The Land Is Full: Addressing Overpopulation in Israel

In this insightful and provocative book, Alon Tal provides a detailed account of Israeli forests, tracing their history from the Bible to the present, and outlines the effort to transform drylands and degraded soils into prosperous parks, rangelands, and ecosystems. Talandrsquo;s description of Israelandrsquo;s trials and errors, and his exploration of both the environmental history and the current policy dilemmas surrounding that country's forests, will provide valuable lessons in the years to come for other parts of the world seeking to reestablish timberlands.

and#8220;Israel's forests are small. But to anyone who reads the Bible their ancient history is of great interest. And to anyone who wants to reforest more of our deteriorating planet, the history of the last 75 years is instructive both for its blunders and its successes. This is a remarkable history of remarkable places!and#8221;and#8212;Bill McKibben, author Oil and Honey: The Education of an Unlikely Activist

andldquo;Alon Tal is a wonderfully engaging writer, and he has crafted a narrative that will have considerable crossover appeal.andrdquo;andmdash;Char Miller, Pomona College

"Written by a rare combination of outstanding environmental activist and fine politician, this wonderful book describes the history and future of forests in one of the most human-disturbed areas of Earth. Of great interest to anyone who cares about the environment."and#8212;Paul R. Ehrlich, co-author of The Dominant Animal

and#8220;Alon Tal provides an excellent review of Israel's experience with one hundred years of experimentation in afforestation and reforestation and lessons learned. This is a compelling read in land use and environmental services in the Mediterranean region.and#8221;and#8212;Abigail R. Kimbell, United States Forest Service Chief [retired]

andldquo;The book is exceptional in scope and depth andndash; I know of nothing like it.andrdquo;andmdash;Gretchen Daily, Stanford University

and#8220;[A] must read for anyone interested in learning more about the land of Israel; in this case the trees that call that land home."and#8212;Michael Cohen, The Forward

and#8220;Tal . . . provides an excellent case study of what one country has done to rebuild forests.and#8221;and#8212;Library Journal

The extraordinary story of Israelandrsquo;s forests, from ancient times to the present.

An assessment of how Israel s extraordinary population growth undermines the country s environment, social equity, and quality of life and what must be done about it
During the past sixty-eight years, Israel s population has increased from one to eight million people. Such exponential growth has produced acute environmental and social crises in this tiny country. Alon Tal, one of Israel s foremost environmentalists, considers the ramifications of the extraordinary demographic shift, from burgeoning pollution and dwindling natural resources to overburdened infrastructure and overcrowding. Based on extensive fieldwork and interviews, the book examines the origins of Israel s population policies and how they must change to support a sustainable future."

Alon Tal is on the faculty of Ben Gurion Universityand#8217;s Blaustein Institute of Desert Research. He founded the Israel Union for Environmental Defense and the Arava Institute for Environmental Studies. He lives in Macabim, Israel, with his wife and three daughters.