The research is conducted in collaboration with the Shamir Research Institute.
The study deals with how KKL-JNF forests contribute to the mental and physical health of their visitors and provide system services in the cultural and psychological aspects. The study focuses on the current contribution and possible ways to enhance it. Another aim of the study is to examine differences between Jewish and Arab societies in Israel in the way they benefit from the forests and to make recommendations from a cross-cultural perspective. The applied aim of the study is to provide recommendations regarding the management of the KKL-JNF forestry. How the JNF can produce higher awareness of the public and of professionals in the fields of health, culture, and sports concerning the potential contribution of forests.
The research is using a mixed-method approach and a variety of quantitative and qualitative tools for data collection and analysis. The overall study consists of three studies whose implementation is spread over the two years of research:
(1) A multi-case study of three selected forests that includes distribution of questionnaires to visitors in the forests and questionnaires distributed to residents of localities adjacent to forests.
(2) Conducting in-depth interviews with physicians and other professionals such as sports and mental health experts
(3) Submitting a questionnaire to a sample of the population in Israel.
The first phase of the study, conducted from August 2019 to August 2020, included a literature review that examines the beneficial effects of staying in the woods on various health and mental aspects, in the way of various activities such as recreation, culture, and sports contribute to the participants and examination of economic values of these activities. In addition, data were collected as part of the study and preliminary findings from a multi-case study conducted in three forests.
