It’s Arbor Day. In Haiti, an equivalent event happens on May 1 and features all sorts of agricultural themes.
Usually Arbor Day is a time to plant a seedling. It will be exactly that across the US, and also in Haiti as the spring planting season is upon us. Thousands of seedlings are being moved from the nurseries, carried to the hillsides (often in large pans atop women’s heads), and carefully transferred to the prepared holes.
This year something else should also receive attention: tree rings.
Think of it this way. Last year seedlings were planted as they have been at CODEP for nearly 35 years. This year, we should celebrate the addition of another tree ring on all those trees.
For CODEP, each year is a victory of growth. Trees planted three decades ago have over 30 tree rings. They tell the story of the tree, starting with its age. The widths of the ring hint at rainy or dry years. Marks, distortions, or scars can reveal a time of fire or disease.
Arbor Day is special because people are planting trees, but it is in the next years that the real promise unfolds. It isn’t just the seeds and seedlings. It is also the hope of many many many rings to come.
In that spirit, we hope you will make a contribution to Haiti Reforestation Partnership. Our informal motto is: Planting a Tree Takes Six Years. It isn’t just the seeds in the ground but the care and nurture of the trees that yield bands and bands of rings.
