We all know about sustainability when it comes to forestry work but how many of us realise that there’s injustice at the heart of our Christmas tree industry?
Fair Trees ® is an organisation dedicated to getting a better deal for the people at the bottom of the chain. They say:
“By and large the entire Christmas tree industry is founded upon seeds from Georgia, which is the poorest country in Europe. “Part of the seed gathering process takes place at heights of thirty metres and means that local cone pickers risk their lives,” says Marianne Bols, owner of Bols Forstplanteskole in Brædstrup. In relation to this, she explains that the deaths of many Georgian cone pickers have gone unnoticed over the years.” [Most of our trees apparently are imported from Denmark or in English plantations funded by Danish investment]
Some 20 tons of these seed are sown all over Europe, most of which are not sourced as a Fair Trade product. According to Marianne Bols, this is a missed opportunity for sustainable production methods where the workers are respected for their part in the production chain instead of being exploited. She has persevered in her fight and Bols Forest Nursery has been accredited by Fair Trade Denmark – they work in partnership with Fairwind in Harpenden www.fairwindonline.com . The initiative supports training and facilities to help Georgian workers and their families and is supported by Georgian born singer Katie Melua.
You can read more about this issue at www.fairtrees.co.uk.