Green City Research Center Presents Urban Agroecology Initiative at Joint Forum with the Ministry of Environmental Protection
Researchers from the Volcani Institute and the Ministry of Environmental Protection gathered this week for a joint professional forum focused on some of the most pressing environmental challenges facing Israel today, including climate change, sustainable agriculture, water management, biodiversity, ecology, and environmental health.The meeting brought together nearly 50 researchers, scientists, and professionals from both organizations, creating an opportunity to share ongoing activities, exchange knowledge, and explore opportunities for future collaboration.As part of the program, the Green City Research Center presented its emerging urban agroecology initiative, which aims to strengthen the scientific foundation for greener, healthier, and more climate-resilient cities. The initiative brings together expertise from agriculture, ecology, hydrology, environmental science, and urban planning to address challenges at the intersection of urban development and environmental sustainability.Participants discussed the growing importance of connecting research, policy, and implementation. As cities face increasing pressures from climate change, population growth, and environmental degradation, effective solutions require collaboration between researchers, government agencies, municipalities, and practitioners.The forum highlighted the value of interdisciplinary dialogue and provided a platform for identifying shared priorities and future partnerships. By fostering stronger connections between scientific research and decision-making, such collaborations can help support evidence-based policies and practical solutions for more resilient urban and environmental systems.The Green City Research Center looks forward to continuing these conversations and expanding collaborations that advance urban sustainability and climate resilience across Israel.
June 2026
Green and Blue Roofs Help Reduce Urban Runoff During Storm Events
New research presented at the 2026 Annual Conference of the Israel Water Resources Association examined how green roofs and blue roofs perform during real storm events and their potential contribution to urban stormwater management.The study, led by Dr. Uri Nachshon of the Volcani Institute and Asaf Ben Neriah of Azrieli College of Engineering Jerusalem, evaluated the hydrological performance of different rooftop systems during rainfall events. The findings showed that both green roofs and blue roofs delayed peak runoff compared to conventional roofs, helping to moderate the flow of stormwater entering urban drainage systems.During the initial stages of rainfall, the roofs retained and slowed runoff, reducing runoff volumes by tens of percent relative to standard roofs. As rainfall continued and the systems gradually became saturated, their storage capacity decreased and runoff rates became more similar to those of conventional rooftops.The results provide new insights into how nature based and water sensitive urban design solutions can contribute to flood mitigation and stormwater management in cities. As climate change is expected to increase the frequency of intense rainfall events in many regions, understanding the performance of green and blue infrastructure under real world conditions is becoming increasingly important for urban planning and resilience.The research highlights the role that rooftop stormwater management systems can play as part of broader strategies to build more resilient, climate adapted cities.
June 2026
Do Trees Cool Cities Only Through Shade? New Research Presented at EGU26
Urban trees are widely recognized for their ability to reduce heat stress and improve outdoor comfort. While the cooling effect of shade is readily visible, trees also cool their surroundings through transpiration, a physiological process in which water evaporates from leaves and transfers heat away from the plant and its environment. Understanding the relative contribution of these two mechanisms is important for designing climate-resilient urban environments and maximizing the benefits of urban vegetation.
At EGU26, the annual meeting of the European Geosciences Union held in Vienna, Ron Linder presented research addressing this question as part of the Green City Research Center's ongoing work on urban climate and tree physiology.
The study, conducted at the Volcani Institute in collaboration with the Technion – Israel Institute of Technology, sought to distinguish between the cooling effects of shade and transpiration. Through a controlled experimental approach, the researchers were able to reduce transpiration while maintaining the tree's shading effect, allowing them to evaluate the contribution of each mechanism separately.
The results showed that limiting transpiration had a significant impact on tree physiology, including increased leaf temperatures and altered plant function. However, under the conditions examined, the reduction in transpiration did not lead to measurable changes in mean radiant temperature, an important indicator of human thermal comfort in outdoor spaces.
The findings contribute to ongoing efforts to better understand the functioning of urban trees under heat stress and to provide a stronger scientific basis for urban climate adaptation strategies. As cities around the world seek effective ways to address rising temperatures, research of this kind helps improve our understanding of the environmental services provided by urban vegetation and supports evidence-based urban planning.
The presentation at EGU26 highlights the Green City Research Center's research on urban ecology, climate adaptation, and the role of urban nature in creating healthier and more resilient cities.
June 2026
Tenure-Track Position in Urban Ecology
The Green City Research Center at the Volcani Institute invites applications for a tenure-track researcher position in Urban Ecology.
We are seeking researchers working in fields related to urban ecosystems, biodiversity, climate adaptation, hydrology, urban vegetation, soil and water systems, and other related disciplines.
The successful candidate will join a multidisciplinary research environment focused on advancing scientific knowledge and developing practical solutions for healthier, more resilient, and climate-adapted cities.
Submission deadline: June 7, 2026.
For additional details and application information, please see the attached announcement.
For details:
vhrkamen@volcani.agri.gov.il
Einat@volcani.agri.gov.il
Apply here: bit.ly/4dLeOgO
Shaping Climate-Resilient Cities: The Green City Center at Tel Aviv’s Urban Innovation Forum
The Green City Center for Urban Agroecology at the Volcani Institute recently participated in a conference on Urban Green Solutions and Innovation, organized by the Center for Urban Agriculture and Innovation of the Tel Aviv Municipality. As part of the program, Dr. Yakir Preisler presented the Center’s multidisciplinary approach to urban agroecology and hydrology. The Green City Center operates at the interface between basic research and practical implementation, providing scientific knowledge and decision-support tools to municipalities and policymakers. Our vision is to transform cities into healthier, cooler, and more resilient ecological systems. Dr. Preisler also highlighted one of the Center’s research directions: data-driven monitoring and management of the urban forest. His presentation demonstrated how sensor-based systems and advanced analytics can provide real-time insights into tree health, detect early signs of stress, and support more effective urban vegetation management. The conference provided an important platform for dialogue between researchers, municipal professionals, and practitioners, reinforcing the role of nature-based solutions in addressing urban climate challenges and opening new opportunities for collaboration.
May 2026
Shading Solutions for Public Spaces
Dr. Yakir Preisler from the Urban Forest Lab at the Green City Research Center, Volcani Institute, presented at an online forum on shading solutions organized by the Council for Higher Education (CHE).
In his lecture, Dr. Preisler presented research and insights on the ecophysiology of urban trees and data-driven urban forest management, highlighting the critical role of trees in mitigating urban heat stress, providing shade, and improving quality of life in cities. The presentation also addressed the challenges of planting and maintaining trees in dense urban environments, alongside the use of advanced technologies for monitoring, management, and decision-making in urban forestry.
July 2025
Counting on Shade Conference
Tel Aviv, February 2025
The “Counting on Shade” conference focused on the challenges of planning, developing, and managing the urban forest in light of the rapid development of Israeli cities and the growing need to address urban heat stress. The conference highlighted the role of trees as essential infrastructure for providing shade, mitigating heat, and improving quality of life in the public realm.
Trees play a central role in transforming cities into greener, cooler, healthier, and more resilient environments. At the same time, many cities in Israel continue to face a significant shortage of shade-providing trees due to the challenges involved in planting, maintaining, and protecting trees within dense built environments.
The conference served as a platform for professional exchange, learning, and the sharing of innovative and practical knowledge among researchers, planners, local authorities, and professionals engaged in urban forestry and shading. It reflected a shared understanding that knowledge and collaboration are essential for advancing the vision of shaded and climate-resilient cities in Israel.
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