Trees for Tibet: Thanks to Paul Greenwood of 'Friends of the Trees 'who included details of out trek for Trees for Tibet in a letter to all their members.

Monday 31 August 2009

Thanks to Paul Greenwood of 'Friends of the Trees 'who included details of out trek for Trees for Tibet in a letter to all their members.

Dear Friends
We hope you and your most beloved trees are all OK in these strange and often difficult times. Our time has been disrupted too but the charity, unlike many others who have grown too quickly and face too many outgoing expenses, is safe and in better shape than ever.
We have to mention a sad truth, however, and that is most members have forgotten all about the annual membership fee and donations from supporters have been few. From one single generous donor in Germany we receive more per year than from all British members and supporters together. That's not an issue, however, we never wanted to hassle anybody. But, if some of you would like to….? And in the knowledge that our bank, Triodos of Bristol, England is currently the “World’s Most Sustainable Bank”?
A little more income could be quite crucial to further success in achieving our aims, objectives and supporting people like Fiona Sheahan; who is currently completing an 800km walk across northern Spain to raise money for planting trees in the Amdo region of Tibet. Replanting of 40,000 trees per year for the next 5 years is vital to combat desertification and land erosion threatening villages in the area. £1.00 buys 10 trees so the maths are simple. In 2006 Fiona helped the community, via fundraising in Ireland, in meeting that target. But it has been a struggle since, with villagers taking out loans to pay for the trees; money it’s difficult for them to repay.
We have already agreed a donation - but no amount as yet as we are awaiting further details in the next few weeks about the full extent of the needs of the community. If anyone wishes to donate directly contact
www.treesfortibetblogspot.com. If you don't have internet access: Barclays Bank, Acc Name : Fiona Catherine Sheahan, Acc no. - 43936686, Sort Code: 209655, IBAN- GB72 BARC 2096 5543 9366 86, BIC- BARCGB22. Alternatively, anyone thinking of making a donation to us too could save time by including some for Fiona and stating how much. Our total donation, including any received from members, will be decided at the Annual General Meeting on Sunday 4th October 2009 at Stroud in Gloucester and sent the week after.

Best wishes
Paul Greenwood, Secretary.

Donations

Please send donations to my https://www.paypal-marketing.co.uk/sendmoney/send_to_a_friend.htm account using barleyhill2002@yahoo.ie as my ID.Also I have set up a bank account as many people have said they cant send money via paypal. One can donate through paypal or this bank account.
Barclays Bank
Acc name- Fiona Catherine Sheahan
Acc no - 43936686
sc- 209655
IBAN- GB72 BARC 2096 5543 9366 86
BIC- BARCGB22
I appreciate you taking the time. Thank you very much.

Trees for Tibet

Since the 1949 occupation of Tibet up to 50% of its forests have been needlessly destroyed which has led to the desert area of Tibet expanding to 500,000km sq in the past 35 years. 1,000,000 people are dependent on these grasslands for survival as well as numerous species of wildlife and their habitats.
This deforestation has led to increased sediment in the rivers and as 10 of Asias major rivers are sourced in Tibet eg Yangtze, Brahmaputra, this causes major environmental problems.Major flooding in the Bay of Bengal has been attributed to deforestation in Tibet.

Trees for Tibet project was set up to raise money to help the people of Lowah village in Amdo province, East Tibet. They live in an area called Mangra and 1000's of peoples livelihoods are effected by the increasing problem of desertification. Amdo is also an area which has maintained a very strong nomadic culture.

This Tibetan way of life is already under threat by new Chinese law restricting freedom of farming and the housing of nomads in towns and cities.If the nomads grasslands are also destroyed by desertification they will be further forced from their land in to Chinese cities. This results in unemployment, drug and alcohol abuse and the death of a proud and unique way of life already struggling to survive.

Since 2002 Pujah and the villagers have taken it upon themselves to save the grasslands by buying and planting Aspen trees each year, approximately 1,000,000 in total.This was aided by free seeds and saplings from the Chinese government at the beginning , as well as some financial support from Germany.But this support has stopped!At the beginning of this project the survival rate of the trees was 70% now it is 95% due to greater knowledge and experience.

Financially this is a huge struggle and Pujah is forced to take out bank loans which are a tremendous burden to pay. Sadly the family are often forced to sell their livestock to do so.£1 will pay for 8 trees, including transport, labour and fencing costs.The local government has given the family permission to plant 26,000mu(17km2 of land).They need to plant approximately 15,200mu(11km2)more ! There is still much work to be done.

The Tibetan people need to be listened to and given power to protect their grasslands, environment and culture. The Chinese Governments plans to resettle chinese people in Tibetan areas has led to over farming and increased desertification as they have no knowledge of the grasslands.

This is why Pujah and his fellow villagers need to be supported and given the power to decide their own fate as Tibetan people. Please help us to continue raising money to help these villagers fight to protect their environment and culture.