Issues
Since the late 1950s, 700,000 km of hedgerows – the distance to the moon and back – have been torn down. Perceived as an obstacle to modernisation, plot expansion and mechanisation, trees have been erased from the agricultural landscape. Yet hedgerows store carbon and are an essential link in the biodiversity chain. They are also useful for crops: they help to fertilise the soil, combat erosion, filter water, reduce temperature variations on plots and provide fruit, wood, shade and fodder. Trees are an effective remedy for the transition from agriculture that depletes the soil and water reserves to virtuous, restorative agriculture.
Actions
The association “Des Enfants et des Arbres” was founded in 2020 by Marie-France Barrier, director of the documentary films Le Temps des arbres and Le Champs des possibles. Its mission is to raise awareness of environmental issues among the citizens of tomorrow and to support the deployment of agroforestry, a method of farming that combines trees with crops or livestock.
Each year, thousands of primary and secondary school students are invited to plant trees with farmers on their local farms. This initiative is helping to nurture a new generation that is engaged, connected to the environment and confident in its ability to change the world. At the same time, it supports farmers, who cannot and should not be the sole guarantors of the quality and sustainability of the shared resources that are water, air, soil and landscapes.
Agroforestry associations and organisations throughout the country provide their expertise to supervise each project and ensure that the right trees are planted in the right places at the right time.
Key figures
Our support
- Financial support for 4 plantings in 2022-2023 then support in scaling up for 3 years (2023-2024-2025)
- Support for the development of educational tools for farmers and teachers
- Skills sponsorship with support for fundraising and HR structuring
- Outreach and Advocacy