trees in built-up areas.
The project has a unique structure that involves a wide range of stakeholders from the business sector, local government and community. Our responsibility for the trees begins with planting and continues long after, through work that supports their growth and through community educational endeavors on preserving and nurturing the trees. By doing so, we ensure that the trees that are planted live and thrive over time, and realize their potential in improving the quality of life and health of residents, and reducing carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to global warming.
Since our establishments, the project has planted thousands of trees in dozens of locations across Israel, along with a long list of companies and with the participation of hundreds of volunteers.
Good Energy Initiative (NPO) is a climate changing enterprise that has been operating since 2006 and as a registered non-profit organization since 2008. The Initiative develops unique and innovative projects for the implementation of sustainable technologies and environmental performance, while achieving social gains. Our projects combine practical ecology together with education and publicity, and they grow and are run in educational institutions, urban and rural communities from the Israeli geographical and social periphery, nonprofit organizations, enterprises and businesses.
Good Energy Initiative has over a decade of experience with tree planting programs, including planting at educational institutions throughout Israel, tree planting for carbon offsetting, planting events for companies,and establishing, maintenaning and operating planting projects from saplings fully grown trees.
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The ability to ensure successful planting of trees where they are most needed and their successful growth is based on the project’s four guiding principles.
Throughout the project, we ensure that the planting conditions are optimal over time, by making sure there is appropriate infrastructure that enables multiyear maintenance and irrigation, and by ensuring that the forested area is under the responsibility and care of a local individual from the community along with professionals from the local authority.
A planted tree is a wonderful gift, but if it is not cared for properly and over time, especially given the hot and dry Israeli climate, it’s life span is shortened and its inherent potential is not realized. That is why at each of our sites we make sure to take the following three steps of the project
While planting in open spaces might disturb existing natural ecological systems, planned and professional tree planting in the urban environment, with a focus on abandoned public areas, creates an important positive impact on different components of the existing ecological system (soil, biological diversity, micro climate, etc.).
Additionally, we make sure to match our tree sto the type of soil and geographic-climatic location, to ensure that the trees take root and survive for years to come.
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The project builds a bridge between local authorities and municipalities, government agencies, companies and private individuals. This is based on our belief that the only way to meet the environmental and social challenges and create real change in the environment will live in is through cross-sector collaboration.
The fabric of relationships in the project guarantees not only the longevity of the project, but also stronger relationships between the active groups, with each one of them being responsible and involved in its success, as well as integration of environmental thinking among all those involved through direction and action. Thus, for example, a municipality will agree to planting in marginal areas in its jurisdiction, including a promise to maintain the irrigation system; a company will purchase a very large number of trees (for its employees or as a project to offset the company’s carbon emissions) and private individuals will be able to use the Climate Forest plot to continue planting, even for a smaller number of trees.
Not only is environmental work not detached from social action, but it is also related to it and calls for it. To bring about a deep and meaningful environmental change, it must be achieved through a positive impact on people and their lifestyles, particularly who need it more than anything.
This principle is implemented in the Climate Forest project, through the nurseries located in the institutions, organizations and associations that derive educational and social benefit from the direct connection to the plants and the earth. Additionally, we strive to establish as many connections as possible with the community surrounding the planting areas and to involve them in all stages of the project, from establishment of the nurseries, the permanent planting event in the areas and help with ongoing maintenance by specific responsible individuals.
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