Trees: A Win-Win-Win-Win-Win Proposition!

The 2nd World Congress of Agroforestry kicked off on 24 August 2009 at the UN Complex in Nairobi, Kenya. Present were over 800 delegates from 97 countries around the world. Students from Bahati Girls Secondary School in Nakuru, Kenya performed songs and dances, inspiring all those present with their calls to action.

Achim Steiner, UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of the United Nations Environmental Programme, officially welcomed the delegates.

Dennis Garrity, Director General of the World Agroforestry Centre, introduced the congress theme: Agroforestry – The future of global land use.

The keynote address was delivered by Nobel Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai, of the Green Belt Movement.

His Excellency Kalonzo Musyoka, Vice President of the Republic of Kenya delivered the Host Country Address on behalf of Kenya’s Head of State. Delegates watched a video titled Trees for Life: The Story of Agroforestry in Malawi. Read full story on opening session

Quotable quotes from the Opening Session:

“If trees are viewed in this new (custodianship) role then it would be clear that whether we are talking about food security, climate change, poverty alleviation, or almost any of the challenges we face today, trees offer a Win-Win-Win-Win-Win Proposition – contributing to several aspects of sustainable development.”
Achim Steiner

“The trees may not be cut down in your country but the results of the felling may come back to haunt you Don’t use resources as if you are the last generation and there is no other generation after you!”
Wangari Maathai

“We can empower people - not to wait for others to do something for them – but to take the initiative, one tree at a time. Trees are one of nature’s most ingenious answers to many of our problems.”
Achim Steiner

"At the World Agroforestry Centre, we like to say that ‘The future of trees is on farm.’ What we now also know, is that the ‘future of forests is on farms’ as well.”
Dennis Garrity

Download the complete Daily Update for Day 1

Download the speeches and presentations:

• Achim Steiner’s Speech
• Dennis Garrity’s Speech
• Dennis Garrity’s Presentation
• Prof Wangari Maathai’s Speech
• Host Country Address delivered by HE Kalonzo Musyoka