The Importance of Trees for People and Planet

An event organised by Tree Circles

21st – 22nd January, 2021

Two linked days of two hours each day

(2.00 pm – 4.00 pm GMT, 3.00 pm – 5.00 pm CET, 7.30 pm - 9.30 pm IST)

We welcome organisations, individuals, and businesses to join us for a conference which will:

• Make links with tree planting/protection and human wellbeing/livelihoods and biodiversity
• Introduce wider debates about restoration, reforestation, climate, poverty and biodiversity
• Discuss carbon debt and ways to link up internationally for greater equality and justice
• Showcase initiatives in India and Hungary
• Provide networking opportunities and discussions to plan further action by groups and individuals in support of trees.

Agenda

Day 1 (GMT):          Background and Context, International and Local

2.00 - 2:25       Trees, Climate and Livelihoods:Introduction to the project, partners and this event and links with Convergence  The Schumacher Institute, Ian Roderick

2:30 - 3:05       Affinity groups breakout discussion moderated by the Tree Circles team

This session will give participants a chance to meet, network and discuss themes raised in the introduction and matters of common interest.

3:05 - 3:25       The ecological aspect of planting trees

Veronika Kiss and Ágnes Zólyomi will talk about the importance of trees from ecological perspectives, including but not limited to climate change. They will discuss how they are important from an ecosystems perspective, what other significant services they provide, and how they can be integrated even into our built environment.

3:25 - 3:45       The social aspect of planting trees

Mr. P. P. Saravanan, Senior Scientist at Gandhigram Rural university, Dindigul, Tamilnadu will speak about social forestry and community engagement. https://www.icarkvkdindigul.org/

3:45 - 4:00       Q & A, Closing and thank you

Day 2 (GMT):          Examples & Further Action

2:00 - 2:10       Planting and Biodiversity

Wildlife educator and surveyor Dr Jen Lloyd Pain will discuss Planting for Biodiversity and Local Food Resilience

2:10 - 2:25       Tree planting in Tamil Nadu, India

Charles Amirthan Christy will talk about tree planting at SCAD in India. We will hear from women’s groups involved in village tree planting work organised by Social Change and Development (SCAD) in Tamil Nadu India and the history of the greening of the campus at SCAD. https://www.scad.org.in/

2:25 - 2:40       Tree planting in Hungary

Edina Vadovics will talk about the TreeDependent programme initiated and developed by GreenDependent in Hungary. She will talk about the start of the programme 10 years ago with the aim of making GreenDependent's own events more responsible, and how it has since developed into a programme linking biodiversity conservation, carbon compensation and the creation of local fruit production opportunities and jobs with the involvement of communities.

2:40 - 3:00       Q & A

3:00 - 3:40       Workshops - Getting 'Tree Conscious': How can we all increase knowledge and awareness of the importance of trees, and how to care for them,  in our local context?

3:40 - 3:55       Feedback from groups

3:55 - 4:00       Wrap up next steps, TSI