Planting, Protecting and Promoting Trees Worldwide Our Planet Needs Your Support Now’S the Time to Help the International Tree Foundation

Volume 68 Journal of the International Tree Foundation January/February 2010 Free to ITF supporters

Global greening tWhy trees are ees top of the list for climate targets Join the family One group tells why it has become an ITF affiliate

tree success in mali essex orchards the Prince's Rainforest project the quest for the desert cypress

Planting, protecting and promoting trees worldwide Our planet needs your support Now’s the time to help the International Tree Foundation

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2 | trees | Winter 2009 CONTENTS

Peter21 8Bunyard on Save the treesWhale and Week climate change

Patron His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales Founder Dr Richard St Barbe Baker OBE President Sir Ghilean Prance Vice Presidents Cynthia Campbell Savours Professor Julian Evans E Green MBE Susan Hampshire Sir Bernard de Hoghton, BT, DL Satish Kumar The Earl of Lindsay W E Matthews OBE Trustees Terence Bermingham David H Gore Kenton Rogers IN this issue Bland Tomkinson Chairman 4 Year in Focus Spencer G Keys Updates from International Director Lorraine Dunk Tree Foundation projects and Staff partners around the world Joanne George Sarah Leeming WELCOME 8 The Big Issue Carol Morais One of the most inspiring things about this job is the chance The Ecologist’s Peter Bunyard Elisa Murray to follow in the footsteps of our founder, Richard St Barbe on how trees can help meet Baker. It’s wonderful to hear how many people cite him as targets on climate change Trees is published annually an inspiration for the work they do, such as International by the International Tree 11 SPOTLIGHT Foundation, a registered Tree Foundation trustee Kenton Rogers, who describes his A closer look at the acacia charity (no 1106269). journey in St Barbe’s steps to track down the mysterious 12 Calling SOS The opinions expressed in it do not necessarily reflect Saharan Cypress on page 14. Tony Juniper updates us on ITF policy, and ITF does On page 19, the volunteers at Essex’s Forest Farm Peace HRH The Prince of Wales’ not hold itself responsible for any of those opinions. Lorraine Garden have St Barbe in mind as they plant a new orchard Rainforest Project Dunk, that will provide a harvest of wonderful, organic fruit. 14 ITF People Editor Clare Harris Director But it is St Barbe’s understanding of the role trees and forests Kenton Rogers on his quest Executive editor play in preventing climate change that is more pertinent today to find the Saharan cypress Malcolm Tait than ever. As we emerge from the Copenhagen climate talks, 16 Gallery Sub editor Andrew Littlefield The Ecologist’s Peter Bunyard describes the potential for global The mighty baobab Design initiatives to get trees working for our climate again, on page 8. 18 Under the Matthew Ball Publisher He’s joined by Tony Juniper, special adviser to our patron HRH Canopy John Innes The Prince of Wales on the Prince’s Rainforest Project. Tony Trees for Cities

Front cover gives us an update on page 12, and on page 20, we hear how 19 Project focus African Landscape, work with the Barahongo community in Mali has helped local Getting to know the people Shutterstock farmers take their own steps to sustainable reforestation. behind some of our most International Tree There’s never been a more pressing time to take action recently funded projects Foundation, for the world’s trees. As a supporter of ITF you can help Sandy Lane, 22REVIEWS Crawley Down, communities to plant and manage trees that will give them We review some of the West Sussex sustenance, income and shelter – but will also tackle climate year’s top books and DVDs RH10 4HS, UK Tel 01342 717300 change. And what could be more inspiring than that? 23 One of us Fax 01342 718282 Introducing ITF’s [email protected] newest affiliate plus a www.internationaltreefoundation.org story from the archives

This issue’s contributors

Kenton Rogers Peter Bunyard Tony Juniper Kenton is a forester Peter is a founding Tony is former head and a trustee of the editor of The Ecologist of international NGO International Tree magazine. He writes Friends of the Earth Foundation. He talks about the science of and is now a special about his research reforestation and adviser to the Prince’s work in Algeria climate change Rainforest Project

Volume 68 | trees | 3 YEAR IN FOCUS

Trees can provide Trees vital shade Fruits of help the future Darfur With the support of ITF’s Leyte, Philippines. With the Surrey branch, villages in the help of ITF they are fight Philippines are looking rehabiltating ten hectares of forward to a sustainable farm land for forest and fruit source of income. trees, using a combination of back The Partnership for co-operative labour and food In the dry regions of community forest, Majoub Ecological Orientation for the for work incentives. Northern Darfur, the A, is such a success that Preservation of Leyte’s PEOPLE has already planted sustainable development “children are eating nabuk Environment Organisation 7,000 trees, including charity Kids for Kids has fruit from a tree growing (PEOPLE), is an organisation mango, durian, and the been working since 2001 to where there was once working on the island of native red sandalwood tree. help provide local villages desert,” according to Kids with ways of securing their for Kids’ Patricia Parker. livelihoods in the face of 14 species of trees are being drought and conflict. The planted to provide sources of charity recently began work shade, food and revenue, with the International Tree while the mighty baobab tree Foundation to start a tree- is being reintroduced to an planting scheme, which has area that has not seen them since spread to five villages grow for years. in the region. The first www.kidsforkids.org.uk The fruits of the mango tree Durian fruit

