The Research Center for Green City: Expanding and Optimizing Urban Environment

The ability of plants, green spaces, and urban trees to enhance our quality of life is immense, yet the environmental pressures they face due to urban conditions pose significant challenges. There is a striking gap between the potential of trees and plants to improve residents’ well-being and the limited reality on the ground. This gap raises critical questions, both ecological and administrative. How do trees cope with challenges such as heat, air pollution, drought, limited and contaminated soil, and varying levels of sunlight? How do plants interact with their environment, and, in turn, modify and affect the environment around them?

These questions drive in-depth research into the lives of urban trees. Our research aims to expand scientific knowledge and provide practical tools for decision-makers and residents alike, enhancing living conditions in our cities and ensuring a greener future.

The center will initiate and coordinate a variety of studies focusing on the relationship between trees and the urban environment. It will explore aspects such as the impact of trees on human and environmental health, the suitability of different species for thriving in challenging urban conditions, enhancement of thermal comfort in urban spaces through tree planting, the influence of trees on storm water management and absorption, the connection between urban greenery and biodiversity, and how various planting methods affect tree health and lifespan.

Additionally, the center will delve into urban forestry and agriculture, assessing the benefits and challenges associated with their development. It aims to address disparities in vegetation cover and shade availability across different cities and also neighborhoods within the same city, actively involving diverse communities in the research. These studies will enable the development of effective strategies for sustainable urban green space management, meeting both the environmental needs and social-economic priorities of urban settings.

It is essential to raise awareness of the importance of these areas for residents. This can be achieved through investments in education, making scientific information accessible to residents, collaborating with local authorities and social organizations, and ensuring that urban greenery is visible and accessible to a broad audience. Strengthening the connection between research and the citizen’s daily life will encourage active involvement in preserving trees and their surroundings.

The Israeli Green City Center project is at the forefront of urban sustainability innovation thanks to a growing network of partners. We are pleased to count leading municipalities such as Tel Aviv, Rehovot, Ashdod, Be’er Sheva, Dimona, and Ofakim among our collaborators. Additionally, we work with the Jewish National Fund (KKL) and leading academic institutions such as the Technion, Tel Aviv University, Bar-Ilan, Ben-Gurion, and the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, as well as numerous researchers from various institutes within the Agricultural Research Administration. Other government bodies involved include the Extension Service (SHAHAM) of the Ministry of Agriculture, alongside research organizations like the Davidson Institute and the National Center for Forestry and Shading. Partnerships with private companies and entrepreneurs also allow us to develop innovative and efficient solutions for greener cities.

Our research center is made up of more than 20 leading scientists specializing in diverse fields of plant sciences, soil and water, plant protection, agricultural engineering, and more. Our greatest advantage lies in our ability to create multidisciplinary research teams to provide innovative solutions for urban ecology and to improve the urban quality of life.