‘Laudato Tree’: healing the planet, empowering its people
By Linda Bordoni
Vatican News
May 30, 2020
With the backing of Pope Francis and a gift of 1000 trees from Cardinal Turkson, the ‘Laudato Tree’ initiative to help build the Great Green Wall in the Sahel is a prime example of “ecological conversion in action”.
Planting seven million trees across 8,000 km land, through the 11 countries of the arid Sahel region in Africa is the aim at the heart of an initiative to combat desertification and ward off drought, famine, conflict and migration.
That’s the goal of the “Laudato Tree” initiative Pope Francis upheld during his 10 May Regina Coeli address, thanking the young people working to make it happen, and encouraging all to engage in the “Laudato Sì” Anniversary Year that runs until 24 May 2021.