Door- to-door Tree management seedlings on the small screen This year has been a busy one for the Bale Beauty In the Mopti region of Mali, that were once used as Eco is working with local Nature Club (BBNC), based trees are scarcer than ever. animal feed, and trees that people – supported by the in Ethiopia’s Bale Mountain Women walk miles to find provide medicines, are also International Tree National Park. The region’s firewood that used to grow burnt to cook food, while Foundation – to develop magnificent forests are in close to home – and when firewood itself can fetch an farmer managed natural danger, due in part to a that runs out, they are astronomical 500 francs regeneration (FMNR) lack of cultivation of forced to use inefficient per bundle. In this difficult schemes, through which native species. The BBNC fuels like cow-dung and situation, sustainable firewood can be harvested has therefore been busy millet stalks. Plant stems development charity Sahel while allowing trees to distributing 30,000 native seedlings to local communities through a network of schools. The seedlings were planted with the support of the International Tree Foundation and work is now under way to create an information centre for local people and visitors to the National Park.

4 | trees | Volume 68 One of the PEOPLE The Joliba Trust is staff in the Leyte educating children tree nursery about trees

Starting early In the Sahel regions of Mali, the Joliba Trust has

Developing natural been working with the support of the International regeneration Tree Foundation to develop mini-arboreta in Tree management schemes in Mali local schools. The diminutive botanical gardens on the small screen are just one strand to the work that the charity continue growing. does in assisting local communities to halt the A training film, made with farmers from the Horé rapid advance of the desert onto the lands that Guendé and Endé villages, they depend upon to survive. In 2008-09, has now been shown in six villages and has also mini-arboreta were set up in seven schools, with been broadcast on national television. between 11 and 21 species planted at each school. Read more on page 20 A total of 627 pupils have now learned about the value of trees and the environment that they protect – as well as practical techniques such as planting, cultivation and disease management. www.jolibatrust.org.uk

People in the Sahel regions learn all about mini-arboreta

Volume 68 | trees | 5 GLOBAL UPDATE

Jason Hartman, the winner of South Africa’s Pop Idol A year of diversity he year 2010 has been designated the International Year of Biodiversity (IYB) by the United Nations and will culminate in the tenth TConvention of the Parties meeting in Nagoya, Japan. Here the 193 signatory countries to the Convention on Biological Diversity will assess the achievements of the last ten years and, crucially, commit to new targets for species loss reduction for the decades ahead. IYB events in the UK are being managed by the Natural History Museum, following a year of celebrations to mark the bicentenary of biodiversity hero Charles Darwin. The centrepiece was a new sculpture, Tree, by Tanya Kovats. Made from a single 200-year- old oak, the work included the planting of 200 oak saplings in the forest it left behind. POP IDOL Find out more at www.nhm.ac.uk BRANCHES OUT Jason Hartman runs South Africa’s Men of the Trees, IN BRIEF a partner organisation to the International Tree Foundation. In 2009 he won South Africa’s Pop Idol contest n At Molly and documentary, Paul Farm School made in 1981. Project in Uganda, In it, St Barbe What has your year been I think that people here and around the vulnerable children warns of 1 like since winning Pop Idol? world are seeing the importance of being are now enjoying desertification It has been amazing! We have ‘Green’. It is the way of the future and the working with fruit and laments played to thousands of people throughout support is obviously a reflection of a trees for food and the earth being our country. This has helped us to shifting consciousness. income. The school “skinned alive.” generate a lot of interest for South Can you tell us what is the applied for ITF www. Africa’s Men of the Trees. 4 most pressing issue facing funding to plant nzonscreen.com Have you used your newfound the environment in South fruit tree seedlings n A grove of 2 stardom to get more South Africa at the moment? earlier this year, indigenous trees Africans thinking about the Soil erosion and coastal deforestation and the trees are is to be planted trees around them? are on top of the pile. Both are serious, now managed by in Malta with the Absolutely! We see this exposure as but can be overcome. the children assistance of the the best way to generate interest How is the ITF-funded project themselves. German town toward conservation. We have been 5 to create indigenous tree www.mollyandpaul. of Minden. The blown away by the support. nurseries in the Karkloof org.uk project, the result You set up Jason’s Garden, Forest Reserve going? n Footage of ITF of a long-term 3 aimed at getting all sorts of We have completed the nursery and founder Richard affiliation with ITF people to plant and grow their we have planted close to 1200 new St Barbe Baker Malta, will see trees own organic vegetables, and you have trees, after initially purchasing 500. has been given a planted in an area already gathered thousands of pledges All is looking good and we are incredibly new lease of life. of high aridity, for the Planting Season initiative. grateful to the ITF for their support. New Zealand in an effort to Why do you think the idea of planting website NZ On regenerate has taken off so much? www.jasonsgarden.com Screen hosts a the land.

