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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