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 About Us
The Men of the Trees (MOTT) is a non-profit,
non-political international society
dedicated in fostering the planting,
maintenance and protection of trees.
The Queensland Society was formed in 1980
and is based in Brisbane. Its membership is
supported by a management committee,
voluntary tree planters and other supporters
drawn from a broad community base. We
believe in planting the right trees, in the
right places, for the right reasons. |
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What we do |
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The Society recognises that deforestation
has made a major impact on the physical and
visual environment within the state and that
in some regions tree planting is required
to:
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Stabilise eroding soil profiles
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Mitigate climatic extremes
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Provide flora and fauna habitat
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Provide timber and other products
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Beautify the environment
The Men of the Trees plant trees in parks as
well as in degraded urban and rural areas.
The Society also encourages the development
of systems for tree planting to suit
specific needs. The scope of the Society’s
tree planting activities is limited only by
the level of membership and the necessary
funding to implement projects.
The Society assists service organisations,
schools, clubs, rural groups, local
Governments and individuals in achieving a
better understanding of the role of trees in
the environment and in organising the
planting and maintenance of projects. |
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History of Men of the Trees |
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Members are often asked, ‘Why the title ’Men
of the Trees’?" "What do you stand for?" A
title such as ‘The International Tree
Society’, for example , would not encourage
such questions.
To answer these questions one must go back
to 22 July 1922, the day on which the
Society was founded, in Kenya, by Dr.
Richard St Barbe Baker.
A Government Forestry Officer, St Barbe
Baker was concerned for the rapidly
decreasing fertility of the land. He
believed it was necessary to plant more
trees to combat the shifting methods of
agriculture. He initiated the idea of
voluntary tree planting by the native
tribesmen of the highlands. The activity was
most successful and the highlanders became
known as forest planters instead of forest
destroyers.
The concept spread to England in 1924 and
since then branches have developed in many
parts of the world, bringing together tree
conscious men, women and children. |
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The Late Dr Richard St Barbe Baker OBE, LLD |
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 It
is the Society’s privilege to carry on the work of
our distinguished founder, Dr Richard St Barbe
Baker, the founder of The Men of the Trees. Dr
Baker was born in England in 1889 and until his
death in Canada in 1982, he travelled the globe
extensively, teaching and spreading his message of
healing the earth by planting trees. He was a
lucid, articulate and selflessly dedicated man, who
inspired many to follow his example.
This
dynamic man through his determination and energy
influenced the protection of the giant redwoods in
California, the replanting of large areas in
northern Africa, and stimulated a new world wide
direction for forest conservation. He achieved the
respect and action of governments in all parts of
the globe and recorded his experiences in some
thirty books.
Dr Baker was not only recognised as an authority on
trees (governments constantly called upon him for
forestry advice worldwide), but was also a
humanitarian of universal vision and a most
remarkable man. He promoted a theme that everybody
was welcome in Men of the Trees.
In 1972, the board of directors of Friends of Nature
(USA) awarded Dr Baker their Conservation Award, for
"being the foremost world citizen to stress the
importance of maintaining tree cover for the
continued existence of life."
St Barbe dedicated his long life, (1889 - 1982) to
spreading the simple message far and wide — "We need
more trees." People are the greatest need. People
who appreciate trees and forests; people who mean to
protect their environment through positive action.
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Upcoming Plantings & Events... |
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Where is MOTT this weekend?
Check out our planting schedule to find out!
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Rainy days getting you down? Stay dry and read January's edition of Twahamwe |
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Planting and growing increasing quantities of trees is the scientific solution to Earth's environmental dilemma." - Richard St Barbe-Baker |
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The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The next best time is now. - Chinese Proverb
The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit. - Nelson Henderson
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