6 | trees | Volume 68 THE BIG ISSUE THE lost canopy Peter Bunyard believes that the world’s forests have a vital part to play in the effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions before it’s too late

ollowing Darwin’s Origin the oceans, so that the large continental as 0.8°C higher than half a century ago. of Species, we have been regions of the planet get their rain. Business as usual emissions over the next brought up to think that life That role, whereby a sufficient density half century could take temperatures well on Earth was a recipient of of trees initiates a hydrological cycle that above the 2°C goal beyond which we would physical conditions imposed draws the rains in from the sea, is something be in the grip of dangerous and irreversible implacably upon it, and that we have known since time immemorial. changes. Even today, in the boreal regions, life, through evolution, did Whenever a civilisation has eliminated its we are finding that trees are dying because little more than its best to adapt. On the forests, that has been its death knell. We of rampant infestations and disease, on Fcontrary, life actually interacts physically now know that the Mayan civilisation met account of warmer temperatures. with its environment, transforming it its demise when a hotter climate, combined Unquestionably, the lion’s share of and regulating the conditions which it with excessive deforestation, caused fatal the emissions comes from our use of encounters in its immediate vicinity. shortages in water. fossil fuels. Nevertheless, a considerable

In that dynamic process forests play a With our global emissions of greenhouse proportion, perhaps as much as 20%, of hutterstock S critically important role, managing climate gases, we have so destabilised climate that the emission of greenhouse gases is the

and bringing in the flows of humid air from surface temperatures are now as much result of destroying forests, particularly in Images:

8 | trees | Volume 68 Planting trees in Africa is crucial in recovering land and supporting communities

storm in the Pacific Ocean, was disastrous whenever a for the Sahelian countries, bringing death civilisation has to hundreds of thousands of cattle, and starvation and misery to the nomad eliminated its populations. Government policy had been to uproot the acacia and plant groundnuts forests, that instead, using commercial fertilisers and banning the traditional visit to villages by has been its the nomads with their herds. But recent death knell moves to replant with traditional species in deforested areas of Africa is a vital first step in recovering the land, so that it can support settled villagers and their seasonal the tropics, where each year thousands of interaction with nomadic herdsmen. square kilometres have been razed to the Leading up to December 2009’s landmark ground to make way for plantations and, climate change conference, COP15, at particularly in Latin America, for extensive Copenhagen, countries with tropical cattle grazing. In 2004 alone, an area of rainforest such as Papua New Guinea forest the size of Belgium – some 26,000 and Colombia pushed hard for REDD – square kilometres – was destroyed in the Reducing Emissions from Degradation and Brazilian Amazon. Meanwhile, in Bolivia, Deforestation of Tropical Forests. The idea of vast areas of its Amazon have been cleared REDD is to provide a mechanism with which for soya plantations, as they have too in to compensate tropical countries for avoided Deforestation Brazil’s Mato Grosso. deforestation and so establish a long-term in the Amazon reduction, with payments derived from the rainforest ver since the unprecedented, global market in carbon; carbon credits, devastating drought which in other words. If applied rigorously for 30 struck the Amazon Basin in years, with a 5% annual rate of reduction Palm tree seedlings 2005, leaving millions of fish in an equatorial country such as Colombia, in a greenhouse dead and sparking thousands REDD would result in a 4% destruction of the ready to be replanted of fires, the Brazilian remaining forests, rather than 12%. government does seem to have Recently, a number of private initiatives made an all-out effort to curb deforestation. have come into being to reward tropical EDuring 2009 the rate of deforestation, at countries, such as Guyana, for their low 7,000 square kilometres, has fallen to its rates of deforestation. PINC (Pre-emptive lowest level for many decades. Investment in Natural Capital) is one such The Sahel region of Africa has shown idea and HEDD (Halting the Emissions us the terrible implications of removing from Degradation and Deforestation in the tree cover, in particular the acacia, which Tropics) is another. Norway is giving Brazil can tap groundwater from well below 10 in the region of one thousand million dollars metres, therefore flourishing when other to protect Amazon forests, and Holland has vegetation simply dries up and dies. The just announced that it will give Colombia year 1984, associated with a powerful some 8.5 million euros a year for a similar

