COST FORMAN WORKSHOP Water Issues in Dryland Forestry Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research Ben-Gurion University, Sede Boqer Campus Israel, November 09-13, 2009 LOCAL ORGANIZING COMMITTEE COST FORMAN MC MEMBERS AND CO-CHAIRS Shabtai Cohen, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan Meni Ben-Hur, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan Naftali Lazarovitch, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva Nir Atzmon, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan Pedro Berliner, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva Yochai Carmel, Technion, Haifa Amram Eshel, Tel Aviv University Naftali Lazarovitch, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva Dan Malkinson, University of Haifa Itzik Moshe, JNF-KKL Eyal Rotenberg, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot Yitzchak Sadeh, JNF-KKL Gabi Schiller, Volcani Center, Bet Dagan Marcelo Sternberg, Tel Aviv University Lea Wittenberg, University of Haifa Dan Yakir, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot WORKSHOP SPONSORS (expected): COST FP0601 Forest Management and the Water Cycle Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University Weizmann Institute of Science JNF-KKL Auspices Israel National Commission for UNESCO International Hydrological Program (IHP) of UNESCO WEBSITE: www.forestandwater.eu WORKSHOP ORGANIZERS AND SECRETARIAT: COST c/o Target Conferences Ltd PO Box 29041, Tel Aviv 61290, Israel Tel: +972 3 5175150, Fax: +972 3 5175155 E-mail: cost@targetconf.com
Dear colleague, It is my pleasure to invite you to participate in the COST FORMAN workshop on Water Issues in Dryland Forestry to be held in Sede Boqer between November 10-12, 2009. Israel is truly a water limited country, famous for its research on crop water use and water technologies and today has the largest desalination plant in the world. All of Israel is semi-arid to arid with evapotranspiration rates far exceeding rainfall. Yet Israel s natural flora is extremely diverse, since there are large rainfall gradients ranging from close to 2000 mm a -1 in some of the mountains of the North to 40 mm a -1 in the most arid parts of the Arava valley and Dead Sea shore. Forests in Israel have been degraded over the centuries since biblical times. Forest plantation commenced in the early 20 th century and has proceeded rapidly since the State of Israel was established in 1948. Today, Israel boasts more than 100,000 Ha of forest plantation and an active forest management organization. The COST FORMAN workshop on Water Issues in Dryland Forestry will bring together some of the important researchers studying dryland forestry and some exciting keynote addresses are being planned. In addition, we plan to have the workshop at three locations so that visitors can get a quick view of some of the tremendous varieties of Israel. The workshop will start at the Sede Boqer Desert Research Institute, with lodging at Mitzpe Ramon located on the edge of the Ramon Crater (http://wikitravel.org/en/mitzpe_ramon ). After the plenary sessions, the workshop will move to the shores of the Dead Sea for one night (http://wikitravel.org/en/dead_sea ). The excursion will take us from the Dead Sea to the Yatir forest, which is the most arid forest in the fluxnet project (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/yatir_forest ). The excursion will end in Jerusalem so that participants can get a brief taste of the holy city. Pre and post workshop tours will be organized if there is enough demand. The workshop will be organized by the Target Conferences Ltd., whom I thank for their participation and support. Looking forward to another exciting COST FORMAN workshop and to a fun reunion. Best regards and shalom, Shep Cohen For the Organizing Committee
TENTATIVE TIMETABLE Monday, November 9, 2009 All day: Arrival of participants from abroad 17:30 Registration at the hotel 19:00 Dinner At leisure Overnight Isrotel Ramon Inn Mitzpe Ramon Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Early morning Breakfast 08:30 Transfer to the Desert Research Institute, Sede Boqer 08:45 Welcome: Workshop Overview/Objectives 09:00 Sessions 10:45 Coffee break 11:15 Sessions continue 12:35 Lunch and Poster set-up 13:40 Sessions continue 15:40 Coffee break 16:10 Poster Session 17:30 Transfer back to hotel 19:00 Dinner Overnight Isrotel Ramon Inn Mitzpe Ramon Wednesday, November 11, 2009 Early morning Breakfast 08:00 Visitor s Center, Mitzpe Ramon 09:30 Transfer to Desert Research Institute, Sede Boqer 10:00 Coffee break 10:25 Sessions 12:30 Lunch 13:30 Sessions 15:30 Coffee break 16:00 Sessions 17:00 Transfer to Ein Bokek Dead Sea 19:00 Dinner at hotel Overnight Moriah Classic Dead Sea Hotel Thursday, November 12, 2009 Early morning Breakfast Following breakfast, experience a dip in the Dead Sea. 10:00 Full day field trip, including Yatir Forest. 13:00 Lunch near Yatir Forest Overnight Crowne Plaza Jerusalem Hotel Friday, November 13, 2009 Departures or optional extensions in Israel
