T h e d i g i Ta l m a g a z i n e f o r s u p p o r T e r s o f T r e e s f o r C i T i e s

Tree Times04issue

inTernaTional issue

iCa

la paz

addis aBaBa

Contents

Postal address: Trees for CitiesPrince Consort LodgeKennington ParkKennington Park RoadLondon SE11 4AS

Email: info@treesforcities.org

Pages 4- 5 addis aBaBa

Pages 8-9

iCaPage 10

TREE TIMES

04i s s u e

eMaIl: info@treesforcities.org

Pages 6-7

la paz

Page 10

TfC updaTes

Some time during 2008 the world reached a point where more people live in cities than outside them. This for me is what makes

Trees for Cities’ vision so important – that urban tree planting has the potential to reach and benefit more than half of mankind.

Where city residents don’t value their trees, people quickly become disconnected from the natural world around them. Trees in and around major cities are cut down for fuel or firewood, and city dwellers forget traditional food growing and medicinal uses of trees.

Cutting down trees interrupts delicate water cycles in highly populated places where water is already scarce, leads to landslides and other ‘natural’ disasters,

allows smoke and fumes to drift across cities unfiltered and unfettered, and generally makes the world’s cities uglier, unhappier places to live.

Trees for Cities is working for a world where people value their trees as a vital part of every city. In this world, people grow food and develop livelihoods based on the vast array of benefits urban trees bring. Problems caused by past deforestation are addressed by new tree planting, and the world’s cities flourish, immersed in greenery.

Trees for Cities’ international work is young but growing fast. In the following pages you can read about our first steps in ensuring a tree-filled future for cities across the globe.

PhoTo DAVID BLAIR

Welcome to Tree Times issue 4

Desta lives in a deprived area of the city of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia. She has four children and no husband or family. Desta also has hIV. The virus she is living with is a taboo subject in her community, and so she must raise her children and work as though nothing is wrong. Trees for Cities joined forces with EWNhS (Ethiopian Wildlife and Natural history Society) in 2006, and ever since has been providing women like Desta, with a means to increase their income, to save money, and to feed their families with greater ease than was possible before the project began. hope and stability, in the form of 4,000 apple, pear and plum trees, have been brought to households all over the city.

Desta has an old apple tree in her garden that has never produced an apple. The project’s focus on educating its beneficiaries about tending their trees means that Desta has now come to understand why. Moreover she now has the skills to ensure that her new trees will produce fruit. The new plum and apple trees introduced to Desta’s small but well-tended garden in the rainy season of this year are native to the Ethiopian highlands, but are too expensive to buy. Vegetable seed is much cheaper, so Desta - like most people in these deprived areas - grows vegetables. This provides food and a small amount of revenue, but it is a hand-to-mouth existence.

addis ababa

addis ababa Community fruit project

Desta has two different types of fruit tree, so when one tree has stopped bearing fruit for the year, the other will begin. This means she will have fruit for most of the year. Desta intends to use the majority of the fruit she grows to supplement the diet of her family. She will sell the remainder of the fruit and, because these trees are relatively rare in the city of Addis Ababa, the fruit will fetch relatively high prices. Desta collects animal dung for compost for her fruit trees. This widely available but valuable resource is often brought to her garden by neighbours, as the whole community is keen to support each other’s efforts. Desta experiences a sense of involvement through the project that she has never felt before.

Before Trees for Cities introduced the project, Desta was not very active or engaged in her community and the instability of her income made her fear for the future. Now she is engaged in an active occupation, and is supported in it by her neighbours. She is enthusiastic about her work and secure about her children’s future. Desta is sure that her fruit trees

will provide her family with a sustainable crop in years to come

www.treesforcities.org/addis

l a p a z

On 17 February 2009, a violent mudslide devastated the San Antonio district of La Paz, destroying or critically destabilising more than 50 homes, and leaving over 300 people injured. In recent years, landslides such as these have become a tragic fact of life for residents of the Bolivian capital. Deforestation is a major cause of the problem: where roots once bound the soil together above the city, now there is nothing to keep it from sliding during heavy rainfall, putting thousands of lives at risk.

Despite being the world’s highest capital city, La Paz lies in a deep canyon formed by the Choqueyapu River. As the population has expanded to around 1.6 million, the city has spread up the sides of the canyon with people building barrios or settlements in the hillsides and cutting down trees for fuel and building materials. But the Bolivian late summer is a time of particularly high landslide risk. As water accumulates in the months of heavy summer, rain starts to loosen the soil on the sides of the canyon.

