Worldwide Response to 
“Plant a Tree for Peace” Campaign Shows Strong Commitment to Peace by Women

Press Release by FIRE

In response to a campaign launched by the Women´s Caucus of IUCN (World Conservation Union) and WEDO (Women, Environment & Development Organization) in Bangkok, Thailand in November and supported by FIRE, people and groups in Kenya, Israel, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, and the United States, among others, planted trees native to each specific location on December 10^th, International Human Rights Day.

Kenyan Women Create Peace Garden & Launch Sustainable Peace Tree Project

On that day in a village in the Meru District of Kenya, 25 women planted 50 trees in a “Peace Garden” or “Peace Trees Corner”at the edge of a forest where they gather firewood for their livelihood, as reported to FIRE by Karambu Ringera, a Kenyan activist who organized the event. 

The women, who call themselves “the women of light”-- meaning ¨lighting the way for peace,¨ received a $75 donation to start a sustainable project to plant more trees for peace, and help educate their children.  They currently harvest wood from the forest to sell as firewood around the village, earning $1.25 per load, which takes half a day to gather throughout the forest.  The group has invited Wangari Maathai to one day visit their Peace Garden, “and share with them the vision of peace trees for sustainable peace in our families, communities and nation.”

The women were inspired by Wangari, who declared that “by planting a tree, you will be planting a seed of peace,” as quoted by Lorena Aguilar at a press conference on November 19th when Aguilar, of Costa Rica, announced the launching in Thailand of the worldwide Plant a Tree for Peace Campaign.

 Israeli Group Plants Four Native Trees in Call for Peace in the Region

Also inspired by the campaign was a group in Israel, who gathered in Neve Shalom – Wahat al-Salam to plant four trees for peace.  

The four trees they planted included a Palm, a Pistachio, and two fruit trees – Patango and Fejoya, all native to the region.  They told stories about the trees and dedicated one to a young Palestinian boy who was arrested and remains in detention.  “We planted the trees together, for ourselves and our families, for the community of Neve Shalom – Wahat al-Salam and for our region as well  for others who could not be there…” noted Libby.

Several Costa Rican Groups Plant Trees for Peace

The University for Peace in El Rodeo, Costa Rica, planted 24 trees with 50 international students, along with staff and administrators on December 10^th, which in addition to being International Human Rights Day, was also the 24^th anniversary of that educational institution.  The ceremony included readings and statements by a variety of participants, and also a poem, written and read by Edith Natukunda of Africa that said “Asante Baba!” (Thank you, Sister) to honor Wangari Maathai.   

Also in Costa Rica at La Salle University, 60 doctoral students in education donated an “Uruca” tree, which was planted on the university grounds in the center of San José on December 10^th.  Likewise, feminist organizations in Costa Rica donated a “Reina de la Noche” (Queen of the Night) tree which was planted on December 10^th on the grounds of the Gender Equity office of  the Costa Rican Technological Institute in the city of Cartago.  The feminist groups included the Women´s Political Agenda, La Pregonera (monthly women´s newspaper), Desarrollo Integral Mujer del Golfo (Development of Women in the Gulf), FIRE, Gender Equity Program of the Technological Institute, and others.

The Tropical Sierra Foundation planted trees with the children of the El Rodeo School in Ciudad Colón.  The Foundation also signed a commitment with the Costa Rican milk producing company, Dos Pinos Corporation, in which the company promised to finance the planting of trees and fund an irrigation system for their maintenance along the Siquiares River in San José.

Individual and family initiatives were also reported to FIRE about the planting of trees around Costa Rica in San Pedro, Santa Ana, Ciudad Colón, Puerto Viejo de Limón and others.

Radio Program in Puerto Rico Asks Listeners to Give Peace Trees for Christmas

In Puerto Rico on December 13, producer Norma Valle interviewed María Suárez of FIRE for the national radio program “Agenda de Hoy” (Today´s Agenda) on the University Radio at the University of Puerto Rico, and called on people to give trees as Christmas presents, both to honor Wangari Maathai´s work and to contribute with a personal action to counteract deforestation in the island and in the world. 

Following the call, the owner of the Puerto Rican agricultural enterprise, “Plantas de Caparra”, contacted by FIRE and also interviewed by Valle, shared with the audience the kinds of native trees to plant for the Campaign during Christmas.

Graduate Students at Denver University Hold Peace Tree Ceremony

Campaign First Launched in Thailand by Women´s Caucus at 3^rd World Conservation Congress

The original Plant a Tree for Peace Campaign was launched on November 19^th by the Women’s Caucus at the 3^rd World Conservation Congress of IUCN, who planted a jasmine tree at the IUCN Asia office in Bangkok, Thailand.

This global action led by women was designed to link the environment, peace and human rights issues.  For example, many conflicts and wars today are fought over natural resources, ranging from land to oil to water.

This initiative, which was the first concrete action of the 3^rd World Conservation Congress (WCC) in Bangkok, Thailand, was organized by WEDO (Women, Environment and Development Organization) and IUCN.

Global Problem of Deforestation Has Particular Impact on Women

Deforestation and desertification are serious problems in many countries.  Each minute, 40 hectares (99 acres) of forest are destroyed around the world. 

Desertification is the gradual transformation of habitable land into desert caused by destructive use of the land or climate change.  Worldwide, of each 100 hectares (230 acres) of land, 60 hectares (138 acres) or 36 million square kilometers (22.4 million square miles) worldwide are in a process of degradation through loss of forest or desertification. 

Women are particularly affected by deforestation, because they typically gather forest products for fuel, fencing, food for the family, fodder for livestock and raw materials to produce natural medicines, which help increase family income.

Wangari Maathai is renowned for having led the Green Belt Movement in Kenya, which she launched in 1997 with the 50,000-strong National Council for Women.  It all began when Wangari planted a tree in her backyard.  Since then they have created a network of 6,000 village nurseries and planted 20 million trees in order to combat desertification and erosion (UNEP, Women and the Environment, 2004).