COP15: Grove planted as symbol of connection among peoples
Hundreds of participants at the 15th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (COP15), held in Campo Grande, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, planted on Saturday (Mar. 28) an important legacy of the global gathering: a grove of mostly fruit-bearing trees.
“This is the most important event of the entire COP because action matters most, and it is to make that happen that we have gathered. There’s an old saying that goes, ‘Think globally, act locally,’ and that’s what we’re doing today, because everyone has a role to play in protecting migratory species,” said Amu Fraenkel, Executive Secretary of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS).
Diplomats, country delegates, representatives of conservation movements focused on different species, and local residents of all ages came together in connection with the earth and nature, reflecting the theme “Connecting Nature to Sustain Life” chosen for the global gathering. Together, they created the COP15 Grove.
Biologist Sílvia Ray Pereira, from the city’s Urban Forestry Department, said the chosen location was strategic for expanding green spaces across the city.
“The COP15 Grove is part of a project we launched last year to create mini-forests in areas with few trees - primarily public squares - so that we can balance urban greening and public health while also supporting wildlife,” the biologist said.
In total, 250 seedlings of fruit-bearing and native Brazilian species were planted, including the manduvi (Sterculia apetala), which is widely used by the hyacinth macaw for food and nesting. “The idea is to attract the species, which is already beginning to return to the city. With the expansion of green areas featuring manduvi, the hyacinth macaw will find a safe place here to nest,” she explained.