Trees for Cities is working with the Municipal Government of La Paz to reforest the city slopes, thereby stabilising the soil and reducing the risk of future landslides. As part of celebrations of La Paz’s bicentenary of independence from Spain, the London-based charity and the Bolivian authority intend to plant 200,000 new trees. As the project progresses, the hillsides above should become more stable, with landslides less frequent, and be more able to react to changing pressures of climate change.

Chief Executive Sharon Johnson visited the city’s Mayor, Juan Del Granado, known locally as ‘Juan the Gardener’, and the proposed planting sites. She said: “Trees for Cities heard about Juan the Gardener, and the impressive gardening projects he has implemented throughout the city centre.

“His ambitions to plant 200,000 new trees, which have been lost over the years through deforestation, will be important not only in helping to combat pollution

levels in the city and to stabilise the soil to prevent landslides, but also for raising awareness among the thousands of local people who will take part in the project, about the importance of their natural environment.”

An irrepressible city – the highest in the world and one of the most threatened – La Paz has come too close to devastation. Trees for Cities’ involvement will help to secure this historic capital far into the future.

one thousand trees a year for an independent la paz

On 17 February 2009, a violent mudslide devastated the San Antonio district of La Paz, destroying or critically destabilising more than 50 homes, and leaving over 300 people injured. In recent years, landslides such as these have become a tragic fact of life for residents of the Bolivian capital. Deforestation is a major cause of the problem: where roots once bound the soil together above the city, now there is nothing to keep it from sliding during heavy rainfall, putting thousands of lives at risk.

Despite being the world’s highest capital city, La Paz lies in a deep canyon formed by the Choqueyapu River. As the population has expanded to around 1.6 million, the city has spread up the sides of the canyon with people building barrios or settlements in the hillsides and cutting down trees for fuel and building materials. But the Bolivian late summer is a time of particularly high landslide risk. As water accumulates in the months of heavy summer, rain starts to loosen the soil on the sides of the canyon.

Trees for Cities is working with the Municipal Government of La Paz to reforest the city slopes, thereby stabilising the soil and reducing the risk of future landslides. As part of celebrations of La Paz’s bicentenary of independence from Spain, the London-based charity and the Bolivian authority intend to plant 200,000 new trees. As the project progresses, the hillsides above should become more stable, with landslides less frequent, and be more able to react to changing pressures of climate change.

Chief Executive Sharon Johnson visited the city’s Mayor, Juan Del Granado, known locally as ‘Juan the Gardener’, and the proposed planting sites. She said: “Trees for Cities heard about Juan the Gardener, and the impressive gardening projects he has implemented throughout the city centre.

“His ambitions to plant 200,000 new trees, which have been lost over the years through deforestation, will be important not only in helping to combat pollution

levels in the city and to stabilise the soil to prevent landslides, but also for raising awareness among the thousands of local people who will take part in the project, about the importance of their natural environment.”

An irrepressible city – the highest in the world and one of the most threatened – La Paz has come too close to devastation. Trees for Cities’ involvement will help to secure this historic capital far into the future.

one thousand trees a year for an independent la paz

www.treesforcities.org/lapaz

i C a

growing the huarangohuarango forest, once extensive in the hyper-arid region surrounding the city of ica, used to capture seasonal floodwaters as they ran from the andes to the pacific, and sea mists as they drifted in off the ocean. other species thrived because the huarango trees enriched the soil with their nitrogen-fixing roots. Today, just two per cent of the original forest remains, and poor soil quality and increasing desertification have made many areas uninhabitable for plants, animals and humans.

local people have in recent decades come to see the huarango purely as a source of charcoal, while its ecological and nutritional value has been forgotten. reversing deforestation means bringing these benefits into focus – showing people that a different approach is economically viable and helping them develop the skills to make it happen.

Trees for Cities has been working with local ngo the association for Children and the environment (ania) to help communities build livelihoods based on huarango

cultivation. in 2009, project leaders stefania and Consuelo ran 20 planting days around ica, planting more than 2,500 trees. This includes the Tierra de las ninos (Tinis) programme, which allocates plots of land to children under a government concession and encourages them to take ownership of native trees. Workshops before each planting day help them understand that the ecosystem depends on a fragile balance, and how that balance is lost when one element is removed.

in the early stages of the project, stefania and Consuelo persevered to gain the support of male residents who opposed the Tinis programme. some were sceptical about the value of a project led by women. at the same time, they saw gardening as a female pursuit, and were reluctant to let their sons take part.

By continuing to share their goals and ideas, stefania and Consuelo gained the support of male community leaders. They also saw that a competitive element would appeal to fathers who saw the project as too feminine. They set up a competition for the best-

kept Tini plot, with independent judges. as hoped, the contest encouraged a sense of pride and purpose, and many men now help their sons maintain their plots.