Volume 68 | trees | 9 THE BIG ISSUE

purpose. It should be noted that neither of nearly one fifth of the world’s flow of fresh those initiatives entail carbon credits; they water to the ocean, five times more than Five key reasons are in recognition of the ecosystem services the Congo and more than ten times the flow played by such forests. of the Mississippi. Without those forests, why trees matter precipitation would decrease exponentially Trees are essential for n fact, the carbon contained in the forests with distance from the ocean, leaving the 1 generating rain and for of the world is at best a side issue when interior a much drier, hotter place, perhaps forming rivers. In the we consider the vital role of forests to by as much as 10°C, and therefore incapable tropics, forests provide the regulate the hydrological cycle. All manner of supporting humid tropical rainforests. humidity necessary for the of vegetation draws up water through its Back in Europe, December’s COP15 formation of mountain glaciers. root system and pumps water vapour out meeting at Copenhagen was undoubtedly a through the stomata in the leaves, but a great disappointment, and for many a last- Trees conserve carbon in closed canopy forest pumps out as much as ditch opportunity lost with regard to water- 2 soils, as well as in their own Ifive or 10 times more water vapour than does tight commitments to hold back emissions biomass. The replacement a plantation and it evaporates far more water of greenhouse gases and prevent climate of forests with other vegetation, than the ocean at similar latitude or indeed catastrophe before the end of the century. including plantations of trees, leads any other body of water, whether river, lake However, as a result of intense lobbying to the emission of large quantities or reservoir. by countries with rainforests to lose, the of greenhouse gases – up to 200 Not only does the rainforest generate a conference was something of a first in tons of carbon per hectare in the powerful vapour pressure pump through realising the importance of mechanisms to equatorial tropics. evapo-transpiration, which has the effect prevent deforestation, not only in terms of of sucking in humid air from the ocean, but REDD, for reducing deforestation, but REDD Reforestation, primarily it also helps to form clouds. Both evapo- PLUS for compensating countries for having 3 with native species, provides transpiration, like sweat, and the formation left their tropical rainforest intact, with the a long term carbon sink and of clouds cool the air above the canopy, so intention that they will continue to do so. ameliorates soils, also helping to preventing the sun scorching the soil. Hopefully, the commitment to avoid recover the regional hydrological The enormous area covered by the further deforestation will take hold in 2010 cycle which can affect the global Amazon rainforests, some 6.5 million square and help prevent climate catastrophe from climate. It is essential to regenerate kilometres, makes equatorial South America the loss of ecosystems that are essential closed canopy forests with their something of a special case, although by no for climate stability and human survival. high surface leaf area. means unique. The faster growing forests By bringing to an end to the wholesale are to the far west of the Basin, some 3,000 destruction of forests, the world will Forests, by means of kilometres away from the mouth of the instantly achieve a radical reduction in 4 evapo-transpiration and Amazon River. The rainfall they generate is greenhouse gas emissions. cloud generation, bring the result of biotic pumping so that the same about cooling. Therefore, forest drop of water, derived from the tropical PETER BUNYARD regeneration in degraded and Atlantic Ocean, will get recycled every five A founding editor of The Ecologist, Peter deforested areas contributes days and therefore perhaps as much as has worked with the magazine since 1969. to global cooling and combats seven times, as the air stream passes over He has written extensively on the Amazon global warming. the Amazon Basin on its way to the Andes. and climate, and lectures at the University That is why the Amazon River flushes of Santo Tomás, Bogotá, Colombia. Judicious harvesting 5 of timber and non-timber products potentially provide work for people living in forests. It is vital that any reforestation scheme helps to sustain these communities within a healthy forest ecosystem.

a closed canopy forest pumps out as much as five or ten times more water vapour Early morning mist than a plantation over a tropical rainforest in Brazil

10 | trees | Volume 68 SPOTLIGHT ACACIA Also known as gum arabic, Acacia was first described in Africa by the early botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1773. ■ The acacia has spiny branches, leading 300 grams. It is used for crafts, and for to one of its other names – the thorn tree. producing cosmetics and medicines. ■ There are several species of acacia Seventy percent of the world’s gum spread mostly around the tropical and arabic is produced in Sudan. warm temperate regions of the globe. ■ Acacia trees are now being replanted ■ While the acacia tree does not bear fruit, in deforested regions of Sub-Saharan its seeds can be eaten and its flowers Africa such as Rwanda, Mali and Ghana. can produce fine honey. ■ The wood can be harvested as a cash- ■ The variety Acacia Senegal is also known crop, and can be used in construction. as gum arabic, and is native to desert In Ghana, for example, the ITF-funded regions including Sub-Saharan Africa. Rural Farmers Project supplies rural ■ The gum is drained from cuts in the bark, farmers in the Karaga district with acacia and an individual tree will yield 200 to seedlings to grow and sell.

