You would think that Tu’bshvat (the new year for the trees), with its message of celebrating nature, would be regarded as the ultimate green festival.

However, green campaigners in Israel are urging people not to do the traditional thing by planting a tree.

Despite the fact that trees have the reputation of greening the planet by soaking up CO2, Adi Wolfson writes in Ha’aretz that people should think twice before planting a new one — due to the country’s chronic water shortage. “Avoiding planting this tree and saving the water would help save other trees that are dying of thirst.”