Establishing a “Community Forest”: Insights from the Collaborative Process in Migdal HaEmek, Israel

The basic principal in the establishment of “community forests” is the involvement of the proximate communities in its management and maintenance. The Balfour Forest, enveloping the Israeli town of Migdal HaEmek, was ignored by the local community who viewed it as a potentially dangerous no-man's land. The Jewish National Fund (JNF), Israel's forestry agency, initiated a process to engage the Migdal HaEmek community in developing and taking responsibility for the forest and serve as a model for the development of community forests in Israel. Between 2008 and 2009, the collaborative structure was designed and established, and community activists identified, recruited, and empowered to create a team of “forest trustees” whose activities continue to impact ties among the community and the forest. This article evaluates the process dynamics, outcomes, and impacts and examines their implications for intergovernmental relations, community empowerment, and environmental and development issues.