Saving the Jerusalem Forest

Public campaigns / Preservation Initiatives/ Public  Awareness / Forest Activities / Adoption of the Shomera site

Just beyond the western edge of the city of Jerusalem, lies a magical place filled with olive groves, ancient terraces and the fresh smell of pine. Jerusalem’s “green lung” filters polluted air swept in from the coastal plain. It is the last green oasis in a city
being overrun by high-rise buildings and congested thoroughfares.
A large section of the city neighbors the Jerusalem Forest, with the downtown and the Old City only minutes away, The Forest is a unique haven for residents and visitors alike – Jerusalem’s urban nature reserve. It is the place for relaxation, recreation and reconnection with nature.

Shomera’s goal is to preserve the Forest in the face of urbanization and development projects that encroach upon its periphery. It strives to draw residents and visitors into the Forest, to introduce them to its walking paths, ancient structures, to appreciate its vegetation, quiet and beauty. The organization seeks to inform the public about the opportunities provided by this unique Forest-park and to encourage their involvement in its safekeeping.

n addition, Shomera works with planners and public officials to find ways to safeguard the Forest for the benefit of the public. The organization seeks alternatives to proposed infrastructure and building projects and encourages professionals to reconsider their assumptions and ideas about land usage.

Public campaigns – cooperation with other organizations

Shomera initiates and participates in widespread public campaigns against building and development projects that are anticipated to negatively impact the Jerusalem Forest and adjacent neighborhoods. Coalitions of social and environmental groups are created to target problem proposals in the initial stages and prior to their receiving permits. The goals range from modifying a proposed project to eliminating it completely, depending upon the potential impact.
Target audience: Social and environmental groups

Website of the Forum of Organizations for the Jerusalem Forest - www.savejeru.org

Public  Awareness – publicity, events, lectures
The organization works to raise public awareness about the value of the Forest and about the threats to its existence. The goal is to turn apathy into interest and to increase the public’s concern and participation in the Forest’s well-being and conservation for future generations.
Target audience: Jerusalem residents and visitors

Forest Activities – walks, extreme challenges, programs for all-ages
Fun activities draw families into the Forest and familiarize them with its nooks, and byways, its wells, vegetation and archeology. Programs for a variety of age-groups introduce animals that live in the Forest, develop observation skills and follow the seasons and natural cycles. Narratives incorporate Jewish thought about the natural world and the considerate use of its resources. Through the programs, participants develop a connection to the Forest and it becomes a part of their lives.
Target audience: Families and children

Preservation Initiatives– the Har Nof Promenade, subterranean burial on Har HaMenuchot
Shomera encourages the development and implementation of planning that integrates the city’s needs with the goal of preserving the Forest. Initiatives such as subterranean burial on Har Hamenuchot allow for the expansion of this cemetery while safeguarding the territory within the Forest. The Har Nof Promenade provides play areas for children and a new attraction for Jerusalemites, while delineating the edge of urban sprawl and its boundary with the green, open spaces beyond.
Target audience: Planning agencies and architects

Adoption of the Shomera site – rehabilitation of an ancient agricultural site as an educational center in the forest

The Shomera Educational Centre located in the Jerusalem Forest  provides a model for groups seeking to make a positive contribution to the preservation of the environment.  The site which contains archeological relics and agricultural terraces, was discovered in the uncovering of the underbrush  after a local forest fire.   The site, maintained and cultivated by Shomera staff and volunteers for the past several years, serves as a center for activity and training, in cooperation with the JNF.

Target audience: The general public.

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