FAWCO Millennium Forest in Morocco submitted as UN Millennium Development Goals Success Story
March 2004
In February FAWCO NGO Director Paula Dappen received a request from the United Nations to submit a FAWCO project that could be considered a Millennium Development Goal Success Story. The project that she submitted was the FAWCO Millennium Forest Project in Morocco, sponsored by AWIC Casablanca and funded in part by donations from FAWCO clubs worldwide. This project corresponds to one of the MDG goals which is environmental sustainability. At the 2003 FAWCO Conference in Stockholm the FAWCO Environment Committee proposed the concept of “carbon neutral conference” by which emissions of carbon dioxide resulting from delegates’ travel, at that and future conferences, would be offset by planting trees, and raised funds to plant trees in the FAWCO Millennium Forest in Morocco. Below is a slightly fuller version of the project description that was submitted to the United Nations:
FAWCO's Millennium Forest Project began in 1995, with an initial tree planting project organized by the AIWC Casablanca, and is supported by members of the Federation of American Women's Clubs Overseas and individuals worldwide. Special recognition goes to one AIWC Casablanca member, Stella Fizazi, for her tireless efforts in sponsoring this project.
In 1995, the AIWC donated 3,000 apple trees to the inhabitants of the Imilchil region who received one apple tree for each two pine trees they planted donated by the Forestry Ministry, an initial planting of nearly 10,000 trees. In 1999 the FAWCO Environment Committee suggested adopting the title FAWCO Millennium Forest to widen support to FAWCO clubs worldwide. To date, over 30,000 trees have been planted in Morocco with a survival rate of approximately 80%. Individuals purchase trees to celebrate births, weddings, retirement and in memory of loved ones.
At its March 2003 conference, FAWCO proposed a "carbon neutral conference" initiative, with delegates purchasing trees in the FAWCO Millennium Project in Morocco to offset CO2 emissions resulting from travel to the conference.
Numerous goals are achieved as a result of the Millennium Forest Project: in October 2003, the AIWC funded Peace Corps water retention and irrigation projects in the Tafraoute region of Morocco. As a result, the fruit and olive trees planted there continue to flourish, helping this village to become more self-sustaining.
In January 2004 an additional 2,400 olive trees were planted in the Taroudant area by Peace Corps volunteers with funds provided by AIWC members, the American School of Casablanca and 2003 FAWCO conference delegates. These trees are cared for by a local Moroccan women's cooperative as most of the men have left for jobs elsewhere. These women are responsible for agricultural activities in addition to their traditional tasks.
The cost to purchase and plant one tree is only $5, but that five dollars goes a long way towards improving the lives and environment of people in Morocco.