Eco-Congregation Ireland has planted a tree on the Indonesian island of Nusa Kambangan to mark Earth Day 2012.
Nusa Kambangan is a 250 square km prison island off Indonesia’s southern coast. Although designated a wildlife sanctuary, illegal logging has stripped away much of the island’s tropical forest, damaged the eco-system and led to the loss of many wildlife species.
Concern for the island’s ecology and the plight of 300 illegal farmers, and their families, about to be expelled from the island, led Fr Charlie Burrows and YSBS to seek government approval for a reforestation programme and the eventual restoration of the island’s indigenous wildlife.
Since the plan was approved in 2008, over 400,000 trees have been planted and a further 625,000 will be planted by the end of 2013. The farmers plant and tend the trees, growing rice between them and thus allowing the saplings escape upwards from the dense tropical undergrowth. When the trees reach a specific height the farmers move to another area and the restoration cycle begins again. They are also the eyes and ears of the forest and best placed to stop illegal logging.
It is now becoming clear to the authorities that these formerly illegal farmers are essential to the success of the project, so they no longer have to live with the fear of expulsion from Nusa Kambangan. And the project is good for the earth’s biosphere since each tree takes in one tonne of CO2 in five years and produces enough oxygen daily for three people.
During Tree Week, March 4 – 11 2012, the Dublin-based Oblate Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation group launched a Tree Gift Card in support of the project and to mark the important part trees play in maintaining a healthy biosphere.
Tree cards are ideal gifts at Baptism, First Communion or Confirmation, and make thoughtful birthday cards! A donation of €5 per card is suggested, all of which goes directly to support the project.
Tree Cards are available at the churches in Inchicore and from the Mission Office, Tyrconnell Road. They may also be ordered by going to http://oblatemissions.ie/jpic/gifttree.html?searched=nusa+kambangan&advsearch=oneword&highlight=ajaxSearch_highlight+ajaxSearch_highlight1+ajaxSearch_highlight2. There you can see a short video, Thanks for The Gift of Our Earth, which shows the ‘paradise’ that is NusaKambangan Island, and the ambitious reforestation project that is taking place there.
‘The person who plants a tree plants hope’ ~ Lucy Larcom