1.2 Detalhes do contato das pessoas capacitadas e instituições envolvidas na avaliação e documentação da tecnologia

Nome da(s) instituição(ões) que facilitou(ram) a documentação/ avaliação da Tecnologia (se relevante)

University of Haifa (uhaifa)

1.3 Condições em relação ao uso da informação documentada através de WOCAT

O/a compilador/a e a(s) pessoa(s) capacitada(s) aceitam as condições relativas ao uso de dados documentados através da WOCAT:

Sim

1.4 Declaração de sustentabilidade da tecnologia descrita

A tecnologia descrita aqui é problemática em relação a degradação da terra de forma que não pode ser declarada uma tecnologia de gestão sustentável de terra?

Não

Comentários:

This intervention is explicitly designed to reverse and restore previously degraded soils (monoculture exhaustion, fertility decline, low biodiversity).

2.1 Descrição curta da tecnologia

Definição da tecnologia:

Converting conventional monoculture farmland into a food forest-based agroforestry system restores soil health, increases vegetation cover, enhances biodiversity while diversifying production. The intervention improves soil organic matter and ecological resilience through multi-storey planting, reduced soil disturbance, and nature-based land management.

2.2 Descrição detalhada da tecnologia

Descrição:

The development of a “food forest” was in response to visible soil degradation caused by years of wheat-based monoculture in Bethlehem of Galilee. The previous land use consisted of annual wheat production, tractor-powered deep ploughing, and routine use of herbicides and pesticides. Over time, these practices depleted soil organic matter, reduced microbial activity, and increased vulnerability to erosion, compaction, and moisture loss. The current food forest, covering approximately 1.5 acres (0.6 hectare), represents a transformative shift from this intensive, extractive system toward a sustainable, perennial, multi-strata agroforestry model.
The primary purpose of this site is research and education. It is not intended to be a commercial enterprise, but to demonstrate principles and practices of sustainable land management. The income generated is not from crops but from research grants, workshops and community activities.
The site has been under continuous restoration for approximately eight years, during which it has gradually developed into a multi-layered food forest. The upper canopy includes species such as ficus, tipa, mulberry, pecan, plane trees, and nitrogen-fixing “ice-cream bean” (Inga edulis), which together generate shade, biomass, and structural diversity. The productive mid-storey contains fruit-bearing species including lemon, plum, pomegranate, avocado, and additional deciduous trees. Beneath these layers, aromatic shrubs such as lavender and rosemary provide perennial cover, habitat complexity, and year-round biomass production. A dedicated lower layer supports seasonal vegetables: carrots, radishes, turnips, lettuces and other greens, interplanted within tree alleys and cultivated using organic methods.
Production follows a diversified model typical of food forests. Tree crops currently yield modest but consistent quantities of lemons, plums, mulberries, pomegranates, and herbs, primarily for consumption by visitors, volunteers, and workers on site rather than large-scale commercial sale. The adjoining vegetable-growing area produces additional crops for small-scale marketing, providing a modest revenue stream while maintaining ecological integrity. As the system is still maturing, productive output is expected to increase over the coming years.
The project is privately managed by a couple in their thirties, who own and oversee all aspects of the site. Labour requirements were most intensive during the establishment phase of planting, mulching, earth-shaping, and infrastructure setup. As the food forest enters a more stable successional stage, labour demands have gradually decreased, with current activities centred on pruning, biomass recycling, vegetable cultivation, and occasional enrichment planting. No chemical inputs are applied at any stage.
Irrigation was originally supported by a drip system installed to establish young trees and early perennial layers. Today, irrigation needs have significantly decreased due to higher soil organic matter, increased shade, and improved microclimate regulation. Drip irrigation is now used only minimally and mainly within the annual vegetable plots, while most perennial components rely primarily on natural rainfall.
Overall, this food forest demonstrates a replicable nature-based solution for Mediterranean environments, showcasing how degraded wheat monoculture fields can be restored into resilient, biodiverse, and ecologically functional agroforestry systems. The long-term transition highlights substantial gains in soil health, water retention, and landscape diversity, while supporting small-scale production and community-oriented engagement.

