Posted on

blog

An initiative to plant trees to raise awareness about gender-based violence

Article from EFE Verde.

Students of an academy to promote the role of women in the rural world have planted trees in the "Parque de las siemprevivas", in Ávila, an initiative that since 2020 seeks to commemorate the fatal victims of gender violence.

Fifteen students from the Women's Academy for Rural Innovation - created by the technology company Huawei - took part this Wednesday, together with the European Life Terra project and the Candeleda Town Council (Ávila), in a reforestation and awareness-raising initiative on gender-based violence.

The aim of the "Park of the evergreens", which already had 60 trees and which this week has added another 30, is to plant a tree for every woman murdered in Spain at the hands of a man, a figure that since 2003 - when the official registry began - has reached 1,165 women but which "unfortunately is increasing", recalls the Councillor for Social Affairs of the Candeleda Town Council.

This small forest of two hectares raised by the municipality of Candeleda in the Tiétar Valley tries to keep the memory of those victims alive, and now the donation of trees and participation by Life Terra and the contribution of the Women's Academy for Rural Innovation also seeks to obtain ecosystem benefits such as CO2 absorption or the improvement of soil conditions.

Species such as Jacaranda, Paulonia imperialis, Tulipero, Magnolia or Red Maple, among others, have been chosen for the action, which are beneficial for the climate and the landscape, trying to enhance the diversity of colours maintained throughout the year.

"Women are as important for the prosperity of rural communities as trees are for a healthy and resilient ecosystem", said Núria Borràs, in charge of the planting, which in addition to paying tribute to these women "will allow us to give a boost to regenerative agriculture, through the increase in biodiversity and the improvement of soil conditions".

Trees, through their roots or the organic matter they provide, promote soil fertility, explained the founder of the Life Terra project, Sven Kallen.

Berta Herrero Estalayo, Director of Equality, Diversity and Inclusion at Huawei, who also directs the Women's Academy for Rural Innovation, also stressed the empowerment of women in the rural world through actions that are "key to our future" as they will help to create "local wealth and new business initiatives based on the bio-economy".