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Participants are welcome to submit abstracts. Abstracts should be written according to the instructions below and will be reviewed for acceptance by the Organizing Committee. Please specify if you would prefer an Oral or Poster presentation. The authors will be informed in due time whether their abstract/s have been accepted, and whether for oral or poster presentation. Inclusion of abstracts in the scientific program and abstract book is dependent on payment of registration fees. DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS: SEPTEMBER 15, 2009 SUBMISSION OF ABSTRACTS Abstracts must be submitted in English, by e-mail to the e-mail address: cost@targetconf.com and should be sent as an attachment to the e-mail message using a PC Compatible Program, preferably Word for Windows, saved as.rtf or.doc formats. INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE PREPARATION OF ABSTRACTS Title should be typed in CAPITAL LETTERS, bold and left aligned. Presenting author s name should be underlined and bolded. Font: Times New Roman, size 12 points, single spacing. If submitting more than one abstract, each abstract must be sent as a separate e- mail message and the title should indicate that these are separate abstracts, i.e. JILL BROWN ABSTRACT 1; JILL BROWN ABSTRACT 2; etc. Abstracts should be no longer than one A4 size page. Please use the following margins: Right and Left - 4 cm Top and Bottom - 2.54 cm References may be inserted within the space allocated for the abstract but no figures, diagrams or frames are acceptable Please note: Faxed abstracts cannot be accepted The book of abstracts will be included in the workshop material provided to each participant on arrival at the workshop.
GENERAL INFORMATION VENUE The workshop will be held at the George Evens Family Auditorium, located at the Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University, Sede Boqer Campus, Sede Boqer, Israel. Following this a field trip is planned with one night accommodation at the Dead Sea and one night in Jerusalem. LANGUAGE The workshop will be conducted in English. REGISTRATION Target Conferences Ltd. PO Box 29041, Tel Aviv 61290, Israel Tel: +972 3 5175150, Fax: +972 3 5175155, email: cost@targetconf.com Target Conferences is the official travel agent for the workshop. Registration fee is required whether attending on a daily basis or for the full event. Registration Before October 15, 2009 After Participant 100 120 Includes: Group transfer to/from Sede Boqer where the scientific sessions will take place, participation in two days of scientific sessions, book of abstracts, coffee at session breaks, and 2 light lunches during session times. Accompanying Person There is no set registration fee or planned events for accompanying persons. Accompanying persons are welcome to join and should plan on staying at the hotel in Mitzpe Ramon during the day while participants are at sessions. On November 11, accompanying persons should arrange to take a taxi from Mitzpe Ramon to Sede Boqer in the afternoon in order to join the group traveling to the Dead Sea area. HOW TO REGISTER Kindly complete the enclosed Registration Form and return with required payment at your earliest convenience. ALL PARTICIPANTS MUST SUBMIT A REGISTRATION FORM PAYMENT Payment must be submitted in full together with the Registration Form. Target Conferences accepts cheques and major credit cards and direct bank transfers*. Credit card payments will be processed in US dollars according rate of exchange on day of payment. Local participants must pay in Shekels according to rate of exchange on day payment is processed and will be subject to the addition of VAT (currently 16.5%) *Please ensure that the name/s of the participants and workshop name (COST) are clearly stated on the bank transfer. Bank transfer charges are the responsibility of the payer and should be paid at source in addition to the registration package fees. CANCELLATION POLICY Our refund policy for registration is based upon receiving notification as follows: Received prior to October 1 - full refund less 25 handling fee Received after October 1 and before November 1, 2009-50% refund Received from November 2, 2009 - no refund
ACCOMMODATION, TRAVEL AND TOURS Target Conferences is the official workshop organizer will be offering special reduced rates for accommodation and workshop tours. Hotel space has been blocked by Target Conferences at the following nightly rates: Single Room Double Room (One person) (Two people) Isrotel Ramon Inn- Mitzpe Ramon 100 x 2 nights 120 x 2 nights (Half board, dinner and breakfast included) Moriah Classic Hotel, Dead Sea 100 110 (Half board, dinner breakfast and included) Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem 110 130 (Breakfast included) PAYMENT In order to book your accommodation, and in order to benefit from the special rates, please complete and return the enclosed Accommodation Form with a guarantee of 150 per room to Target Conferences. The entire amount is payable upon your arrival at the Hospitality Desk with a 3% surcharge. If full payment is made together with reservation (or at least one month prior to