EARTH ART STUDIO
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                                                                                                    EARTH OBSERVATION

                                                                                   ARTWORKS

TREES for LIFE
Kofele, Ethiopia

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Trees for Life: Earth Observation artworks is part of a large scale project illustrating that land rehabilitation doesn’t need to be expensive nor abstract.  Trees for Life project is directly assisting in the establishment of a tree nursery in Kofele, Ethiopia for farmers and its beneficiaries. The availability of time, labour, shared knowledge and the ability to grow seedlings in a nursery are all within the scope of agro-pastoralist farmers and those new to farming in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian-based charity ROBA is working to ensure Ethiopian participants gain the benefit of trees to create productive landsfrom the establishment of a tree nursery to planting saplings in areas to reverse desertification.  The establishment of sustainable tree nurseries has many benefits. Locals from women to youth are gaining skills in tree raising and silvopasture.  "Silvopasture" (Latin, silva forest) now also referred to as agroforestry, is the practice of combining trees and the grazing of domesticated animals in a mutually beneficial way. 

Ultimately the success of the project lies in working with Ethiopian participants to understand land management in a time of climate change. Well planted and tended tree verges can assist to create productive lands with better soils and future-proof sites from climate issues such as excess rain runoff to erosion.  Ethiopian participants are also working with the artists on this endeavour to create something really beautiful and unexpected beyond the tree nursery, too.

​Why trees and art?
 
Trees for Life is supporting the seeding of several thousand native African trees, some of which will be arranged in the outline of a tree sapling to form a 'living artwork.’ 
 
Of note as much as 83% of water coming to the ground is condensed directly from the atmosphere by trees. The planting of seedling trees will help give rise to a dynamic system that can assist in carbon capture and in water restoration services. Trees and forests act as gigantic condensing systems and are responsible for capturing water out of the air. In the future we should ask ourselves not so much about 'How much rainfall impacts an area? But rather 'What tree cover is in your home city, village or farms?'  It is a fact that trees help amplify water and clean air resources.

OUR CURRENT PROJECT

Trees for Life​ highlights the benefits of establishing tree nurseries and undertaking sustainable land management in Kofele, Ethiopia. This project is supporting the seeding of several thousand native African trees, some of which are arranged as the outline of a tree sapling to form a 'living artwork.’ 

 

CONNECTIONS

SUPPORT A GLOBAL CONVERSATION ABOUT ECO ART and SOLVING CLIMATE CHALLENGES
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EARTH, ART + CLIMATE MITIGATION


We look forward to engaging you through our year-round programs and workshops as we explore ideas related to COP26 Glasgow.
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                                               Trees for Life

                                                                Kofele, Ethiopia
Who’s behind the project?
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​Trees for Life project has been supported by the British Council’s Creative Commissions 2021 programme.
This was a series of creative commissions exploring climate change through art, science and digital technology for presentation at COP26.


Trees for Life continues (2021 - present) as an active artists-community collaboration and illustrates that land rehabilitation doesn’t need to be expensive. We understand the benefit of trees to the land and that people can assist in creating better soils and future-proofing sites from climate issues by planting trees.

Trees for Life also highlights that sustainability is dependent on the motivation and generosity of citizens, communities, artists, and scientists working together to redefine the challenges of climate change and to foster the next generation with the idea that we can make an impact through climate art and other creative approaches.

Tree Circles and Trees for Life project are co-led by climate design and media artists, Sylvia Grace Borda (Canada) and J.Keith Donnelly (UK) together with partners Ethiopia (ROBA – Rural Organisation for the Betterment of Agro-Pastoralists ) in the UK (Dundee UNESCO City of Design, Dundee City Council, Scotland),  and Canada (Institute for Sustainable Horticulture, Kwantlen Polytechnic University) to creatively respond to global issues of climate change.  
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  • Home
  • Trees for Life
    • The Project
    • Creating Living Artworks
    • Satellite Images
    • Tree Nursery
    • Field Notes from ROBA
    • Youth reflections
    • Climate reflections
    • Elder Knowledge
    • Acknowledging Indigenous Rights
    • Oromo tree circle
    • The Lion
    • Adopt a Tree
    • Celebrations
    • What's Next
    • Symposium
  • TREE CIRCLES
    • Plant Graffiti
    • TREE CIRCLES
    • Contributors
    • Gullele National Botanic Garden
    • Venice Biennale
  • Internet of Nature
    • Internet of Nature
    • COP26
    • City of Dundee
  • Exhibition kits
    • Exhibition kits
    • Resources
    • Tree stories making the news
  • About Us