Ethiopian de/re-forestation

By Rhiannonw

Fri, 14 Jun 2019
  • 1242 reads
7 comments
 

They cleared the forests
to grow more food
(now many realise
there were ways to improve
productivity without that vast
clearing of trees.)

Arboreal ‘islands’ remain
(leave the dry, hot fields
to enter the beautiful forest
– like moving from hell to heaven?)
– oases for insects to
pollinate the crops,
and for birds,
conserving of water,
reducing soil erosion,
providing natural medicine.

Eucalyptus was imported,
planted – quick growing, good timber,
but detrimental to local
species, and needing much water.

Many of the 'islands' are around
churches who have kept the
forest, believing they are
stewards of God’s creation.

The ecologists encourage the churches
to build walls to protect their forests’
biodiversity, so clearing stones
from the surrounding fields,
and as the ‘islands’ thrive,
some of the walls are moved out:
maybe soon ‘islands’ will expand
to link up once more.

 eg https://www.nature.com/immersive/d41586-019-00275-x/index.html

Certificate U
Poem
Nature
Nature

Comments

Submitted by Di_Hard on

I hope African nations have the strength of mind not to listen to Western countries nagging to make the same mistakes as we have! Pope Francis is great how he links looking after the environment with looking after people's wellfare, physical and spiritual. You do convey a lovely feeling of richness in your poem, also how churches are often the most beutiful builfings and the idea of man made beauty surrounded by natural beauty, churches protecting not just the souls of people but the soul of the land?

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Di. I think the great deforestation was a simple instinctive reaction to growing population and famine tendencies, particularly in its communist era, but probably made things worse. It is good that these churches valued the peace of surrounding islands of forest and their responsibility to look after it. And maybe can encourage the awareness of their benefit, as well as the riches of enjoyment of the peace and biodiversity there, and that there will be other helps for food production now. I suppose all nations take short-term measures when trying to develop, it is good to hear of Westerners and Africans working together to try to prevent and rectify unnecessary mistakes. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

 

 

Submitted by airyfairy on

Absolutely fascinating Rhiannnon. Those pictures from the air are really shocking.  We read about how many hectares or whatever of forest is being lost every day, but even when they say it's equivalent to however many football pitches, I don't think we really grasp it in the way we do when we see the pictures.  Let's hope these people are given all the support and encouragement necessary to continue their work.

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, yes, it's very dramatic there and with those photos isn't it? and emphasises how easily such a thing can happen, but good that there are those jewels left, and that they seem to be growing bit by bit now! Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Di_Hard on

i'm sorry I missed the photos, the church looks amazing too. Thankyou for posting Rhiannon, it's brilliant to read something hopeful for a change!

 

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Thanks, Di, yes, and of present hard work, not just complaints of the past! Rhiannon