TREES for LIFE
Kofele, Ethiopia

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.

WORLD's FIRST CLIMATE EARTH OBSERVATION ARTWORK 

 
Trees for Life artists are creating the world’s first living artwork grown in place to act as a forest, carbon capture site, as well as a site designed specifically to employ climate and earth observation. This artwork is intended to be a pioneering partnership between artists and community in adopting digital sensing technology channels (satellite) to create a climate artwork viewable from space and beamed around the world.

By using an under-utilized digital media channel, Google Earth Satellite, for art – the artists and Kofele participants in Ethiopia are challenging our perspectives on how climate mitigation can combine both climate science and art together. The tree plantings are be part of this art-science project and they reinforce the benefits of forest re-wilding and new growth. The image of the tree sapling (right) is outlined and representative of native tree saplings growing in Africa, ie. the Cordia Africanus. The motivation for making use of Cordia Africanus is that it is a fast growing and common tree across the continent. The project is at the interface of horticultural and Earth satellite imagery. By tracking land remediation by satellite and the growth of the saplings– this project brings together visual observation - an inherent model so critical to the success of both art and science analysis.
 
Typically satellites are programmed to survey the Earth landscape to illustrate shifts in water or tree resources. In addition to offering a plethora of related scientific and agri-data, many satellite images are simply fascinating to look at in terms of their aerial perspectives. Satellites can capture an incredible variety of detailed views of Earth. In this way, the artists and participants are hoping that the more people visit the images of these remote living artworks in Ethiopia – it will inspire others to consider planting their own nature themed ‘living artworks’ in their local areas. 

In considering climate science and the arts as part of wider toolkits we can use these in creative ways to assist in climate mitigation, while not creating new mesmerizing visual forms. 
 
By integrating the use of digital technologies and plant life cycles, combined with climate art and action, the artists are creating an accessible platform for anyone to explore tree growth and climate shifts through  Google Satellite Earth imagery on their web browser.
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OUTCOMES

Trees for Life engages audiences across several artist facilitated outcomes including:
 (1) Skills development for Oromo, Ethiopian participants in tree management, supported through art facilitated visuals and audio recordings, such as songs. 

(2) Skills sharing and community engagement supporting larger goals to restore local water and bio-systems through tree care

(3) A 'living artwork' observable from space that can be template for other global communities as well as a call to action in planting their own trees and vegetation in patterns that can be recorded by satellite. Creation of 'living artworks' which visually reinforce the critical nature of earth systems, such as trees.