2.3 Fotos da tecnologia

2.5 País/região/locais onde a tecnologia foi aplicada e que estão cobertos nesta avaliação

2.6 Data da implementação

Indique o ano de implementação:

2017

Caso o ano exato seja desconhecido, indique a data aproximada:

• menos de 10 anos atrás (recentemente)

2.7 Introdução da tecnologia

Especifique como a tecnologia foi introduzida:

• atráves de inovação dos usuários da terra
• durante experiências/ pesquisa
• através de projetos/intervenções externas

Comentários (tipos de projeto, etc.):

The landowners developed the site as part of a holistic environmental vision and continue to refine it through ongoing learning, experimentation, and renewal. They actively initiate collaborations with research institutions in Israel and abroad to support long-term monitoring of the site and to advance the food-forest practice within a scientific and evidence-based framework.

3.1 Principal/principais finalidade(s) da tecnologia

• Reduz, previne, recupera a degradação do solo
• Preserva ecossistema
• Preservar/melhorar a biodiversidade
• Adaptar a mudanças climáticas/extremos e seus impactos
• Cria impacto social benéfico

3.2 Tipo(s) atualizado(s) de uso da terra onde a tecnologia foi aplicada

Uso do solo misturado dentro da mesma unidade de terra:

Sim

Especificar o uso misto da terra (culturas/ pastoreio/ árvores):

• Agrofloresta

3.3 O uso do solo mudou devido à implementação da Tecnologia?

O uso do solo mudou devido à implementação da Tecnologia?

• Sim (Por favor, preencha as perguntas abaixo com relação ao uso do solo antes da implementação da Tecnologia)

Uso do solo misturado dentro da mesma unidade de terra:

Não

3.4 Abastecimento de água

Abastecimento de água para a terra na qual a tecnologia é aplicada:

• Misto de precipitação natural-irrigado

Comentários:

Irrigation was originally supported by a drip system installed to establish young trees and early perennial layers. Today, irrigation needs have significantly decreased due to higher soil organic matter, increased shade, and improved microclimate regulation. Drip irrigation is now used only minimally and mainly within the annual vegetable plots, while most perennial components rely primarily on natural rainfall.

3.5 Grupo de GST ao qual pertence a tecnologia

• Agrofloresta
• Solo/cobertura vegetal melhorada
• Perturbação mínima ao solo

3.6 Medidas de GST contendo a tecnologia

3.7 Principais tipos de degradação da terra abordados pela tecnologia

Comentários:

For this pilot, the technology primarily addresses soil degradation (chemical + physical + biological) that resulted from long-term monoculture and herbicide-based management.

3.8 Redução, prevenção ou recuperação da degradação do solo

Especifique o objetivo da tecnologia em relação a degradação da terra:

• Reduzir a degradação do solo
• Recuperar/reabilitar solo severamente degradado

4.1 Desenho técnico da tecnologia

4.2 Informação geral em relação ao cálculo de entradas e custos

Especifique como custos e entradas foram calculados:

• por área de tecnologia

Especifique a moeda utilizada para os cálculos de custo:

• USD

4.3 Atividades de implantação

	Atividade	Periodicidade (estação do ano)
1.	Initial site assessment and mapping of soil condition and exposure	Late winter / early spring
2.	Discontinuation of tillage and herbicide applications	Immediately prior to establishment
3.	Soil preparation without deep tillage (light loosening, mulching base layer)	Early spring
4.	Planting of trees in primary layout (skeleton layer)	Spring
5.	Planting of shrubs and understory companion species	Late spring / early summer
6.	Installation of organic mulch cover to protect soil and retain moisture	After planting (early summer)
7.	Enrichment planting / filling gaps with additional groundcover species	Late summer / following spring
8.	Protection of young trees/shrubs if needed (guards, shading, temporary watering)	First growing season
9.	Establishment of biomass cycling (chop-and-drop, composting on-site)	After vegetation takes root
10.	Transition into maintenance phase (reduced intervention, natural succession)	Once canopy begins forming

