Imagine you could create something from the ground up. Barren ground, scorched by fires on an island that was meant to be Paradise on Earth. And it is you who can bring this land back to life! How? Two words: Art Forest. We will get to that later, because that’s the story’s happy ending. But let’s see first how it all began.

Cyprus has many stories to tell. This one is about Arakapas - a village located in the foothills of the Troodos Mountains and inviting visitors from all over the world to experience a traditional Cypriot lifestyle. Arakapas literally stands on the crossroads of the past and the future. Its stone-built houses, narrow streets, olive and citrus trees, and quaint atmosphere send one back in time to antiquity. At the same time, its eco-tourism initiatives, which aim to sustain the local economy while protecting the environment and cultural landscape, are a testimony to the place’s forward-looking modern aspirations. Sadly, much of what was meant to be preserved, has been recently destroyed.

On July 3, 2021, a wildfire started near Arakapas and soon evolved into one of the most destructive fires in recent history of the region. The combination of high temperature, strong winds, and the preceding dry winter became a recipe for disaster. The devastating effects of the fire were measured in 4 people killed, 55 square kilometers of land (including households, crops, and pine forests) destroyed and 10 communities affected within a few hours. What took mere hours to be destroyed will take decades to be fully restored. And nature will need people’s help in this.

Despite common misconception that there is still enough forests left on the planet and there are already too many initiatives dedicated to reforestation and afforestation, the reality is quite the opposite. As evidenced by the Arakapas case, fires can literally wipe away dozens of square kilometers of old growth trees within days if not hours. In fact, forests may fall victim to numerous natural and man-made disasters. Climate change and weather extremes put severe pressure on trees and their ecosystems. Another factor is the ongoing deforestation for agricultural land, timber, and other economic activities that target either trees themselves or the land on which they grow. No reforestation effort can keep up with deforestation in terms of speed and scale. To top it all, the success rate of any reforestation initiative is not absolute and varies greatly depending on the terrain, planting techniques, and the following monitoring and maintenance practices.

Planting an entire forest may seem like a goal way too ambitious. But as generally true for all joint initiatives, the united effort of the many amplifies the result manifold. If it takes one person to plant one tree, then the effort of one hundred people easily becomes a mini-forest planted.

Based on everything we have shared above, we are proud to finally introduce you to the idea of the “Art Forest” - a full-fledged regenerative ecological experiment, where we will be testing various reforestation techniques to evaluate their effectiveness in practice. Our forest-planting project aims to restore ecosystems on lands destroyed by fires in the municipality of Arakapas village. The first step includes planting 200 trees.

To make it happen, we have gained the support of the Forest Department of Cyprus, were generously entrusted with a piece of land, and are collaborating with Ecombare - the ideators and masterminds behind the “Back to the Roots Festival” that artistically marks the commencement of the initiative and its fundraiser. Hopes are high that what starts as a one-day event and a one-time donation will eventually grow into a lasting commitment.

How can you help? We have created a system via which you will be able to choose a number of trees you are willing or able to plant in the form of a one-time donation or a monthly subscription. No pressure - only pleasure! More info here: https://nullker.art/plantforest

Land in the wrong hands falls victim to anthropogenic forest fires and exploitation malpractices. Land in the right hands can arise from the ashes to become a living and breathing forest again. Shaking hands with the right partners makes projects like “Art Forest” possible. Your helping hand amplifies the effect by turning one tree planted into a whole forest with a few clicks. We already have the land and the partnerships. Now all we need is your support. The future of our forest is in your hands, most literally.