Environmental Terror: Nakhshon Forest Turned into Illegal Dump
Piles of construction waste were discovered in the Nakhshon Forest. KKL-JNF officials warn of soil contamination and wildfire risks. A new waste management law will not take effect for another 18 months, leaving the area vulnerable.
A severe environmental crime was uncovered in recent days in the heart of the Nakhshon Forest in central Israel. Following public reports, KKL-JNF forest rangers discovered massive piles of mixed waste dumped unlawfully among the trees.
Estimates on the ground suggest there are about 40 cubic meters of waste—equivalent to the contents of three trucks—including bags, tarpaulins, metal parts, plastic, and other materials.
The waste was dumped near pine trees and dry vegetation, raising serious concerns among experts. Beyond the damage to the landscape, KKL-JNF warns that the waste could lead to soil contamination and harm local wildlife. An immediate danger is the increased risk of wildfires during the hot summer months due to the proximity of the dumped materials to flammable vegetation.
This incident occurs against the backdrop of a newly approved law to regulate construction waste, which is intended to tighten enforcement and monitor trucks and businesses in the sector. However, the law is not expected to take effect for about a year and a half, and it appears that offenders are exploiting this “interim period” to continue damaging open areas.
KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Ostreinsky stated in response:
“The sights from the Nakhshon Forest are horrifying. This is blatant, unrestrained environmental criminality that uses forests as a private dump, harming nature and the entire public.”
Ostreinsky called on authorities not to wait for the law to take effect: “You cannot wait a year and a half while truckloads continue to spill into the heart of our forests. We need immediate investigations, determined enforcement, and heavy, deterrent punishments.”