4.4 Custos e entradas necessárias para a implantação

	Especifique a entrada	Unidade	Quantidade	Custos por unidade	Custos totais por entrada	% dos custos arcados pelos usuários da terra
Mão-de-obra	Manual labour	Person-days	139,0	158,2	21989,8	100,0
Equipamento	Tools and maintenance equipment		1,0	5000,0	5000,0	100,0
Equipamento	Tractor (for construction)		1,0	7200,0	7200,0	100,0
Material vegetal	Seedlings, cuttings, and seeds		1,0	14000,0	14000,0	100,0
Fertilizantes e biocidas	Compost		1,0	10500,0	10500,0	100,0
Material de construção	Irrigation system		1,0	14500,0	14500,0	100,0
Material de construção	Pruned biomass mulch		1,0	6500,0	6500,0	100,0
Custos totais para a implantação da tecnologia					79689,8
Custos totais para o estabelecimento da Tecnologia em USD					79689,8

Se o usuário da terra arca com menos que 100% dos custos, indique quem cobre os custos remanescentes:

Land user bore all costs: but note the primary purpose of this site is research and education. It is not intended to be a commercial enterprise, but to demonstrate principles and practices of sustainable land management. The income generated is not from crops but from research grants, workshops and community activities.

Comentários:

No chemical fertilizers or pesticides are used; fertilization is based solely on compost

4.5 Atividades recorrentes/manutenção

	Atividade	Periodicidade/frequência
1.	Mulching with organic biomass (leaf litter, pruning residues, woodchips, etc.)	2–3 times per year, mainly after rainy season and mid-summer
2.	Selective pruning of trees and shrubs to maintain structure and light balance	Annually / as needed (late winter or autumn)
3.	Enrichment planting and succession planting of understorey species	Seasonally, as ecosystem matures or gaps appear
4.	Weeding by ecological suppression (groundcover strengthening) rather than removal	Continuous, low-intensity maintenance
5.	Soil moisture conservation (biomass renewal / occasional supportive watering in drought years)	Seasonally during dry periods (as needed)
6.	Monitoring soil condition and vegetation health	Ongoing, at least once per season
7.	Replacement of failed or weak young plants	Annually during early growth seasons
8.	Maintenance of biodiversity guilds / companion planting structure	Continuous, adaptive to natural succession

4.6 Custos e entradas necessárias pata a manutenção/atividades recorrentes (por ano)

	Especifique a entrada	Unidade	Quantidade	Custos por unidade	Custos totais por entrada	% dos custos arcados pelos usuários da terra
Mão-de-obra	Manual labour	Person-days	110,0	158,2	17402,0	100,0
Equipamento	Equipment renewal and maintenance		1,0	5000,0	5000,0	100,0
Material vegetal	Cuttings and seeds		1,0	4000,0	4000,0	100,0
Outros	Water bills		1,0	5500,0	5500,0	100,0
Outros	Products selling kits		1,0	2000,0	2000,0	100,0
Custos totais para a manutenção da tecnologia					33902,0
Custos totais de manutenção da Tecnologia em USD					33902,0

Comentários:

The establishment costs refer to the initial food forest area of approximately 1.5 acres, while the annual maintenance costs refer to the forest in its current state, covering about 3 acres. Land user bore all costs: but note that the primary purpose of this site is research and education. It is not intended to be a commercial enterprise, but to demonstrate principles and practices of sustainable land management. The income generated is not from crops but from research grants, workshops and community activities.

4.7 Fatores mais importantes que afetam os custos

Descreva os fatores mais determinantes que afetam os custos:

The most significant cost factor, both during establishment and ongoing maintenance, is labour. All work is carried out manually using hand tools, and apart from the initial establishment phase, no heavy machinery is used

5.1 Clima

5.2 Topografia

Indique se a tecnologia é aplicada especificamente em:

• Não relevante

5.3 Solos

5.4 Disponibilidade e qualidade de água

A salinidade da água é um problema?

Não

Ocorre inundação da área?

Não

5.5 Biodiversidade

Comentários e outras especificações sobre biodiversidade:

Both species diversity and habitat diversity have transformed due to the establishment of the food forest, and are now both high. This is a very agrobiodiverse system.

5.6 Características dos usuários da terra que utilizam a tecnologia

5.7 Área média de terrenos utilizados pelos usuários de terrenos que aplicam a Tecnologia

5.8 Propriedade de terra, direitos de uso da terra e de uso da água

Propriedade da terra:

• Indivíduo, intitulado

Direitos do uso da terra:

• Indivíduo

Direitos do uso da água:

• Indivíduo

Os direitos de uso da terra são baseados em um sistema jurídico tradicional?