Volume 68 | trees | 11 GUEST WRITER Rainforest Rescue The Prince of Wales’ Rainforest Project has gathered widespread support. Tony Juniper, special adviser to the prince, tells us about the plans to get our forests back on track

or more than three decades consensus about the vital importance the international community of forests in underpinning global food has made various attempts security, not least because of the vital role to reduce and halt tropical that they play in generating rainfall. forest clearance. Hundreds of The discussion has been controversial millions of dollars have been and intense. All the while, however, the spent by governments, NGOs forests continue to fall. Some six million and international agencies. Undoubtedly hectares of tropical rainforests are cleared Fsome good has come from this, but high every year. The emissions arising from this levels of deforestation have continued. are about 17% of the total – that’s greater Initially the response was driven by than those from the whole transport sector. The clearing of concerns about disappearing wildlife, When the service provided by the forests rainforests represents impacts on forest peoples and the in absorbing some 15% of the emissions a constant threat degradation of environmental services. arising from human activity is taken But at the heart of the discussion about into account, it becomes clear that any tropical forests today is the matter of serious attempt to avoid the worst effects Even if the disagreements can be carbon, and how to keep it in the trees and of climate change must include a credible navigated and a treaty is forged soon, it the soils beneath them, and thereby out of attempt to slow down, stop and then reverse will not be possible to generate substantial the atmosphere. There is also an emerging tropical deforestation. funds for years, perhaps taking more than a decade to allocate finance at an appropriate Deforestation scale. During the course of that decade, continues by another 60 million or more hectares of the hour tropical rainforest could be cleared. This is forest that the world cannot afford to lose, giving rise to the rather important question of what can be done now to slow down the rate of loss. The underlying reasons for deforestation are economic, and any serious attempt to slow down forest loss needs to provide alternatives to the income derived from logging and farming. Since late 2007 the Prince of Wales’ Rainforests Project has been researching ways in which this economic conundrum might be solved. One result was published in April 2009, in the form of an Emergency Package for the benefits to be gained Tropical Forests. Based on nearly 18 months of research, the project team generated a from slowing down forest set of proposals that could provide tropical countries with the economic space they loss would be vast need to embark on lower-carbon and more sustainable development.

12 | trees | Volume 68 six million hectares of rainforests are cleared every year

The Princes Rainforest Project proposed end of the period the investors would get that any new financing mechanism should their money back, having earned a secure be seen more like the payment of a utility rate of return for the time the governments bill – the price of maintaining services that had use of their money. are vital for human wellbeing everywhere. As for the governments issuing the bonds, But how much will it cost to provide that they would have choices in how to repay economic space for countries to embark on investors as the bonds matured. They could a different style of development? simply raise money through taxation, or This and several other vital questions they could align repayment with other The impact were addressed by an informal working climate protection policies that they will, on wildlife group of more than 30 nations, established in any event, need to implement over the is huge at a top level meeting on rainforests hosted next decade and beyond. For example, by HRH The Prince of Wales in London they could allocate money derived from during April 2009. Leaders of key countries There are many ways in which 20 billion the auctioning of credits in their ‘cap and agreed to work together on proposals for euros could be quickly raised. One source trade’ schemes, or could tax aviation fuel. immediate action to curb deforestation. would be a simple allocation of new finance They might put in place a Tobin tax on The group came back in October with an from the main donor countries. Between international currency transactions. estimate that it would cost about 20 billion them the total cost per country would be While the money needed is not huge, the euros during the period of 2010–15 to cut quite small. benefits to be gained from slowing down t rainforest clearance by about 25%. To put Even if short-term budget pressures were forest loss would be vast. There is now an ojec r this in context, 20 billion euros is around a major issue for developed countries, the international consensus on what to do, P t the total sum of bonuses paid to Goldman Prince’s Rainforest Project has set out some and increasingly on how to do it. Right es r Sachs’ employees during 2009. This would options on how governments might be able now appears to be the moment for decisive deliver, the working group suggested, to raise money quickly.One involves the action. We may not have too many more an emissions cut of about seven billion use of government bonds. These would chances to make the difference needed. inces Rainfo inces r tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent during be offered to private investors, such as os: P os: t that five years, about the same as one year insurance and pension companies, and Find out more

Pho of US emissions. would yield a modest rate of return. At the www.rainforestsos.org