arrival) there will be no surcharge. IMPORTANT NOTES Personal travel and health insurance is recommended. Target Conferences does not arrange sharing accommodation. All tours are booked and all tour arrangements are made on the express condition that Target Conferences shall not be responsible for and shall be exempt from liability in respect of any loss, damage, injury, accident, delay or inconvenience to any person and his/her luggage or any other property, for any reason whatsoever. CANCELLATION OF ACCOMMODATION Up to 45 days prior to arrival - full refund less handling fee of 50 per room Less than 45 days prior to arrival - no refund of guarantee LETTER OF INVITATION Upon request, the Secretariat is willing to send a personal letter of invitation to the applicant to participate in the workshop. It should be understood that such an invitation is only meant to help participants raise travel funds or obtain a visa, and does not represent a commitment on the part of the organizers to provide any financial support. CLIMATE In November it is usually cool to warm during the day and cold at night. We suggest you bring along comfortable walking shoes as well as a hat, sunglasses, bathing suit, and a jacket for the evening. VISAS Some participants may require a visa to enter Israel. We therefore suggest that you contact the Israeli Embassy/Consulate in your country or ask your travel agent for assistance. If you have difficulties obtaining a visa kindly contact the workshop Secretariat who will make every effort to assist. FLIGHTS AND TRANSPORTATION El Al Israel Airlines has direct flights from most major airports in North America, Europe, India, China, Thailand and Africa as do other international carriers.
TRANSFERS FROM/TO BEN GURION INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO THE RAMON INN, MITZPE RAMON AND RETURN The distance between the airport and the hotel is approximately 200 kilometers, a drive of about 3 hours depending on traffic. Taxis cost about US$200. We would like to try and arrange sharing transfers from Ben-Gurion Airport with a minimal waiting time. Please send in your full flight details at your earliest convenience in order to assist us in making these arrangements. Should the sharing transfers not be suitable, there is also a possibility of taking a train from the airport to Beer Sheva center train station, approximately NIS 26 (US$6 7, see Israel Railways link below for schedule and fares), and a taxi from there (about 85 kilometers) at a cost of about US$80. http://www.rail.co.il/en/pages/homepage.aspx IMPORTANT NOTES Personal travel, luggage and health insurance are recommended. Please purchase this from your local travel agent. All tours are booked on the express condition that Target Conferences shall not be responsible for and shall be exempt from all liability in respect of any loss, damage, injury or accident, to any person or his or her luggage or any other property, for any reason whatsoever. TRAVEL AND ACCOMMODATION Target Conferences Ltd. PO Box 29041, Tel Aviv 61290 Israel Tel: + 972 3 5175150, Fax: + 972 3 5175155 E-mail: cost@targetconf.com
OPTIONAL PRE ACCOMMODATION IN TEL AVIV, November 8-9, 2009 Nightly rates in Tel Aviv are on a bed and breakfast basis, including service charge: Metropolitan Hotel, Tel Aviv Rate in single room: 80 Rate for two people in a double room: 95 Depending on the amount of participants taking this option, we may be able to offer a reasonably priced group sharing transfer from this hotel to the hotel in Mitzpe Ramon, November 9, 2009. OPTIONAL POST WORKSHOP TOURS: POST-WORKSHOP Tour A One day sightseeing in Jerusalem Friday, November 13, 2009 A tour of the old city of Jerusalem to include visit of the Western Wall, some of the Stations of the cross on the Via Dolorosa and a stop at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Time permitting, tour may also include a visit to Yad Vashem, memorial to the Holocaust. Saturday, November 14, 2009 Departures or join Tour B Rate in single room 155 Rate for two people in a double room: 215 Rate includes: One overnight at the Crowne Plaza Jerusalem Hotel (or similar) including breakfast Travel by air-conditioned coach with the services of a government licensed tour guide Not including: Lunch en route, Tips to guide and driver Transfer from Jerusalem to Ben-Gurion Airport *Rate is based on a minimum of 15 participants. POST-WORKSHOP Tour B Sightseeing Nazareth, Capernaum and the Sea of Galilee Saturday, November 14, 2009 Full day sightseeing to include: Nazareth with the Church of the Annunciation, Cana in Galilee, Tabgha site of the miracle of Fish and Loaves, Capernaum, Sea of Galilee and Yardenit, the Baptismal site. Sunday, November 15, 2009 Rate in single room: 170 Rate for two people in a double room 245 Rate includes: One overnight at the Crowne Plaza Jerusalem Hotel (or similar) including breakfast Travel by air-conditioned coach with the services of a government licensed tour guide Not including: Lunch en route, Tips to guide and driver Transfer from Jerusalem to Ben-Gurion Airport *Rate is based on a minimum of 15 participants.
