Press release for immediate release:

Love Trees celebrates kids on Earth Day 2009

It takes just one child and one tree to make a world of difference. That’s the big idea behind Bowen Island-based Love Trees.  Love Trees manages a powerful and unique educational tree planting program that teaches kids about Green Power, the power to effect positive change and help make the world a better place.

On April 19, Love Trees is donating hundreds of tree seedlings and taking its Green Power message to West Vancouver’s Earth Day event. This is the third consecutive year the city has invited Love Trees to participate.

Love Trees turns three on Earth Day and continues to branch out in exciting directions. This spring the green company partnered with the United Nations Environment Programme’s Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign. The global campaign has a target to plant seven billion trees by the end of 2009. In support of this goal, Love Trees has pledged to plant 5,000 trees by the end of 2009.

Also this year, executive director Andrea Koehle Jones travelled with World Vision to KwaZulu Natal, South Africa.  She visited thousands of children at rural schools struggling to cope.  “It’s a perfect storm,” said Koehle Jones. “children in this part of the world are already battling extreme poverty, food security challenges and the AIDS pandemic. Climate change is only adding to this burden and if ignored, the outcome could be catastrophic.”

World Vision is working in the area taking steps to address these challenges through their child sponsorship program.  “The World Vision team was impressive - by focusing on a hand up instead of a hand out they have been developing projects that help communities become self sufficient,” said Koehle Jones. “I think one of the best things we did while we were there was plant fruit trees - there’s something so hopeful about planting trees with kids.”

Koehle Jones said the students were inspiring and did a terrific job using their green power to plant mango and lychee trees around their schools.  “Planting trees is a great way to educate and empower young people, create self sufficiency, preserve the natural environment and secure future food sources,” she said.

The theme for West Vancouver’s Earth Day is “Climate Change – Taking Action Close To Home.” Love Trees hopes to contribute by demonstrating to the young participants at the event that they have Green Power the ability to inspire action.

For more information on Love Trees visit lovetrees.ca or email info@lovetrees.ca.