Volume 68 | trees | 13 ITF PEOPLE Into the past When Kenton Rogers first crossed the Sahara, he had no idea the trip would eventually lead him to some of the world’s oldest and most isolated trees

t was 2005, and Kenton Rogers, a 36-year- old forester, was journeying in a beaten- up old car as part of the Plymouth-Dakar Challenge – an eccentric, more affordable Trees can alternative to the prestigious Paris-Dakar help to halt Rally, which takes place every year. He’d desertification always had a notion to drive across the Sahara to the Gambia, but was unable to do Iso on his own. Joining the Challenge meant Foundation, to the rare cypresses of the he could fulfil his dream – and, fortuitously, Tassili n’Ajjer plateau in southern Algeria. it meant he could raise money for charity “There’s not much known about Algerian at the same time. cypress. Richard St Barbe Baker wrote My favourite tree Kenton chose to give his sponsorship about it briefly in his book The Saharan money to the International Tree Foundation, Challenge, and that’s where I first heard Silver Birch and the funds he raised went straight to the about it,” Kenton explains. “There were ‘This tree is Foundation’s Kartong Community Forest scientific reports around on how many often overlooked project to buy 1,200 mahogany trees. were left, but they differed in number.” but it produces “When I came back to the UK I was The most recent count was led by a wonderful, invited to the Foundation’s AGM and gave Algerian researcher Fatiha Abdoun, local dappled shade,’ a talk about the challenge,” says Kenton. archeologist Muhammad Beddiaf and says Kenton. “Since then I’ve become a trustee and over Park Warden Wawa Muhammad Hamid, ‘I wish that the last two years I’ve become more active between 1997 and 2001. They found a total developers with them.” of just 233 trees on the 1,000 kilometre- would use it more when they Trained at the National School of Forestry square plateau, securing the species’ place are creating new housing estates in Cumbria, Kenton grew up around trees. on the IUCN’s critically endangered list. For in our towns and cities. I’ve got His father was a forester in Wales, where he Kenton, making the trip was not only about two in the garden at home.’ would take the young Kenton out during the tracking down these elusive trees, but about summer holidays to tend to forest fires. The laying plans for a multi-agency conservation experience sparked a career. project aimed at safeguarding the surviving After a sandwich-year placement on the trees, reducing pressures from grazing and where the locals made a little campfire to Duke of Wellington’s estate and completing human intervention, and planting new greet me and then I went to bed. s oger his forestry course, Kenton went on to work ones. His first trip, in February 2009, was “Slowly, it got light and when I woke up R at HiLine Consultancy in Devon and is now a daunting prospect. it was cold and windy – the Tassili n’Ajjer is studying for a masters degree in forestry “When I first got off the plane, I thought, a 2000-metre high escarpment and it’s in

and eco-system management. It was after what the hell am I doing?” Kenton’s shadow in the morning. Kenton and i sk ri

his experience in sub-Saharan Africa that companion, a photographer who’d travelled “But when we started leading the b he began to take more interest in the role to the area before, had been forced to cancel donkeys and walking into the gully, I got it. trees could play in halting desertification, at the last minute. “Muhammad Beddiaf I was amazed that somewhere so barren : Kevin Bu Kevin : and this interest eventually led him, as a met me at the airport, and I was driven out could be so beautiful. It’s the remoteness of s

representative of the International Tree into the desert about two in the morning, it that shocked me, and the sounds as well. Photo

14 | trees | Volume 68 An unforgiving The ancient environment cypress trees for any travellers of the Sahara

it’s only when you get closer to the tree that you realise its Kenton during his trip across significance the Sahara

