Richard St. Barbe Baker

Although his name is perhaps not known to many people today (at least outside of England), Richard St. Barbe Baker was one of the most influential and effective environmentalists and foresters in history, probably responsible for the planting of more trees than anyone else who has ever lived. He traveled around the world encouraging people to plant trees, and even came up with a plan for reforesting the Sahara.

He stated that “You can gauge a nation’s wealth, its real wealth, by its tree cover." And this is still easily observed today, as in the example of the country of Haiti, which occupies the same island as the lush Dominican Republic, yet is deforested and destitute.

St. Barbe Baker led an adventurous life, surviving various wounds and illnesses, but he was also a “doer” driven by an abiding purpose which continues to benefit nature and humanity. He founded the “Men of the Trees” among the Kikuyu tribesmen in Africa, in which warriors vowed upon their honor to plant and protect trees for the rest of their lives. The organization has since spread around the world, including both men and women, as the International Tree Foundation. And as a confidante of Franklin D. Roosevelt, it was his idea to create the Civilian Conservation Corps, which put thousands of young, unemployed American men to work on useful environmental projects, while at the same time often instilling in them an appreciation for the natural world.

In addition to his love of nature, he was also a pioneer in the design and construction of travel trailers (also known as caravans).

A believer in the interrelatedness and interdependence of all human beings, and indeed, all life, Richard St. Barbe Baker was a tireless advocate of both inter-cultural tolerance and respect for nature.

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