Sigal Hadar

Sigal Hadar is an urban forester for the municipality of Be'er Sheva, Israel, where she leads an ambitious initiative to double the number of trees in the city over the next 15 years. Growing up in Kibbutz Nir Oz, she was deeply influenced by her family's gardening legacy, particularly her father, a renowned gardener known for water-efficient gardening. Sigal's practical knowledge of horticulture comes from hands-on experience rather than formal education. In October 2023, she faced a personal crisis when her son tragically died in a car accident, coinciding with a violent attack that claimed the lives of her parents' neighbors, underscoring the importance of her work in creating shaded, livable urban spaces in a climate-challenged environment.