Planting trees in North Korea

This year LOAF Project will be supporting the Salvation Army of South Korea planting trees in North Korea.

About 80% of North Korea used to be forest land. However, after the economic and fuel crises of the 1990’s, trees were claimed for energy and so the forests have been lost, with entire mountain ranges now stark, desolate and bare, This triggers more floods, landslides, droughts and water contamination etc. Hence, the food situation is also adversely affected. Overall, it is driving North Korea into being a hunger region of the world.

The Gross National Income per capita in North Korea is 7% of South Korea’s GNI and the size of its economy is only 3% that of South Korea.

The economic crisis is extensive and severe and excluding some African countries, North Korea has the lowest standard of living in the world. The suffering caused by starvation results in a decrease in the average life-span and overall population of North Korea. The average life-span of a North Korean is 66 years of age compared to 76.5 years of age in South Korea.

Planting chestnut trees in North Korea is a campaign to help in a practical, supportive way to convey to them a message of life, peace and hope.

Each £5 raised will plant and nurture a tree to maturity.