GBM Blog

This blog was writtend by Francesca de Gasparis, GBMI-Europe Consultant.

The Annual Climate Change Conference (COP20) is over, and there has been a lot of press about outcome and the Lima Call to Climate Action. After very good news for climate action in recent months: the US - China agreement and the UN Climate Summit in September, COP20 did not lived up to expectations. Achieving a binding agreement by Paris next year in order to prevent runaway climate change later this century is looking far less likely than when we arrived in Lima at the end of November. There are a number of good articles and analyses of what the Lima agreement impact will be. 

The Green Belt Movement (GBM) would like thank the Municipality of San Borja, the District hosting the UNFCCC COP 20 (Lima, Peru) in planting a ceremonial tree in honor of the late Professor Wangari Maathai for her actions in promoting sustainable development, democracy, peace and environmental conservation through tree planting.

In 2010, a group of six girls from Donnergymnasiet in Göteborg, Sweden, on their own produced the benefit concert “Treevening”. The musical gala by Green Cross Sweden Youth was held March 24, 2010 at the Sticky Fingers Rock Club and featured artists: José Gonzales, Jaqee, Räfven, Hellsongs, Bye Bye Bicycle, Eye Travel and the Naima Train. The was made possible by: SWECO, ICA, Musik i Väst, Musik Utan Gränser, Pureology, and Body Shop; as well as the Green Cross project “Peace and Trees” supported by the Folke Bernadotte Academy. The gala was inspired by Wangari Maathai and aimed to raise awareness on the connections of peace and environment.

Samburu County is predominantly semi-arid with a scarce erratic rainfall (mean annual rainfall of between 500-700mm per annum). Increased human dependence on forest resources along with variability in intensity and seasonality of rainfall, have resulted in prolonged drought and severe weather events in recent years. Kirisia forest, one of four forest reserves in Samburu, has been badly encroached and poorly managed, and is subject to fierce and destructive fires. Illegal extraction of cedar, collection of firewood, charcoal burning, cutting down trees for fodder and overharvesting of herbs and non-wood forest products are main threats to Kirisia forest and its ecosystem functioning.

Due to vulnerability caused by changing weather patterns and the serious degradation of the existing forests, communities living in this area will need to deal over the coming period with greater climate change. It is necessary to start now to educate and help bring human activities into better harmony with the ecosystem that sustains them.