As you walk up the canyons all the cliffs that could have taken you 20 minutes or two community-led conservation effort, he echo with your footsteps, and the guides hours to reach, because there was nothing believes more seedlings could take hold. hit their water canisters to make echoes to scale it to. But when you saw the tree you A potential partnership between various around you.” could. It came out of the sand – the trees organisations such as the Global Trees are couched into these riverbeds because Campaign and the International Union for f ter nea rly a day’s they’ve been covered over the millennia by Conservation of Nature (IUCN) would set exhausting trek through up to four metres of sand. And then some in motion a long-term, in-situ conservation empty, moon-like terrain, are another six metres above that level. programme. Training in planting cuttings the first of the cypress “I sat down about 50 metres away from and raising seedlings is already under trees finally came into that first tree to take it all in. They’ve done way.It is this local involvement, Kenton view – for Wawa. The studies and the middle-sized trees are believes, that is absolutely crucial for any warden’s eyes, used to the about 2,500 years old, and they’re three conservation plan to succeed. endless horizons of the desert, made the to four metres in circumference. The biggest “When I was in Kartong visiting the Atree out long before Kenton’s could. tree is nearly 13 metres in circumference, community that the International Tree “It’s when you get closer and the tree which means it could be 5,000 years old, Foundation works with, one of the elders gets bigger that you realise its significance. or even older. That’s older than the said they had a lot of people coming to see The tree is the only point of reference. bristlecone pine, which at 4,000 years old them with a lot of projects. His general gripe Everything else is a mountain or a boulder was for a long time considered the oldest was ‘you come here and give us all your tree on the planet.” solutions but you go and leave us with our The age of the trees is echoed in the problems’. But with trees its different. rock art that peppers the Tassili n’Ajjer “The good thing about forestry is that plateau. Paintings by long-gone residents it doesn’t require huge outlay,” adds show scenes of hunting that hint at a far Kenton. “It’s just time, and care, and a bit more fertile landscape from thousands of of knowledge.” Time has passed slowly years ago. Ironically, part of the threat to for the ancient trees of the Tassili n’Ajjer the trees today comes from tourists plateau. All they need to survive the next flocking to the park to see these few millennia is a little love. works of art. “The youngest tree is from find out more Local experts Wawa 1952, so that would be 50 Read more about Kenton’s trips with the Muhammad Hamid and years old,” Kenton explains. International Tree Foundation on his blog: Muhammad Beddiaf But with the right sort of http://journals.worldnomads.com/kenton

Volume 68 | trees | 15 GALLERY tock s Photo: Shutter Photo:

16 | trees | Volume 68 Tree of Life The magical baobab tree thrives in some of the world’s hottest regions For many communities the ancient and mighty baobab tree is indispensable. Its fruit is higher in Vitamin C than an orange, and its trunk stores precious water. Varieties of the baobab grow in Southern Africa, Australasia and the Sahel, where its natural habitat is rapidly decreasing. The International Tree Foundation works with charities like Ethiopia’s Bale Beauty Nature Club, trying to reintroduce the tree to local villages one by one.

Volume 68 | trees | 17 Under the Canopy

Nina deGroote working with children from London

IN THE CITY Trees for Cities is a charity Places ‘Tree O’Clock’ world record attempt to these days fun for all the family. At this event set up to plant and promote plant the most number of trees in one hour. we have face painters, woodland survival trees in urban areas. Schools The day starts at 5am, when I jump skill demonstrations, bird box making out of bed and head off to Hillingdon. We workshops, live samba drummers, arts and and Events Coordinator Nina have projects running all over London but craft activities and free refreshments. deGroote spends her time woodland projects are usually quite far out A number of children from the schools persuading local communities of the city centre, which means an early we have worked in come along. We try and start. By 8am I arrive on site, meet my super involve at least two schools per project, to get their hands dirty, and team of colleagues and unload the vans: one either getting them involved in a planting on December 5 she helped generator, five marquees, 115 spades, 3,000 workshop before the event takes place or else the people of Hillingdon plant whips and a huge mixture of other resources getting them out the week after to help us and tools are all set up around the beautiful complete the project. 2,000 saplings for the BBC’s park in the dawn light. ‘Tree O’Clock’ initiative. At 10am our volunteers arrive. We have a ur school workshops Here she describes her day fantastic team who help us out at events, and involve fun environmental 50 of them have come along today to lend education activities as a hand. All the participants are signed in, well as planting, so that allocated a planting team, given a health and we can get the children s Trees for Cities Schools safety talk, gloves, a spade and a planting thinking about why trees and Events Coordinator demonstration, so that they’re ready to plant are important for people every work day is different, when the siren sounds! and wildlife and why we need to plant trees extremely busy, full of fun It’s 11am, and time for the world record Oin cities like London. The kids love getting and, more often than not, attempt to begin. The Mayor of Merton muddy and there are always squeals of very muddy! Typically in starts things off for us and the volunteers excitement when worms are discovered! a week I’m in and out of get stuck in, planting 2,000 trees in the hour Some of the children even forge close bonds our offices in Kennington and Shadwell, – a fantastic result. We plant a mix of native with ‘their’ trees in the workshops, and many Arunning workshops at schools across species to extend the wooded areas in the are pleased to revisit their new friends. London, managing our community events park and attract wildlife to the area. Many By 4pm we’re all packed up and I leave and attending planting ceremonies. residents mention that they have been using for home happy that the event went so well, We’re planting trees every day, but the park for years and are pleased to be able that so many trees were planted and that on December 5 we had a challenge that to make a difference by planting new trees. everyone had a good time. was rather out of the ordinary. We held a The hour-long record attempt is over, but community planting event in Hillingdon the event continues for us: everything we Find out more which was also part of the BBC Breathing do is completely free and we try and make www.treesforcities.org