COST FORMAN WORKSHOP Water Issues in Dryland Forestry Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research Ben-Gurion University, Sede Boqer Campus Israel, November 09-13, 2009 REGISTRATION FORM Please TYPE or PRINT in BLOCK LETTERS and AIRMAIL, FAX or E-mail to: COST, PO Box 29041, Tel Aviv 61290, Israel, Tel: +972 3 5175150, Fax: +972 3 5175155 cost@targetconf.com Family Name First Name Title: Prof Dr Mr Ms Full Mailing Address City State Zip Code Country Tel Fax E-mail 1. REGISTRATION FEES: Registration fee is required whether attending on a daily basis or for the full event. Before October 15, 2009 After Participant 100 120 ACCOMPANYING PERSON/S NAME/S: Family Name First Name Family Name First Name 2. PAYMENT DETAILS Full payment of registration fees must accompany all requests. Payment by: Enclosed cheque in amount of payable to Target Conferences, cheque number bank I have made a bank transfer of as follows: Bank Leumi, Branch #. 804, 87 Ben Yehuda Street, Tel Aviv, Israel to account # 341500/08, Swift Code Lumiilit (enclose copy of transfer receipt). Charge to credit card as below: The US$ equivalent will be drawn according to the rate of exchange on day of payment American Express Diners Club Mastercard Visa Credit Card No. Expiry Date Last 3 digits on back of card Signature Date
COST FORMAN WORKSHOP, Israel, November 09-13, 2009 ACCOMMODATION FORM Please TYPE or PRINT in BLOCK LETTERS FAX or E-mail to: COST, Fax: +972 3 5175155, cost@targetconf.com Family Name First Name Title: Prof Dr Mr Ms Full Mailing Address City State Zip Code Country Tel Fax E-mail 1. OPTIONAL PRE-WORKSHOP ACCOMMODATION IN TEL AVIV - Metropolitan Hotel Single Room Double Room Check-in date Check-out date No. of nights 2. WORKSHOP ACCOMMODATION Single Room Double Room (One person) (Two people) Isrotel Ramon Inn- Mitzpe Ramon Night of November 9 100 120 Night of November 10 100 120 Moriah Classic Hotel, Dead Sea Night of November 11 100 110 Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem Night of November 12 110 130 3. OPTIONAL TOURS Post-workshop Tour A, Orientation of Jerusalem, November 13: Single Double Post-Workshop Tour B, Sea of Galilee, November 14: Single Double 4. FLIGHT INFORMATION: Please complete very important: Arrival date Airline/Flight at hours Departure date Airline/Flight at hours 5. PAYMENT DETAILS All requests for accommodation and tours must be accompanied by a guarantee of 150 per room. Enclosed cheque in amount of payable to Target Conferences, cheque number bank I have made a bank transfer of as follows: Bank Leumi, Branch #. 804, 87 Ben Yehuda Street, Tel Aviv, Israel to account # 341500/08, Swift Code Lumiilit (enclose copy of transfer receipt). Charge to credit card as below: Equivalent will be drawn in dollars according to rate of exchange on day of payment. American Express Diners Club MasterCard Visa Credit Card No. Expiry Date Last 3 digits on back of card Signature Date