The Mother’s Forest Project: Difference between revisions

In 2011, the UN Convention to Combat Desertification [UNCCD] stated that one-third of the world’s land area is undergoing desertification and that 60,000 ㎢ [6 million ha] of land becomes a desert every year.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://press.un.org/en/2012/gaef3352.doc.htm |title=Desertification, Drought Affect One Third of Planet, World’s Poorest People, Second Committee Told as It Continues Debate on Sustainable Development |website=United Nations |publisher= |date=November 8, 2012 |quote= }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.osti.gov/etdeweb/biblio/5353729#:~:text=Desertification%20is%20advancing%20on%20global%20scale%2C%20and%20its%20rate%20is%20estimated%20to%20be%2060%2C000%20km%7Bsup%202%7D%20yearly. |title=Tree planting in deserts and utilization of atomic energy |website=ETDEWEB |date=  |quote= }}</ref> Desertification is a phenomenon in which the productivity of arid regions decreases due to climate change or deforestation and the area becomes a desert. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [IPCC] warned that climate change would intensify desertification which will threaten the overall ecosystem.<ref>[https://www.unep.org/resources/report/ipcc-special-report-climate-change-and-land “IPCC special report: Climate Change and Land,”] <i>UNEP</i>, August 8, 2019</ref> If desertification continues, land degradation poses risk to food production and can lead to a sharp increase in hunger and climate refugees. This in turn can lead to political and economic problems and impact the lives of many. This climate concern not only affects parts of Asia and Africa, but also the entire world.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://press.un.org/en/2003/sgsm8750.doc.htm |title=‘DESERTIFICATION IS BOTH A CAUSE AND A CONSEQUENCE OF POVERTY’, SECRETARY-GENERAL SAYS IN MESSAGE FOR INTERNATIONAL DAY |website=United Nations |publisher= |date=June 12, 2003 |quote= }}</ref><br>As the need for individual participation and active responses from the international community to prevent desertification is growing, the General Assembly has been held every year since the UNCCD was adopted in Paris, France on June 17, 1994. The purpose of the annual meeting is to review pending issues and look for improvements with the goal of preventing desertification and supporting the affected areas. Citizens and volunteer groups can actively participate in preventing desertification by planting trees. Kenyan environmentalist Wangari Muta Maathai founded the Green Belt Movement and planted 30 million trees throughout Africa. Inspired by her activity, a German boy named Felix Finkbeiner made a resolution to plant one million trees for polar bears that lost their home due to global warming. This inspired him to start the Plant-for-the-Planet Movement. Since its launch in 2007, 15 billion trees have been planted worldwide. Currently, the Trillion Tree Campaign, which aims to plant one trillion trees around the world, is in progress.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/one-trillion-trees-world-economic-forum-launches-plan-to-help-nature-and-the-climate/ |title=One trillion trees - World Economic Forum launches plan to help nature and the climate |website=World Economic Forum |publisher= |date=January 22, 2020 |quote= }}</ref><br>'''ASEZ WAO started the Mother’s Forest Campaign so that members in 175 countries can make efforts to prevent desertification in their countries.'''