Plant a Tree in Africa for Earth Day

    Canadians can demonstrate their concern for deforestation in rural Africa

    TORONTO, April 17 /CNW/ - This Earth Day, on April 22nd, Canadians can
demonstrate their concern for deforestation in rural African communities by
planting a tree in Africa to help support Canadian Physicians for Aid &
Relief's (CPAR's) unique Plant a Tree in Africa (PAT) program.
    This innovative program is responsible for planting more than 50 million
trees in countries including Malawi, Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda. This
growing number indicates that the simple act of planting a tree is seen as an
important initiative that everyday people believe they can do to change lives
in rural Africa by tackling extreme conditions of deforestation.
    The PAT program allows people to make a difference through direct tree
sponsorship, which provides an opportunity to plant a tree in someone's name.
The program also promotes the sale of vibrant PAT products including
sweatshirts, hats, greeting cards and T-shirts, with the proceeds going to
assist vulnerable African communities.
    In countries like Ethiopia and Malawi where forest cover falls below
10 per cent, tree-planting has become a vital step towards achieving a secure
food supply, improving health and economic growth as well as restoring the
environment to a healthy and productive state.
    Restoring communities to a healthy and productive state is also becoming
a growing widespread global concern. Carbon neutral initiatives that promote
the planting of trees to offset the effects from carbon emissions from
vehicles, airplane travel and other equipment that contribute to global
warming are becoming increasingly popular. Environmental damage caused by
industry is not the only global concern - and programs like CPAR's PAT program
are a harsh reminder that rural communities in developing nations also
continue to be faced by environmental concerns.
    Over the years, trees in many African countries have been damaged by
drought, the over-grazing of livestock or have been cut down for fuel. Since
1986, CPAR has been planting trees in Africa in order to help build healthy
communities.
    To-date, these efforts are responsible for planting millions of trees and
the development of more than 200 nurseries. These community-run nurseries,
house a wide variety of tree species such as Incense, Olio Africana and
Leucenia and enable local people to take an active role in sustaining their
own communities. Once the trees are planted in the surrounding area, they help
to return moisture and nutrients to the soil, and prevent future soil erosion
from occurring. Trees also add moisture to the air resulting in increased
rainfall, and therefore increase crop production.
    Local African communities take great care to ensure that the majority -
60 to 80 percent - of the planted trees survive. One third of the seedlings
are planted on erosion-prone hillsides to protect and enrich the soil. During
this process, it is also important to ensure that the trees are placed in an
accessible location where the local population can access essential building
materials, fuel and fodder for animals. These trees are not destroyed during
this process because building materials and fuel can be harvested from the
branches while the trees continue to grow.
    Planting trees also helps to create jobs. A portion of CPAR's tree
planting activities involves a larger 'food-for-work' initiative that supports
food security at the household level.

    CPAR works with local rural African communities to develop primary health
care, income generating, natural resource management and peacebuilding
programs in support of a vision where 'health' is created and sustained by the
environmental, economic and social well-being of a community. Founded in 1984,
CPAR works in partnership with vulnerable communities and diverse
organizations to overcome poverty and build healthy communities in Ethiopia,
Tanzania, Uganda and Malawi.

For further information: Media requiring more information: Roxane
Tracey, Communications Manager, CPAR, Email: [e-mail], Web:
www.cpar.ca, Tel: [phone] ext. 26