Não

5.9 Acesso a serviços e infraestrutura

6.1 Impactos no local mostrados pela tecnologia

Impactos socioeconômicos

Renda e custos

Impactos socioculturais

Impactos ecológicos

Ciclo hídrico/escoamento

Solo

Biodiversidade: vegetação, animais

Clima e redução de riscos de desastre

Especificar a avaliação dos impactos no local (medidas):

The assessment of on-site impacts combines both social-cultural learning processes and quantitative biophysical measurements. On the social, cultural, and economic side, the site hosts workshops, guided learning sessions, and community activities designed to understand the meaning, role, and value of the food forest for local stakeholders. These engagements provide qualitative insights into cultural benefits, community strengthening, and the educational function of the place. For the more tangible biophysical parameters – soil health, vegetation condition, biodiversity, and ecological recovery – the monitoring relies on analytical laboratory tests and systematic long-term sampling. Soil samples collected at different stages of the establishment process were analyzed for organic matter, nutrients, structure, and biological activity, providing a clear picture of soil improvement over time. In addition, the site is monitored through remote-sensing-based indicators developed in collaboration with the University of Haifa, which track temporal changes in vegetation cover, biomass, soil moisture proxies, and overall ecological function. Together, these qualitative and quantitative assessments offer a comprehensive understanding of the site’s development, documenting both the ecological restoration underway and the parallel social and educational impacts generated by the food forest.

6.2 Impactos externos mostrados pela tecnologia

Especificar a avaliação dos impactos fora do local (medidas):

Off-site impacts were assessed through a combination of qualitative and quantitative indicators that capture how the food-forest system influences the surrounding landscape and community beyond the plot boundaries. Hydrological effects were inferred from reduced surface runoff and improved infiltration within the site, which collectively lower downstream sedimentation and erosion risks; these implications were evaluated using rainfall records, soil-moisture trends, and comparison of runoff behavior between the restored area and adjacent conventionally managed fields. Vegetation development and canopy expansion – monitored through Sentinel-2 time-series and UAV imagery – provide additional evidence of landscape-scale improvements such as enhanced microclimatic buffering and habitat connectivity. Social and cultural off-site impacts were evaluated through participation in workshops, educational programs, and community events, which extend ecological knowledge and stewardship beyond the site itself. Together, these measurements and observations offer a coherent picture of how the food forest contributes to broader environmental and community benefits outside its physical boundaries.

6.3 Exposição e sensibilidade da tecnologia às mudanças climáticas graduais e extremos/desastres relacionados ao clima (conforme o ponto de vista dos usuários da terra)

Mudança climática gradual

Mudança climática gradual

	Estação do ano	aumento ou diminuição	Como a tecnologia lida com isso?
Temperatura anual		aumento	moderadamente
Precipitação pluviométrica anual		redução/diminuição	bem

Extremos (desastres) relacionados ao clima

Desastres meteorológicos

	Como a tecnologia lida com isso?
Temporal local	moderadamente

Desastres climatológicos

	Como a tecnologia lida com isso?
Onde de calor	bem
Seca	bem

6.4 Análise do custo-benefício

Como os benefícios se comparam aos custos de implantação (do ponto de vista dos usuários da terra)?

Como os benefícios se comparam aos custos recorrentes/de manutenção(do ponto de vista dos usuários da terra)?

Comentários:

The slightly negative short-term balance does not reflect external subsidies but rather the intentional design and purpose of the site. The food forest is not a commercial enterprise and was never intended to generate profit from agricultural production. Its primary function is research, education, and community engagement, and therefore its revenues come from workshops, collaborations, and research grants rather than crop sales. The short-term financial deficit simply reflects the fact that the landowners invest in a long-term ecological and educational project whose value is measured in environmental and social outcomes rather than immediate economic returns. It should not be interpreted as dependence on agricultural subsidies or market-based support.

