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The Trees for Life Journal will go beyond the usual concept of a scientific journal, and provide a forum for open and free exchange of ideas among anyone interested in beneficial trees and plants.
Thirteen
years ago, when I joined the non-profit movement Trees for Life as a fulltime
volunteer, one element of this visionary movement struck a chord deep within
me. The way Trees for Life went about serving people stood in contrast to the
norm. It was not based on the idea of “charity”—I am rich, you are poor, so I
am helping you. In this movement, everyone was giving, and everyone was
receiving.
No
matter if one was a materially “wealthy” American businessperson making large
financial contributions, or a materially “poor” villager teaching others to
grow and care for fruit trees—there was a clear demonstration that each person
is extremely rich in their ability to give of themselves and serve others. Each
one also received that indefinable sense of joy, gratitude and connectedness
that comes with serving.
Throughout
these many years, I have experienced this dynamic countless times. I have
danced with lepers in India who were overflowing with the joy of being able to
improve their lot through their own dedicated labor, which they did until their
hands bled; I have watched with awe as children with learning disabilities
spent their free time doing fundraisers to help kids on the opposite side of
the Earth grow fruit trees; and several times I have seen hardened businessmen moved
to tears with the realization that they are connected to others around the world
in such a meaningful way.
I see the
Trees for Life Journal as a natural phase of the same journey. It is a
response in the same spirit to serve a specific type of need that came to our
awareness.
Birth of the journal
The
idea was first born out of work with the tree Moringa oleifera, which
abounds in nutritional, medicinal and other beneficial properties. We saw that
scientifically-based studies of this tree, and of the many claims about it from
traditional societies around the world, were very much needed. On the one hand,
such studies could bring much greater awareness and acceptance of the tree among
scientists, medical people and other intellectuals. On the other hand, we
understood that people most readily accept information that is generated within
their own society—so local studies in many countries were needed.
A
pertinent question arose—where could people get such studies published? Most of
the information currently available was anecdotal, and we saw that informal
studies and trials may be needed first, to bring the subject to the attention
of scientists. But studies at that level do not make it into the peer-reviewed
scientific journals.
So we
decided to start a journal.
As the
idea took shape, we received more and more confirmation that there was a real
need for such a journal. Scientists and academicians told us that they needed
to hear the voice of people at the grassroots level, in order to know what will
best serve their needs. And our experience for more than 20 years showed that
people at the grassroots were often not even aware of the huge stores of
knowledge available that could benefit them.
A unique forum
The Trees
for Life Journal is one attempt to bridge that divide. In keeping with the
spirit of service I described earlier, it will go beyond the usual concept of a
journal, and provide a forum for open and free exchange of ideas among anyone
interested in beneficial trees and plants. We envision a forum for people in
the field to share their traditional knowledge, their ideas, their concerns and
questions. Scientific people can thus take the true pulse of the people, and be
better equipped to render meaningful service through studies that can benefit people
in the field.
Another
unique feature is that anyone can perform and publish studies, whether they are
a scientist or academician performing double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical
trials, or a farmer or student simply using a nutritious plant as an additive
in food or animal feed and recording the results. All contributions are valuable
additions to the store of knowledge that can serve the world.
I look
forward to the adventure of serving with you through this journal, and will
always welcome your comments and feedback.
