Biomimic Tree: Putting agriculture at the forefront of COP23 agenda

A sculpture named “Biomimic Tree” was unveiled at UN climate summit COP23 on Tuesday to shed light on the impacts of climate change on the rural communities of developing countries. British artist Silas Birtwistle created the installation, made entirely of recycled plastic, which depicts a tree which only fully comes alive when water runs through it. It highlights the dependence of all living things on a functioning healthy ecosystem, said Birtwistle during the unveiling ceremony. “At the bottom of the tree, there is a small pump which takes water through a series of clear pipes to fruit and birds, which all gently move, turn, spin and chatter in response,” he said. “Every five minutes, the pump will activate and the tree will come to life, water will trickle, the birds will sing and the leaves will flutter.” The tree also offers shelter from wind and shade from sun, allowing crops to thrive and feed families. The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), a UN agency that works on mitigating climate change impacts and helping smallholder farmers adapt to it, has sponsored the sculpture. “The water running through the tree highlights the increasing importance of this critical resource due to climate change,” said Margarita Astralaga, director of IFAD’s Environment and Climate Division. “When the water is running the tree comes to life, when the water stops the tree comes to a stop, or dies.” She further said IFAD-led solutions were empowering smallholder farmers – farmers who grow crops in small plots – to combat and overcome climate change issues such as water scarcity and erratic weather patterns, which are adversely affecting farming. “The sculpture highlights IFAD’s restoration efforts which focuses on planting trees on degraded lands to stop soil erosion, form a barrier to desertification and provide shelter to crops,” said Birtwistle. IFAD issued a press statement on Tuesday which says the UN agency has already rehabilitated almost 300,000 hectares with its restoration efforts in the Sahel region of Africa. For example, in Niger, IFAD regenerated 100,000 hectares by protecting land from overgrazing and deforestation and replanting trees. Birtwistle said: “We wanted negotiators at [the] UNFCCC COP23 to see for themselves the beauty of sustainable climate resilient agriculture and the crucial role this plays in the well-being of rural communities.” “Farmers have to work with nature to create a truly sustainable food secure future,” said Astralaga. “Working with Silas, exhibiting this amazing Biomimic Tree, we show the very real challenge of climate change and environmental sustainability for smallholder farmers in developing countries.” The COP23, organised by UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is taking place in Bonn, Germany on November 6-14.