President of Guatemala Otto Fernando Pérez Molina waters his newly planted tree, with KKL-JNF World Chairman Efi Stenzler. Photo: Sasson Tiram, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
"Planting this tree in Jerusalem not only strengthens the ties of friendship between Guatemala and Israel, but also expresses our hope for a better world."
President of Guatemala, Otto Fernando Pérez Molina planted a tree at the KKL-JNF Grove of Nations in Jerusalem. "It is an honor for us to be here with you and plant a tree in the tradition of Abraham," said the president, who joined the ranks of the many heads of state from all over the world who have planted olive trees in the Grove of Nations in Jerusalem as a sign of friendship with the State of Israel and the Jewish people, and as a symbol of peace between the nations of the world.
This was the first official visit to Israel of a President of Guatemala. The tree planting ceremony in the Grove of Nations, which took place on Monday, December 9, 2013, was attended by Guatemalan government ministers—the Foreign Minister, the Defense Minister and the Minister of Agriculture—as well as KKL-JNF executives, among them KKL-JNF Chairman Efi Stenzler. "In the Jewish tradition, planting a tree is the most important symbol of friendship," said Stenzler. "I am sure this tree we have planted here will reinforce the cooperation between our countries."
President of Guatemala Otto Fernando Pérez Molina waters his newly planted tree, with KKL-JNF World Chairman Efi Stenzler. Photo: Sasson Tiram, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
Stenzler said that the new olive tree joins the 240 million trees planted by KKL-JNF all over Israel over the years. He detailed KKL-JNF's work to the audience, which includes not only planting trees but also constructing reservoirs, developing agriculture in arid regions, combating desertification, rehabilitating waterways, developing infrastructure for ecotourism and education for environmental protection.
The ceremony was emceed by Andy Michelson, who made many people smile when he said that planting trees in the land of Israel is so important, according to the Jewish tradition, that it says, if the Messiah arrives when a man is in the midst of planting a tree, he must first finish planting the tree, and only then may he go and greet the Messiah.
Among those present was the President of KKL Guatemala, Susan Michaeli, who said that "Guatemala has been a friend of Israel since the establishment of its statehood, and this visit is important in strengthening the connection."
The Israel Ambassador to Guatemala, Moshe Bachar, and the Guatemala Ambassador to Israel, Alfredo Vasquez, read the Planter's Prayer together, in Hebrew and in Spanish, after which everyone got to work planting the olive tree. The muddy ground following the rain did not deter the Guatemalan President and his ministers, who planted the tree skillfully and did not forget to water it when they were done. "Every tree signifies hope, life, concern for the environment and the continuity of future generations," concluded the President.
The next day, President Pérez Molina was taken on a helicopter tour of the Negev accompanied by KKL-JNF executive officers, and he was very impressed by the achievements of KKL-JNF in the development of southern Israel. The tour included bird's eye views of the various projects that are turning the desert into a green and flourishing region. That evening, KKL-JNF hosted a reception in honor of the President of Guatemala at the Rabin Center in Tel Aviv, where he was the main speaker.
During his visit in Israel, the Guatemalan President met the President of Israel, Shimon Peres. At the official reception, President Peres said, "Welcome to the State of Israel and to the city of Jerusalem. We welcome you as the President of Guatemala, a friend of Israel, a friend of peace." President Peres said that Israel and Guatemala have great potential as collaborators and said, "Your visit is an opportunity for expanding cooperation, in this era when Guatemala is progressing toward a future of innovation and science."
The President of Guatemala's Helicopter Tour
The helicopter tour of the President of Guatemala with KKL-JNF executives included the Dead Sea and Masada, and sites of projects being developed by KKL-JNF all over the Negev, with the assistance of its friends worldwide.
Yatir Forest
KKL Guatemala President Susan Michaeli and KKL-JNF Board Member Hernan Felman. Photo: Yoav Devir
The largest planted forest in the Middle East, Yatir Forest serves as an example for maximal adjustment to arid climate conditions and is a focus for international research on environmental protection and carbon sequestration by trees. These research studies have shown that desert trees absorb as much carbon as trees in the rain forests!
As the organization responsible for Israel's forests, KKL-JNF contributes towards the reduction of global warming by having planted more than 240 million trees in an area of 920,000 dunams, and in maintaining 800,000 dunams of natural woodlands and pasture.
Planting trees is the most significant contribution towards reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and preventing global warming. Thanks to the work of KKL-JNF, Israel is one of the only countries in the world that has more trees today than it had a hundred years ago.
KKL-JNF Reservoirs
Water is an acute issue in Israel, where water is scarce. As the population grows, more and more water is allocated for domestic use, so the quantities of water available for agriculture have been diminishing. KKL-JNF sees great importance in the intensive development of agriculture in Israel to enable the empowerment of populations that make a living from agriculture, especially in rural areas, and also as a safeguard for Israel's open spaces and landscapes. Development of reservoirs for agriculture is therefore a priority for KKL-JNF among its diverse activities.
KKL-JNF has constructed more than 240 reservoirs for storing floodwater and treated wastewater. Some of the reservoirs with treated wastewater fill up several times a year. Thus, a capacity of 260 cubic meters can produce up to 160 million cubic meters of water a year. In 2010, water provided by the reservoirs constructed by KKL-JNF provided half of the water used for agriculture in Israel!
Ambassadors Forest and Desert Afforestation
Efi Stenzler presents the Gautemalan President with a KKL-JNF Planting Certificate. Photo: Sasson Tiram, KKL-JNF Photo Archive
KKL-JNF invests great resources in halting the expansion of the desert, and in rehabilitating areas that have undergone desertification, by developing methods for desert afforestation based on agricultural methods such as the ancient terrace system and the more modern liman system.
The year 2006 was declared the year of desertification by the UN, and it was therefore decided to inaugurate the Ambassadors Forest in the environs of Beersheva. The Ambassadors Forest was planted in the green belt that KKL-JNF is developing around the Beer Sheva metropolis. The forest, which covers 700 dunams, was planted in sandstone, where water resources are utilized by special methods that enable trees such as acacia, carob, fig and other desert species to thrive.
Beersheva River Park
In the heart of Beersheva, the Negev's capital city, flows the Beersheva River, which was polluted for many years and became a hazardous waste dump. A joint rehabilitation project undertaken by KKL-JNF, the Shikma Besor Drainage Authority, the Beersheba Municipality and the Israel Ministry for Environmental Protection, has turned it into an ecological park covering an area of 5,200 dunams and measuring 8 kilometers in length.
The Beersheva River Park includes lawns, groves, footpaths, cycling trails, historic sites, designed bridges, sports facilities, a botanical garden featuring desert flora, picnic areas all along the promenade and assorted wildlife. A manmade lake is planned for the center of the park, to be supplied by treated wastewater.
Gaza Border Communities – Life Saving Trees
The Grove of Nations. Photo: Yoav Devir
The people living in communities bordering on Gaza are constantly exposed to Palestinian artillery and missile attacks, while accessing their farms, within the boundaries of their own communities, and while driving along the roads, such as the anti-tank missile fired at a school bus on a road near the Gaza border, which killed a 16-year-old boy.
In order to remedy the situation, KKL-JNF and the IDF embarked on a tree planting project in 2011. The trees, which border vulnerable communities, serve a triple benefit to residents of the south: these rows of trees will not only block the vision of terrorist firing into Israel, but will also provide pleasant scenery and shade.
The planting program focuses on using fast-growing, water-saving species, adapted to the desert conditions in the area.
Jerusalem
The helicopter tour concluded in Jerusalem with a view of the Old City.
