IT’s love affair with trees is no secret, so it’s only natural that we swooned a bit when we discovered Mexican artist Francisco Verástegui’s tree map. As the 2007 winner of Planeta.com’s Colibri Ecotourism Award, Verástegui’s Árboles Históricos y Notables is the first city map to navigate historic and notable trees in leafy Oaxaca City.
The honor was especially cheery news for Oaxaca, which endured a five-month-long siege by political protestors in 2006 that frankly left it feeling more riotous jungle than tree-hugger’s paradise. The area’s tourism industry was nearly uprooted: Indigenous artisans in nearby craft villages suffered huge losses, and the three-star hotel on the main square, the Marques del Valle, was forced to close during the crisis.
But these days, Oaxaca seems to be on the upswing due to a growing ecotourism sector. An annual ecotourism fair, sponsored by Planeta.com, promotes projects that include ecotourism, adventure tourism, and rural tourism. According to Treehugger, Oaxaca is home to 19 collectives, 30 private companies, seven sustainable agriculture farms, and five eco-coffee farms.
IT is so there. (We’ll be the ones giving a big bear hug to the storied 2,000-year-old Tule tree, believed to be the world’s largest—with a hefty 160-foot trunk—and oldest tree and the inspiration for a fiesta celebrated each second Monday in October.)
Amazing! I am a big fan of trees too. I will be forwarding this to my father - he is going to Oaxaca next month for business. Thanks for the links!
Posted by: Lolly | October 02, 2007 at 11:36 AM
Many thanks for the kind words. Hope to see you at the Tule Tree on Monday!
Posted by: Ron Mader | October 05, 2007 at 02:32 AM
Nice piece. Kudos to Ron Mader, too for driving many of these activities.
Oh, you'll love the Tule tree... and get Ron to take you across the road for some splendid local grub (as we say here in the UK).
Posted by: Steve Bridger | October 08, 2007 at 04:56 PM
I have visited Oaxaca last April, and I had the pleasure of meeting Francisco Verástegui through Ron Mader and of taking a 'green walk' around enjoying his lovely map.
It is now time for tourists to start visiting this amazing city again and to discover its big green heart.
The area offers as many nature, adventure and rural tourism activities as one could wish for!!
Posted by: Barbara - gloCaltravel | October 09, 2007 at 04:07 PM
From Mexico City I add my arms to that big hug around Tule. Kudos to Francisco, Planeta, Ron and this note. All are good efforts to increase tourism activities in Oaxaca.
Posted by: Fernando | October 12, 2007 at 05:44 PM
January 22, 2008 - Visit to Santa Maria del Tule, Oaxaca
Join us for an informal cypress tree walk with a visit to one of Mexico's most awesome natural wonders. Included will be talks about indigenous culture and the classic Chinanteco dish, Caldo de Piedra (Stone Soup).
11am - Ayuuk (meeting point)
1130-3pm - Cypress Tree Walk
3-430pm - Caldo de Piedra
Poster (English) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/planeta/2124429361
Poster (espanol) - http://www.flickr.com/photos/planeta/2125199176
FLICKR GROUPS
YOUR TURN - You are cordially invited to share photos in the following groups on Flickr
World Trees
http://www.flickr.com/groups/worldtrees
Forum on Latin American Forests (FOLAF)
http://www.flickr.com/groups/folaf
Oaxaca Trees
http://www.flickr.com/groups/arbolesdeoaxaca
Posted by: Ron Mader | January 13, 2008 at 02:06 PM