6.5 Adoção da tecnologia

• casos isolados/experimental

Se disponível, determine a quantidade (número de unidades familiares e/ou área abordada):

One household: 1.5 acres

De todos aqueles que adotaram a Tecnologia, quantos o fizeram espontaneamente, ou seja, sem receber nenhum incentivo/ pagamento material?

• 0-10%

6.6 Adaptação

A tecnologia foi recentemente modificada para adaptar-se as condições variáveis?

Sim

Caso afirmativo, indique as condições variáveis as quais ela foi adaptada:

• Mudança climática/extremo

Especifique a adaptação da tecnologia (desenho, material/espécie, etc):

The design and composition of the food forest are continuously adapted as the system matures and as new insights emerge from ongoing learning by the landowners and collaborating researchers. Species selection, spatial arrangement, and management practices have been refined over time in response to observed ecological dynamics - such as canopy development, soil improvement, microclimatic changes, and species performance. Additional trees, shrubs, and groundcovers have been introduced to enhance diversity, strengthen ecological functions, and address emerging needs such as shade regulation, soil enrichment, or habitat creation. This adaptive approach reflects the core principle of the technology: the food forest is a living system that evolves through observation, experimentation, and evidence-based adjustments informed by both practical experience and scientific collaboration.

6.7 Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades da tecnologia

Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades na visão do usuário da terra
Restores soil fertility and structure without relying on chemicals and reduces weed pressure naturally through permanent groundcover
Improves moisture retention and reduces drought stress over time and supports biodiversity and creates a healthier farm ecosystem
Transformational: turns degraded land into a productive long-term asset

Pontos fortes/vantagens/oportunidades na visão do/a compilador/a ou de outra pessoa capacitada
Demonstrates a replicable nature-based solution for restoring degraded agricultural soils in Mediterranean climates
Increases soil organic matter and biological activity, improving long-term soil function and carbon sequestration
Serves as a living demonstration site with high educational and upscaling potential for regenerative farming in the region

6.8 Pontos fracos, desvantagens/riscos da tecnologia e formas de superá-los

Pontos fracos/desvantagens/riscos na visão do usuário da terra	Como eles podem ser superados?
Slow establishment phase before benefits become visible	Patience + phased planting; choose fast-growing pioneer species to accelerate canopy formation
Requires knowledge and ecological management skills	Ongoing guidance from experts / capacity building / training
Young plants vulnerable to drought during first summers	Supplemental irrigation in the first years and thicker mulching to reduce evaporation

Pontos fracos/vantagens/riscos na visão do/a compilador/a ou de outra pessoa capacitada	Como eles podem ser superados?
Long ecological recovery timeline before system reaches full functionality	Use succession planning and pioneer/perennial nurse species to accelerate canopy closure and soil regeneration
Success depends on appropriate species selection for local microclimate and soil	Improve site-specific design using adaptive planting trials, monitoring, and locally adapted cultivars
Knowledge-intensive management compared to conventional systems	Provide technical training, extension support, and farmer-to-farmer learning
Restoration outcomes may vary with drought years and extreme heat events	Increase biomass cover, soil shading, and water retention strategies in early establishment years

7.1 Métodos/fontes de informação

7.2 Referências às publicações disponíveis

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

Zbedat, G., & Brook, A. (2025). Land Restoration Effectiveness Assessed by Satellite-Based Remote Sensing Technologies as A New Monitoring Approach. The International Archives of the Photogrammetry, Remote Sensing and Spatial Information Sciences, 48, 149-155.

Disponível de onde? Custos?

Google Scholar

Título, autor, ano, ISBN:

T. A. Cohen, A. Brook and G. Zbedat, "Long-Term Land Restoration Assessment Using Remote Sensing in Mediterranean Ecosystems," 2024 IEEE International Workshop on Metrology for Agriculture and Forestry (MetroAgriFor), Padua, Italy, 2024, pp. 179-183, doi: 10.1109/MetroAgriFor63043.2024.10948855.

Disponível de onde? Custos?

Google Scholar

7.3 Links para informações on-line relevantes

Título/ descrição:

React4Med site

URL:

https://react4med.eu

Título/ descrição:

Bethlehem of Galilee Food Forest Collection

URL:

https://haifa.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/collectionDiscovery?vid=972HAI_MAIN:HAU&inst=972HAI_MAIN&collectionId=81263109080002791