Dr. Mario Gutman, Department of Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization.

Dr. Simcha Lev - Yadun. Department of Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization.

1. Background
     Many of the highland areas in Israel are covered with typical Mediterranean maquis and scrub. This scrubland is today mostly wild and dense, limiting its availability for grazing, tourism or hiking. At one time, large parts of it were subject to heavy grazing by goats and cattle, together with tree felling, both for timber and firewood supply and for charcoal production. This resulted in almost complete deforestation and severe soil erosion and a considerable reduction in the vegetative biomass which these areas supported. In recent decades, these flocks and herds have been removed from the woods and parks and, as a result of the decrease in grazing and prevention of tree felling, the areas have been closed up by bushes and trees, leading to a considerable increase in bush fires. The connection perceived between these two phenomena, preservation and fires, has lately led to the re-introduction of grazing, as a tool in the management of tree plantations and regenerated natural woodlands, principally as a means to prevent fires.
    Most of the fires in the country take place in early summer, with a second period of sensitivity occurring in early fall. The spread of the fires is influenced by meteorological conditions (winds and very low humidity) and by the presence of fine flammatory material. The latter is liable to encourage the spread of fire even in less favorable climatic conditions, without the additional factors of strong winds and low humidity. Dry herbaceous matter is the first fuel which facilitates the spread of fire. Where there is little dry herbaceous matter, the likelihood of chance fires in ignition of the trees themselves and causing a widespread forest fire are greatly reduced. The obvious conclusion is that the removal of fine flammable material would greatly reduce the gigantic fires which we have witnessed increasingly over the past few years. We suggest that these process will be done through grazing by cattle or goats.
    A research team from Northern R. & D. in cooperation with the head of research of the Jewish National Fund, (J.N.F.) has conducted trials in recent years on grazing natural scrubland and forest in the Galilee (Israel) . The aims of this research are (a) to examine the influence of grazing by herds and flocks on the structure and composition of the vegetation; (b) to examine the feasibility of profitable meat production on such areas. Areas covered with stretches of scrub and low forest were thinned by the J.N.F., with their development, which included fencing and making paths, was carried out in cooperation with the Grazing Authority (Ministry of Agriculture) and the J.N.F. Grazing is only possible after such preparations.
    These trials showed that grazing by cattle and/or goats removes vegetative growth and young basal tree shoots which sprout after thinning. The removal of these materials considerably reduces the danger of fire initiation and also the damage that fire causes. These findings confirm research conducted in Ramat Hanadiv (Southern Mount Carmel, Israel), and in California on similar vegetation types.
    In Israel, Parks, Nature Reservations, the Carmel Range, the reforested areas of the Jerusalem Hills and the Sh’fela are all more endangered by fire than the Upper and Western Galilee, where more intensive grazing takes place, by local agricultural communities, with the removal of the most flammatory vegetative matter. The experience of the last 15 years indicates
    that the fires in the Nature Reserves, the Carmel, the Jerusalem Forest and the Sh’fela are likely to be far greater and result in more widespread damage as a result of the accumulation of dry vegetative matter.
    In conclusion, the constant increase in the number and extent of fires on Mount Carmel and in the Jerusalem Hills make it imperative to form an immediate plan of action. As mentioned above, one of the main causes of the rapid spread of these fires is the presence of dry flammable material, which accumulates year by year. In order to reduce the danger of fires, the quantity of dry material must be reduced. As a result, even when fires break out, through carelessness or by arson, they will spread much more slowly and will be much easier to control and extinguish. The most efficient management tool to achieve this aim is grazing by domestic animals. There can be no doubt that, in view of the chronic problem of fires, grazing should be incorporated as one of the means to prevent them or reduce their effects. An additional advantage that would accrue from this step would be the employment of local inhabitants and supplementary income gained from the production of meat, dairy products, tourism and the preservation of traditional culture.

2. Aims and Plan

1. Reduction in the incidence and scale of fires in natural scrubland through grazing;
2. The establishment of “firebreak zones” between the scrubland, forest and settlements.

3. Stages in implementation

3   a. Selection of areas and preliminary preparation
    Trials have been carried out in recent years on the Central Mount Carmel and in Ramat Hanadiv, with the aim of developing an efficient method for the operation and maintenance of permanent “firebreak zones”. Such methods have been in successful use in France for many years.
    The first stage is to choose areas of high risk from fires (in consultation with the Fire Department of the Forestry Organization of the J.N.F.), in the light of experience of the previous years. Massive thinning of trees and scrub must then take place, in particular on the edges of the area and next to settlements. Finally, the area is to be fenced and the animals (cattle or goats) introduced, under high grazing pressure. It is recommended to begin with areas that were burnt recently, thereby eliminating to need to thin. The basic unit for treatment will consist of two sections, where the one is under grazing and the other under construction. The only special equipment that will be required in the basic unit will be a mobile electric fence, a mobile water trough and a tractor-drawn water tank.

3    b. Isolation of these areas by firebreaks.
    Firebreaks will be 100 - 200 m wide, splitting the area into sub-areas which allow effective control and prevention of fire, according to previous experience. They will be constructed by the following stages: (i) Thinning trees planted in areas next to settlements or other buildings; (ii) Thinning natural scrub by hand; (iii) Heavy grazing, especially by domestic animals, and zoning the fenced area by means of a mobile electric fence. Grazing will commence in March, continuing through the summer, according to the degree of fire-risk of the various zones.

