Tree Planting Action: Let’s work together to mitigate Global Warming!
Source：Humana People to People ChinaDate：2014-04-30 00:00:00Click：741
Few will contest that Global Warming and Climate Change has become of the most critical environmental issues in today’s world. Scientists forecast the devastating impact if the global temperature is to increase by one degree Celsius each 1-2 decades: an increase of 6 degrees Celsius entails the extinction of over 95% of the earth’s species, including humans. It is inevitable that with the advancement of technology, humans will produce more greenhouse gases; meanwhile deforestation will continue to weaken the earth’s ecologically imbedded capacity to mitigate Climate Change. In recent years the heightened occurrences of extreme climate phenomena serves as a warning to all. In these worsening global climate circumstances, HPP is also committed to raising public awareness about the Global Warming issue. One of the initiatives we have taken to put Climate Change Mitigation into action is our “Tree Planting Action”.
Towards the end of 2013, HPP was privileged to get funding from the Swiss GAIA Movement Trust to implement a pine tree planting initiative with a group of farming households in our Yunnan Zhenkang County project site. The initiative brought the community preschool children and parents together to experience tree planting as well as do something meaningful for the planet.
The pine nursery is 8mu in area, 16 households were involved in the planting action with a plan to grow 400,000 tree seedlings. They expect to begin selling tree saplings by May 2015; each sapling will sell for 50-60 cents, adding up to a total estimated income of RMB200,000.
On 28th of December, 2013, HPP Project Director Ms. Siri Holmebakk led 10 HPP staff along with some participating farmers to initiate the pine planting project. On the day they saw approximately 90,000 pines seedlings on 1 mu of land. In the following 2 days, the HPP team visited 3 preschool classes in Zhenkang County to deliver workshops for children and parents on Climate Change and tree planting. The workshops was an opportunity for children and their parents to build relationship while learning about planting, they shared much laughter and happiness. HPP designed a simple plantation greenhouse catered for the children, in total the children and parents of the 3 preschool classes planted over 10,000 pine seedlings.
Special moments:
1. On the 28th, the day for erecting the plantation greenhouse and tree planting, Siri was experiencing severe back pains due to the cold weather. The team members tried to persuade her to rest, but she resisted the pain the insisted on attending the planting. Her spirit was a source of inspiration for everyone; it also encouraged farmers to be more determined in the planting initiative.
2. Distributing seeds to each class so that parents and children can plant together. It is a parent-child bonding time; it is also a valuable practical experience for children to learn how to plant.
3. Staff from the forestry bureau recommended suitable seeds; they also arrived on the day to guide everyone in the planting process, contributing to the overall survival rates of the saplings.
Some photos:
Building a greenhouse for the trees
Staff from the forestry bureau demonstrating the correct way for planting
Picnic lunch in the fields
Children and parents absorbed in the planting process
Group photo of the Preschool class planting action
Tree Planting Action is still continuing! We will bring you more updates in the near future!
