Bangkok, 13 November 2007 – Geikos from the famous Japanese flower town district of Gion, Kyoto today made a special appearance during the launch of Thailand’s Plant for the Planet, Plant for the Future campaign at the Dusit Thani Hotel, in Bangkok and joined dignitaries in highlighting the critical role of forests and trees.

Geikos, Fumikazu, Katsufumi and Yukikazu, here in Bangkok for the first time, underlined the critical role that forests play and their contribution towards the economy, for people’s livelihoods as well as their cultural, spiritual and recreational significance.

“Many sources of medications we use come from forests and trees. Trees are also a source of fruits, beverages and fodder. They not only provide us shade and beauty, they also help keep in the many nutrients that keeps our soils rich and help control soil erosion,” said Fumikazu.

Professional entertainers, Geikos begin as debutante Maikos after a year of training in traditional dance, Kyoto language, manners etc. After becoming a Maiko, she has to keep training for 5 to 6 years to become a Geiko. In February this year, Geikos and Maikos joined hands with the Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE) to promote tree planting in Kyoto and UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign in Japan. They called for fundraising to support cost for planting trees, and encouraged individuals, groups and the private sector to get involved.

The Plant for the Planet, Plant for the Future campaign in Thailand is jointly organized by the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park Foundation under the patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment - Department of Environmental Quality Promotion and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The campaign is being held under the auspices of the UNEP Billion Tree Campaign which began in January 2007.

The campaign aims to preserve forests for future generations and promote public awareness of the importance of trees among schools, communities, civil groups and businesses. The launch also commemorates the 120th Anniversary of Japan-Thailand Diplomatic Relations.

“I think planting trees that will last and benefit Thais for generations to come is a fitting gesture of this long-standing relationship between Thailand and Japan and future relationship. These trees that we will plant in this first phase, and later phases as this project progresses, will be a long-standing symbol of this strong relationship both in the past and in the future,” said Hiroshi Nishimiya, Deputy Director, UNEP Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.

“The Plant for the Planet, Plant for the Future campaign in Thailand is a fitting tribute to nature from all of humanity faced with unbalanced developments taking place around the world. Thailand in particular has experienced rapid deforestation over the past three decades, reducing its forest cover significantly, thereby rendering desertification and other effects of deforestation very serious issues which must be tackled with urgency. The tree planting campaign in Thailand therefore is opportune and desirable since it aims to promote the restoration of the natural ecology of the country”, said Dr. Sumet Tantivejkul, Chairman of the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park Foundation.

“Forests act as natural carbon sinks and are homes to millions of animals and species. They also provide food and fodder and help people’s incomes and livelihoods. They are important for our survival. Initiatives like this will help to generate action among people, communities, and schools to plant trees and raise greater awareness about the important role that forests play in our ecosystem and in our lives,” said Dr. Monthip Tabucanon, Director General of the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion.

“We are very happy to be part of this important campaign that is also being held during the auspicious 80th birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej. We will, in 2007, plant nearly 20,000 trees and hope within the next 5 years to plant close to 500,000 trees. These efforts would not have been possible without the generous contributions of our sponsors, particularly Hitachi and Honda,” said Hiroshi Matsumoto, Vice-Chair, FGPE.

The campaign is being held with the generous support of Hitachi Group of Thailand, Honda Thailand Foundation, Saha-Union Group in Thailand and Hitach Ltd., Bayer Ltd., Daisho Co. Ltd., Jias Group, Yoshishige-gumi Co. Ltd and C&C Group in Japan, who collectively contributed US$274,000 (Baht 9.3 million) to this first phase of the campaign.

For more information, please contact:

Ms Satwant Kaur, Regional Information Officer
United Nations Environment Programme Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific,
Tel: + (66 2) 288 2127; E-mail: kaur@un.org

Miss. Suthin Techawan (Noi)
Public Relations Officer, Reungchaiyuth Co.,Ltd
(At the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion)
Tel. (66) 2298-6391
Mobile (66) 83133-7555
Email: noy@rcybiz.com

NOTES TO EDITORS

The Plant for the Planet, Plant for the Future campaign in Thailand is jointly organized by the Sirindhorn International Environmental Park Foundation under the patronage of HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, the Japan-based Foundation for Global Peace and Environment (FGPE), the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment - Department of Environmental Quality Promotion and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The campaign is being held under the auspices of the UNEP Billion Tree Campaign which began in January 2007.

The campaign aims to preserve forests for future generations and promote public awareness of the importance of trees among schools, communities, civil groups and businesses.

Maiko were originally women who served tea to people visiting Kyoto temples about 300 years ago. Over time, they began to welcome people not only with tea but also with sake and a meal, and entertain them with dance and song. To become a maiko, the girls have to learn dance, Kyoto language, manners, etc. for one year. After becoming a maiko, she has to keep training for 5 to 6 years to be a geiko. The ceremony celebrating the transition from maiko to geiko is called eri kae (collar changing) as maiko have red collars and geiko have white. To be a geiko is to be a professional entertainer.
The districts where Geikos and Maikos live are called Flower Towns and they are venues for various traditional events held through the year.
Geikos and Maikos of Gion (Kyoto) heard of the campaign from a member of FGPE. Knowing that every second, somewhere in the world, a forest the size of a football pitch was vanishing, the Geishas of Gion offered to contribute by promoting the tree planting campaign from Kyoto.
On 15 February 2007, during a press conference in Kyoto, Geiko and Maiko joined hands with the FGPE to call on the world to participate in the “Plant for the Planet! Plant for the Future!– the Billion Tree Campaign”. They called for fundraising to support cost for planting trees, and encouraged individuals, groups and the private sector to get involved, and to register the number of trees pledged and planted on UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign website.

UNEP ROAP News Release 07/14