"For many, reflecting our deep desire to preserve at-risk rain forests, trees symbolize hope for peace, people, and planet.

Many in Japan revere the hibakujumoku, 170 “survivor trees” which weathered the Hiroshima bomb. These “survivor trees” represent the regenerative miracle of deep roots and strong resilience.

Another example is Haiti, which suffered massive deforestation even before its devastating 2010 earthquake. On Agriculture Day, the national holiday when Haitians often do volunteer work, local community members gathered to plant nearly 25,000 trees for future generations.

Among those planting trees were 1,800 local members of my faith community, which donated the trees. Planted on riverbanks and mountainsides, these trees are not just shade trees; nor are they just trees for soil conservation. These are fruit trees. If you ask the Haitians who will harvest this fruit, they say, 'whoever is hungry.'"