Many ecosystems around the world, from forests to coral reefs, are in decline, victims of pollution, climate change and resource extraction.
But faith-based organizations are increasingly stepping in to help repair these natural spaces. In many cases, religious leaders have become environmental influencers, championing nature-based solutions that experts say are crucial to saving the ecosystems that underpin human society.
“Faith communities – motivated by spiritual values and driven by an ethical responsibility – wield enormous social and political influence when it comes to promoting action to restore ecosystems,” says Iyad Abumoghli, Director of the Faith for Earth Initiative of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).
“The avenues for faith actors to contribute to the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 are explored in our Strategy for the Role of Faith Actors in Restoration of Ecosystems,” he adds.
Ahead of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, which launches later this year, here’s a look at what some faith-based organizations are doing to protect and restore natural spaces.
Saving Ethiopia’s forests
Ethiopia is home to 35,000 forests owned by Orthodox Tewahedo churches, to which more than half of Ethiopians belong. These fertile oases, ranging from 3 to 300 hectares are remnants of the natural forests that once covered Ethiopia.
The Tewahedo Church and local residents are trying to slow the attrition of church-owned forests, which they see as symbols of heaven on Earth. In more worldly terms, they also sequester carbon, conserve water, reduce soil erosion, provide natural medicines and supply locals with building materials.
Planting 1 million trees
Sikhs around the world are busy planting 1 million trees to reverse environmental decline. The initiative aims to help people reconnect with nature as part of celebrations marking 550 years since the birth of the founder of Sikhism, Guru Nanak, whose writings talk about the need to learn lessons from nature.
Tens of thousands of trees have already been planted, mostly in India, but also in Australia, Kenya, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
Yogic farming in India
About 1,000 farmers, inspired by the Brahma Kamaris, are engaged in “sustainable yogic agriculture”. This requires a vegetarian lifestyle, traditional organic farming practices, ethical animal husbandry, and other sustainable practices, alongside meditation.
Early data collected through a field study in Gujarat suggest that sustainable yogic agriculture has resulted in lower costs to farmers, reduced pressure on the environment, improved farmers' emotional well-being and enhanced community resilience.
Protecting sacred places through eco-tourism in Japan
Hakusan is one of Japan's oldest sacred natural sites, dating back to 717 when it was founded by a Buddhist priest. In 1962 it was designated as Hakusan National Park and in 1982 as a biosphere reserve.
Around 50,000 people a year make a pilgrimage to Hakusan to visit the shrine at the mountain top and pray for good health and a bountiful harvest.
The region’s flora, fauna and forests are home to monkeys, bears, golden eagles, and other animals and have spiritual as well practical value. Edible items include horse chestnut, ferns and bamboo shoots, and the four main rivers are home to fish such as the iwana mountain trout and the Japanese trout.
Botanic garden in Qatar
In 2008 the Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development set up a Koranic botanical garden in Doha. It comprises 60 plant species mentioned in the Koran, the Hadith (Sayings of the Prophet Mohammed), and the Sunnah (Traditions of the Prophet Muhammad). These species belong to three main groups: desert plants, such as bitter gourd; Mediterranean plants, such as olives; and tropical plants, such as wild ginger. The garden seeks to be a worldwide centre of education and research aimed at fostering an appreciation of, and responsibility for preserving, the natural world.
Tree-planting in the Philippines
Commercial logging in the Philippines has stripped the country of much of its natural biodiversity and disrupted natural freshwater supplies. Denuded mountains, depleted forests and barren watersheds are causing flooding which, along with typhoons, have destroyed lives, animals, trees, crops and infrastructure.
Mission East Asia National Support is embarking on a disaster risk reduction project called Plant with Purpose. “Trees are an important part of the quality of life – environmentally, culturally and economically,” says Mission. “Your help and the communities that will be involved will leave a legacy of trees, an appreciation of the value of green-cover, and strong community partnerships for future generations.”
Many Christians believe that, as God’s stewards of the natural environment, they are required to plant trees that not only support local livelihoods but also replace trees destroyed by typhoons.
The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030, led by UNEP, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and partners covers terrestrial as well as coastal and marine ecosystems. A global call to action, it draws together political support, scientific research and financial muscle to massively scale up restoration.
UNEP’s Faith for Earth Initiative, launched in November 2017, seeks to engage and partner with faith-based groups to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Faith for Earth has three main goals: to inspire and empower faith organizations and their leaders to advocate for protecting the environment, to green faith-based organizations’ investments and assets to support the implementation of the SDGs, and to help these organizations and their leaders to effectively communicate with decision-makers and the public.
For more information, please contact Iyad Abumoghli: iyad.abumoghli@un.org