Children in ica are learning small-scale subsistence farming, and their knowledge of huarango pod products is growing. in protecting their environment, they’re protecting the wellbeing of the local population – both physical and economic.

We plan to continue the programme in 2010 and beyond, with the hope of reaching more individuals and planting 25,000 new trees by 2012. By helping local people to profit from living trees, the Tinis project is helping to ensure that this valuable ecosystem doesn’t disappear forever.

www..treesforcities.org/ica

growing the huarangohuarango forest, once extensive in the hyper-arid region surrounding the city of ica, used to capture seasonal floodwaters as they ran from the andes to the pacific, and sea mists as they drifted in off the ocean. other species thrived because the huarango trees enriched the soil with their nitrogen-fixing roots. Today, just two per cent of the original forest remains, and poor soil quality and increasing desertification have made many areas uninhabitable for plants, animals and humans.

local people have in recent decades come to see the huarango purely as a source of charcoal, while its ecological and nutritional value has been forgotten. reversing deforestation means bringing these benefits into focus – showing people that a different approach is economically viable and helping them develop the skills to make it happen.

Trees for Cities has been working with local ngo the association for Children and the environment (ania) to help communities build livelihoods based on huarango

cultivation. in 2009, project leaders stefania and Consuelo ran 20 planting days around ica, planting more than 2,500 trees. This includes the Tierra de las ninos (Tinis) programme, which allocates plots of land to children under a government concession and encourages them to take ownership of native trees. Workshops before each planting day help them understand that the ecosystem depends on a fragile balance, and how that balance is lost when one element is removed.

in the early stages of the project, stefania and Consuelo persevered to gain the support of male residents who opposed the Tinis programme. some were sceptical about the value of a project led by women. at the same time, they saw gardening as a female pursuit, and were reluctant to let their sons take part.

By continuing to share their goals and ideas, stefania and Consuelo gained the support of male community leaders. They also saw that a competitive element would appeal to fathers who saw the project as too feminine. They set up a competition for the best-

kept Tini plot, with independent judges. as hoped, the contest encouraged a sense of pride and purpose, and many men now help their sons maintain their plots.

Children in ica are learning small-scale subsistence farming, and their knowledge of huarango pod products is growing. in protecting their environment, they’re protecting the wellbeing of the local population – both physical and economic.

We plan to continue the programme in 2010 and beyond, with the hope of reaching more individuals and planting 25,000 new trees by 2012. By helping local people to profit from living trees, the Tinis project is helping to ensure that this valuable ecosystem doesn’t disappear forever.

www..treesforcities.org/ica

from now until 7 april 2010 one/of a kind boutique is offering a 20% discount to all Trees for Cities supporters who place an online order and mention Trees for Cities. and if that isn’t enough the first two supporters to place an order will also receive a free goodie bag worth £30.

one/of a kind boutiqueis a lifestyle brand that specialises in creating beautiful and unique accessories inspired by the natural environment and simple sweet sentiments.

from sweetpea purses and meadowsweet shoppers to lovely tree keyrings and pocket garden mirrors, one/of a kind boutique is the perfect place to find a special gift. one/of a kind donates 3% of all profits to Trees for Cities to support our work.

swap your search engine today for mYgreensearCh and support Trees for Cities!

mYgreensearCh donates 50% of profits raised from

advertisements directly to Trees for Cities and our work. it’s simple load and up and get searching!

sWap Your searCh engine and donaTe To Trees for CiTies

saTisfY Your green senTimenTs - speCial offer

from one/of a kind

www.one-ofakind.co.uk

www.mygreensearch.org

in our last edition of Tree Times, ‘exciting times’ were approaching with a Training assistant being recruited to help support trainees...well exciting times are now here!

i am the new Training assistant, and am loving the job. it is a really interesting, varied role. my week is a curious combination of administration and general organisation for the trainees,

working one-to-one to support them in thinking about their interests and hopes. i also work outdoors with the trainees either in the park or on project sites.

We now have 17 trainees and more on the way…life at King edward memorial park is busy, but so far i’m thriving on it! Kate

Training

as part of the mayor of london’s street tree programme, Trees for Cities has been working with local people and authorities to brighten and transform the streets of london.

This year Brent, Bexley, Tower hamlets and lambeth will receive around 500 new trees in total, helping to make a healthier environment, absorb pollutants, reduce the impact of climate change and provide homes for wildlife.

maYor of london sTreeT TreesTfC updaTes

BrenChleY gardens

on a beautiful sunny morning on sunday 20 february, TfC held a community planting event at Brenchley gardens in southwark. Volunteers and residents from the estate joined TfC staff and worked together to plant fruiting trees, canes and a beautiful fruiting hedge.

