Two large, scale fires that recently swept through the Jerusalem Hills, one near Eshtaol and the other in Canada Park, have caused severe destruction to natural areas and forests.

The second fire, concentrated in Canada Park, burned approximately 2,000 hectares, including 1,000 hectares of forestland managed by Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, Jewish National Fund (KKL-JNF). The first fire destroyed around 600 hectares, of which 400 hectares were also KKL-JNF, managed forests.

KKL-JNF estimates that nearly two-thirds of the areas burnt in both fires were forests under its management, land that was completely consumed and will require long-term ecological restoration.

Ifat Ovadia-Luski, Chairwoman of KKL-JNF , said: “In Canada Park, which was planted over decades and served as a source of pride for the central region, vast forest areas were burned. Unfortunately, this has been a year in which we’ve experienced fires across the country, also as a result of the war. We believe in nature’s ability to recover and in KKL-JNF’s capacity to lead an innovative rehabilitation process that will return these beloved natural areas for the benefit of the wider public.“