18 | trees | Volume 68 PROJECTS project focus The International Tree Foundation supports schemes that achieve real change under the themes of justice, livelihoods and biodiversity. We meet the people behind just a few of these projects

were the first people we approached for THEIR assistance, and they said yes.” The Peace Garden was founded by American Joanna Birch-Brown, who had Designs received a fellowship from the Compton Foundation in California to start an for life environmental and social justice project. A small grant from the International Initially the garden was conceived as Tree Foundation will enable the a means to support refugees and those Forest Farm Peace Garden in the seeking asylum, and was modelled on East End of London to plant a new the Medical Foundation for the Care of orchard – helping this haven of Victims of Torture’s Natural Growth social justice to bear more fruit project, which uses gardening as a kind of gentle therapy. The team began inviting Justice people who had mental health problems to come down, too, and the garden soon he Forest Farm Peace Garden became a place for everyone. in Hainault, Essex, was “There’s little investment in this area, established six years ago on there are issues with racism, and not a two-acre plot of abandoned much for people to do,” says Stefan. The land. The area was once garden fast became a success and now home to allotments, but stages social events, with arts and crafts had been left fallow until days and plenty of chances to cook and the Forest Farm folk came along. eat its produce. “The aim was to give TRecently, with the help of a grant from people access to exercise and a social the International Tree Foundation, the environment. Rather than just being a staff and volunteers at the garden have garden, it’s about creating a community,” begun designing a further one and a Stefan explains. half acres of ground to be dedicated to Jeremy O’Callaghan, 62, is a former an orchard. primary school teacher and has been Up to 100 trees – including pear, apple, volunteering at Forest Farm for 20 months plum and nut varieties – will be planted – he comes once a week from nearby on this new section of land. Stefan Redbridge. “It’s a rich mix of ages, sexes King, Head Gardener and Volunteer and communities here, which reflects the Coordinator, explains that the planting East End of London. will provide a chance not only to diversify “We’ve got a couple of fruit trees the charity’s crop of organic food, but already, which we planted 18 months ago also to nurture the local bee population – there’s a Stirling Castle apple tree and a and offer training opportunities in tree Warwickshire Drooper plum, and we’ve management. been watering them and protecting them “The orchard is just beginning,” says from frost. Recently I put green manure Stefan, during a break from digging. around them too. “We’re on our final designs. We’d had “I do look forward to coming here,” the orchard plans on the backburner for adds Jeremy, “particularly to have a a while, but we didn’t have the time or the community lunch. There’s got to be a resources to do it. certain commitment.” “We got in touch with the International Tree Foundation after we read a book by Volunteers not only help tend the garden Find out more its founder, Richard St Barbe Baker. They and orchard, but also enjoy its produce www.forestfarmpeacegarden.org

Volume 68 | trees | 19 PROJECT FOCUS

Planting in Ethiopia’s Keyit Spreading nursery gets under way the Word How a new film has helped farmers to reconnect with old tree traditions Livelihoods n the sand-strangled farmlands of central Mali there is a quiet revolution going on. Earlier this year, with support from the International Tree Foundation, Mali-based charity Sahel Eco teamed up with local farmers’ group the Barahogon Association to create a training film that raised the issue of Farmer Managed Natural IRegeneration (FMNR). Mary Allen, Executive Secretary of Sahel Eco, is based in the town of Mopti. She explains how the 15-minute film has made waves in Mopti and beyond. “We made the film with members of the Barahogon Association, an ancient farmers’ association that had only recently been revived. During the first half of the film you see a village called Horé Guendé, where there are very few trees, and the villagers

Seedling success Ethiopian nurseries are bringing are raising new species such as apple trees, new life to an ancient forest which provide a source of income. “Apple trees are highland trees, which are biodiversity beautiful and useful because they produce n Ethiopia’s ancient but shrinking Wof fruit,” says Wof Washa forester Negash Washa forest, local organisation Sunarma Tadesse. Negash has worked in the area all has created nurseries in areas where his life, and can see the difference that the mature trees once grew. The five-hectare new trees have made. Keyit nursery is the biggest – a former “For a long time people here didn’t government nursery, it is now supported manage their land or treat it well. There was by the charity. no urge to conserve the land, only to use it. Of the half a million seedlings raised You used to be able to get ten quintiles of Ithere every year, Sunarma’s team – which food per hectare, but now that has fallen to includes youth groups bringing new trees as little as four quintiles per hectare. into former forest communities – “It is only now that they have started to plant trees that progress is being made,” Negash adds. “The Wof-Washa forest could become much bigger if it is properly managed. It might even be possible one day ødland-Buick

to create a whole new forest.” R