Chris Bailey, a resident said: ‘i can’t wait to see everything start to spring into leaf.’ Chris and other residents from the estate will be helping us to look after the site and are looking forward to eating the fruit they have grown.

www..treesforcities.org/training

easT BrighTon parK

in february Trees for Cities helped transform east Brighton park in Whitehawk by planting a new woodland of 450 yew, wild cherry, sweet chestnut, sycamore and field maple.

These large potted trees – some well over 2m in height – will make an immediate impact in the park – particularly when they come into leaf this summer. Check out the time-lapse video of the day here!

www.treesforcities.org/london

www.treesforcities.org/brenchley

www.treesforcities.org/brighton

Team Trees

This year we’ve strapped on our running shoes early and are on the hunt for a super team of runners willing to ‘don’ the Team Trees vest and raise some serious tree growing cash.

This year we’ve decided to place teams in the Bupa 10K, run to the Beat and the royal park half marathons.

Tree Times will be following the progress of our troops as they train their bodies into honed sporting heroes.

for each issue we will be profiling a few of our participants and getting some inside tips on how they make the distance (hopefully without pulling a paula radcliffe). We have a few places left so sign up and hit the tree lined streets running!

hopefully you’ll know from coming to our Tree-athlon events, we at Trees for Cities are at one with nature, ‘as i begin to hum in the lotus

position under a silver birch’.

Whether you’re a city dweller

or country bumpkin, being outdoors and running along a tree lined road, park or bridleway, is one of the best mini adventures to go on.

The obvious reasons for running are fitness and aerobics, but for us and many others it’s also a chance to see new things, get lost in your area, clear your head and have time to think, so why not do something different, set yourself a challenge and join Team Trees?

Bupa 10K

a 10K run along the proposed 2012 olympic route taking in some wonderful london sites

run to the Beat

shake your tail feather along the half marathon course that incorporates live music and dJs along the way. it will really keep you singing along

royal parks half marathon

one of london’s most beautiful half marathons and full of city greenery, passing the best that london has to offer and happening on the 10.10.10, you’ll never forget it!

www.treesforcities.org/running

fundraising pagesTfC spring auCTion

an evening with graham norton

a TfC dedicated tree

Knitted hat and gloves from north Circular online shop

Tour of the Blue peter garden

a treetop walkway at Kew gardens

Jack Johnson eden sessions

Knitted hat and gloves from north Circular online shop

Tour of the Blue peter garden

www.treesforcities.org/auction

private Tour of BBC Television studios

inTernaTional iCe Cream

You will need:

1 large tin (410g) evaporated milk120g caster sugar

1/2 teaspoon Xanthum gum (see below)Huarango flour (or carob, or cocoa)

The huarango has the common names kiawe, huarango, and american carob, as well as “bayahonda” (a generic term for prosopis) and “algarrobo blanco” (usually used for prosopis alba).

it is a thorny legume, native to Colombia, ecuador and peru, particularly drier areas near the coast.

The huarango produces a valuable and highly nutritious fruit that can provide decent livelihoods for local people.

i’ve made ice cream a few times before, with a

variety of different methods - this definitely works out as the easiest and quickest - so a good way to start if this is your first go at ice cream making. as it uses evaporated milk rather than a cream and egg based custard, it is also quite low in fat!

put the tin of evaporated milk in the fridge overnight to chill. if you have an ice cream churn then put that in the freezer too, ready for the next day.

pour the tin of milk into a large plastic bowl and beat with an electric whisk until it doubles in size - this won’t take long, and it will never get as thick

as whipped cream, more like a

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•

runny mousse. slowly whisk in the sugar too.

Whisk in the flavouring and Xanthum gum. i used about three tablespoons of carob flour as the closest to huarango easily available here. if you can get your hands on huarango flour then this will give a more vanilla-like taste (the carob is similar to chocolate). You could alternatively use cocoa (about 1 heaped tablespoon should do it) or vanilla essence, or fruit pulp - whatever takes your fancy. The Xanthum gum is to help stop crystals forming when it’s frozen, so will give a smoother finish. You can find it in most health food stores or online as it’s commonly used in gluten-free cookery, but it’s not completely essential here so don’t worry too much if you don’t have it.

•now - if you have an ice

cream churn then put the mix in there and churn until frozen (my mix made a bit too much to fit in the churn) then put in the freezer to finish. alternatively just put it in a plastic box in the deep freeze and beat well with a fork every twenty minutes or so until frozen.

This makes a light, soft-scoop ice cream so the hand beating method will still give good results.

enjoy!

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