In the last couple of years there has been a subtle but massive change in the way that Christians see environmental issues.  For most of the fourteen years I have been at Floresta, I have frequently faced an uphill battle, explaining why Floresta is working on reforestation to people who thought it was superfluous.  Many times, I felt I was walking into meetings with potential donors carrying a huge liability: trees.  These donors, who might have been interested in our evangelistic work, or our work fighting hunger, often saw the environmental aspect of Floresta with some suspicion, or at best, amused indifference.

But that has largely changed.  Suddenly what we do is mainstream - even cool.  New voices for God’s creation have sprung up all over the place.  New books have been written.  New conferences are being held.  Many of the big Christian agencies are beginning to incorporate environmental programs into their work.  And the church is waking up to its stewardship responsibilities.  Throughout the past year, as I visited with foundations, pastors and Christian leaders, I heard a very different reaction than the one I have grown used to.  People were actively looking for ways to make a difference for the environment, and to get their congregations involved in creation care.

There is sometimes still a perception that it is all about politics, but of course Floresta has never been about politics.  Regardless of which way you vote, you can still fight global warming and deforestation by working with us to plant in Africa or Mexico.  And you can plant trees, which will save lives or keep a family in the Dominican Republic or Thailand from going hungry. 

I think that is one of the ways in which Floresta remains unique.  Our special contribution is the idea that we can make environmental restoration profitable for the rural poor at the same time we are making poverty reduction beneficial for the environment. That is the Floresta idea. In other words, we are creating virtuous cycles or spirals in places where vicious cycles existed before. In so doing we are solving two enormous problems that taken by themselves seem intractable. The big idea is that it is actually easier to address both problems together than it is to take them on one at a time. This is unique, and I think it is what sets Floresta apart from most other organizations and solutions.

Almost as important is the idea that the poor are the most important allies in solving these problems and probably the greatest untapped resource on earth. They have the skills, insight and vested interest in solving their problems. They have far more intelligence and initiative than people give them credit for. Often they only lack tools, opportunities or even just self-confidence. Yet far too often those who want to fight poverty see the poor as an obstacle. The temptation is to try to solve their problems for them without involving them. One of the most important things we can do is empower the poor to realize and use their God-given talents to change their communities and restore their land.

All of this new interest in the environment is exciting.  It provides some tremendous possibilities for Floresta to grow and reach more people, as well as to share what we have learned, thereby blessing others.  Humanitarian agencies, Christian and secular, are beginning to address environmental issues, because they have to.  Similarly, environmental agencies are beginning to address humanitarian and spiritual issues, because the have to.  To my knowledge, Floresta is the only organization designed from the ground up to work at the intersection of the two.  We look forward to sharing some lesson learned from nearly a quarter century of healing the land and its people.  It is an exciting opportunity.

Thank you for your support.