3    c. Removal of vegetative undergrowth and thinning woody growth.
    It is proposed to conduct guided grazing in the entire area, without preliminary agro-technical treatments. Guided grazing involves (i) 100 - 200 cows or at least 400 goats; (ii) Mobile electric fence (three strands), enclosing 3 sub-areas of 250 dunam each; (iii) Introducing water supply (pipe or tractor-drawn tanker); (iv) 4 mobile water troughs.

3   d. Supervision and control
    Experience accumulated abroad (especially in France) teaches us that failures in operating such a program arise from departure from the grazing program. In order to avoid this, it is proposed to introduce a system of supervision and data-gathering, in order to implement conclusions drawn in each and every case.
    The drover/shepherd, the owner of the animals, will be paid by a public organization, in order to ensure control of the movement of the animals in accordance wthe varying demands of the grazing program. At the same time, the number of herds will be supervised, with the aim of extending the scale of application, with the movement of herds controlled by the Director of the program. Later, the establishment of new herds will be encouraged, with the aim of achieving maximum grazing pressure in the desired areas.

4. Contribution of program

a. Reduction of the numbers and severity of outbreaks of fire, with their consequent
    damage to property and natural resources and saving expenses in firefighting.
b. Expansion of an agricultural branch, job creation.
c. Guarding, maintaining and development of forests for tourism, leisure and preservation of local traditions and crafts.

5. Program costs

In France, herds are subsidized by the government, at a rate of $50 per goat or $200 per cow per year. Data show that the nutritional needs of a cow over six months (March - November) are filled by an area of approx. 1 ha. Hence, a herd of 200 cows can create a “firebreak zone” 150 m wide and 13 km long, at a cost of $3 per m (Table 1).
    The following additional costs must be taken into account:
a. Supervision and data gathering;
b. Control of predation.
c. Thinning woodland, after the first stage when recently burned areas are used;

6. Timetable

March 1999: Purchase of equipment and contact with owners of herds.

Establish Internet site to follow up development and publish results.
 

Date	Herd No.	Location	Vegetation
June 1999	1	Hotem Hacarmel	Open scrub
July 1999	2	Carmel Park	Mixed scrub & pine
July 1999	3	Carmel Park	Mixed scrub & pine
March 2000	4	Jerusalem Corridor	Closed scrub
March 2000	5	Jerusalem Corridor	Closed scrub
March 2000	6	Sh’fela	Mixed scrub & forest
June 2000	7-11	Encouragement to establish additional herds
2001		Continuation of implementation of program

7
Israel: Dr. Mario Gutman (Dir. Res.)
Galilee Technological Center (Migal)
South Industrial Zone
Kyriat Shmona 10200 Israel
Fax: 972-4-6944980
E mail: mgutman@shani.net

Dr. Simcha Lev - Yadun
Dept. Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization.
Bet Degan 50250. Israel
Fax: 972-3-9669642

Table 1
 

Area per cow (m2)	Width (m)	Length (m)	Size of herd	Length (m) of firebreak zone
10,000	150	67	200	13,333
Cost in $
Cow per year	Per herd	Per m 150 wide	Size of herd
200	40,000	3.00	200

 

Table 2: Budget The figures in ECU
 

		Cyprus			ISRAEL
Yearly Total	Subtotal	Other sources	SMAP	Subtotal	Other sources	SMAP	First Year
60,000	20,000	20000		40,000	30000	10000	PERSONNEL
59,000	10,000		10000	49,000	14000	35000	TRAVEL EXPENSES
31,500	10,000		10,000	21,500	1500	20000	EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE
105,000	40,000		40000	65,000	5000	60000	DURABLE EQUIPMENT
15,000	4,000		4000	11,000	1000	10000	CONSUMABLES
14,000	3,000		3000	11,000	1000	10000	DISSEMINATION AND PUBLICATIONS
42,675	13,050	3000	10050	29625	7875	21750	OTHER COSTS (INCL. OVERHEADS)
317,175	100,050	23000	77050	217,125	60375	156750
							Second Year
48,000	23,000	20000	3000	25,000	20000	5000	PERSONNEL
21,500	10,000		10,000	11,500	1500	10000	TRAVEL EXPENSES
35,000	10,000		10000	25,000	5000	20000	EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE
141,000	60,000		60000	81,000	1000	80000	DURABLE EQUIPMENT
9,000	3,000		3000	6,000	1000	5000	CONSUMABLES
38,175	15,900	3000	12900	22275	4275	8000	DISSEMINATION AND PUBLICATIONS
282,675	121,900	23000	98900	160,775	32775	128000	OTHER COSTS (INCL. OVERHEADS)
							Third Year
50,000	20,000	20000		30,000	20000	10000	PERSONNEL
22,000	10,000		10000	12,000	2000	10000	TRAVEL EXPENSES
24,000	2,000		2,000	22,000	10000	12000	EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE
65,000	40,000		40000	25,000	5000	20000	DURABLE EQUIPMENT
13,000	4,000		4000	9,000	1000	8000	CONSUMABLES
9,000	3,000		3000	6,000	1000	5000	DISSEMINATION AND PUBLICATIONS
27,450	11,850	3000	8850	15600	5850	9750	OTHER COSTS (INCL. OVERHEADS)
200,450	90,850	23000	67850	109,600	44850	64750
			Cyprus			ISRAEL
800,300
Total SMAP	Subtotal	Other sources	SMAP	Subtotal	Other sources	SMAP
593,300	312800	69000	243800	487500	138000	349500