More and more people across the globe are now rising up in defence of the planet's endangered forests, and becoming involved in afforestation projects. One organization engaged in tree planting is the Furano Shizen Juku (Furano Nature School), headed by So Kuramoto, a scriptwriter from Furano in Hokkaido. In its programs the School aims to restore our connection to nature by running an afforestation program that starts with a rediscovery of our five senses. The first thing those taking part in the School's programs are asked to do is hold their breath. Try it now, if you like.
Holding your breath for even just a few minutes is actually really painful, isn't it? We humans can manage for a week or so without water, but without air (oxygen), we last only a few minutes. It is forests that generate that oxygen. The disappearance of forests is a huge problem that touches on our very survival.
Forests can regenerate. Returning a lost forest to its original state is an enormous task, but with enough time and effort, slowly but surely, it can be done. Once the forest's regeneration reaches a certain level, nature will take over and enable it to recover completely. Such is the awesome power of the natural world.
Each second, an area of forest the size of 20 tennis courts is lost. In contrast, afforestation is taking place at a rate of five tennis courts per second. Although there is a long way to go before forest creation catches up with forest loss, curbing the disappearance of forest and increasing the area of forest through planting is certain to have a positive effect on how the planet will look in 100 years. Perhaps the important thing is to believe this, and act accordingly. At the bottom of this page you will find links to the main organizations engaged in planting to revive lost forests, so please do take a look.
A "wilding" baby tree found by the Furano Nature School. Regenerating forest is an important task with consequences for the future of all life on Earth. (Photo: Soichi Ueda)
Related pages
←Earth Report #29 Nurturing Forests, Nurturing People - Efforts of the Furano Shizen Juku (Furano Nature School)
Links to some organizations engaged in afforestation
→American Forests
Strives to build healthy forest ecosystems through tree-planting in various regions. 85% of activities take place within the US; 15% outside.
→CIFOR - Center for International Forestry Research
Strives to contribute to the sustained well-being of people in developing countries, particularly in the tropics, through research and policy proposals related to forestry.
→Forest Action Network
Runs campaigns to protect ancient forests and ecosystems, particularly the temperate rainforest of British Columbia, Canada. Works to shift forestry from commercial logging and resource extraction to ecoforesty.
→Green Belt Movement
Tree-planting by African women, launched by Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai.
→IMAZON
Surveys, research, and policy advice on high-quality forest conservation in the Amazon region
→Rainforest Alliance
Helps businesses, governments and communities change their land-use practices and promotes sustainable forestry practices in more than 50 countries around the world. Impementing its unique Smartwood certification program since 1989.
→Trees for the Future
Helps people grow a combination of trees and cash crops in communities around the world as a means of environmentally sustainable economic development. Plants multi-purpose, fast-growing tree species.