Every time a little girl is born in the Indian village of Piplantri, 111 trees are planted in her honour. This tradition of celebrating the birth of a girl in a country where female children are often considered to be a burden, due to the dowry system, is made more positive by the fact that each girl is also given a trust fund. There is also a pledge that she will not be married until the age of 18, having had a good education.

The symbolic link between humans and trees, through nurturing, care and growth, has brought extremely practical rewards, with a burgeoning woodland, enhanced community cohesion, and the valuing of each and every child’s arrival, regardless of gender.

 

 

“Seeing the intimate connection between the social health and environmental health of the village, Paliwal’s tradition has created a truly sustainable future for community members. Over the course of the past six years, a quarter of a million trees have been planted in Piplantri. Villagers credit the harmony that this tradition has brought to their community with the dramatic drop in crime. Not to mention their renewed adoration of little girls.”

You can read more about this in the article written by Kate Good, at ‘onegreenplanet’ here.