Since 2,000 were not enough, he planted 130,000 trees: he challenged the desert and turned it into an oasis
Its story is a testament to the human capacity to transform the environment through conscious action and respect for nature.
Wendy Campbell-Purdie was a New Zealand pioneer, planting trees she fought against desertification and was known for her work creating oases in the Sahara Desert. Her innovative approach and dedication to reforestation in arid areas made her a leading figure in the history of environmental conservation. Born into a farming family in New Zealand, Campbell-Purdie developed a deep connection with nature from a young age. In the 1950s, he worked in Corsica for a logging company, where he became familiar with tree felling and its effects on the environment. This experience awakened in her a concern about desertification and the loss of biodiversity, motivating her to seek practical solutions to reverse these processes. Since 2,000 were not enough, she planted 130,000 trees: she challenged the desert and turned it into an oasis. In 1964, she moved to Tiznit, Morocco, with a one-way ticket due to economic limitations. There, he planted 2,000 trees, including Corsican pines, achieving a survival rate of 80%. This project demonstrated that it was possible to regenerate arid lands by planting trees, creating microclimates that favored agriculture and biodiversity. Following Algerias independence in 1962, Campbell-Purdie moved to Bou Saâda, where the government allocated him a 100-hectare plot of land previously used as a military landfill. With the support of the Algerian Red Cross, he planted 130,000 trees, including olive trees, citrus trees, figs, cypresses, acacias and eucalyptus trees. Despite challenges such as flash floods and pests, it achieved an 80% survival rate. Her work inspired the Algerian government to plant a 12-meter-wide strip of trees across the country as a green barrier against the advance of the desert.Legacy and recognitionIn 1967, she published her only book, Woman Against the Desert, with an introduction by the writer Iris Murdoch. In it, he shared his experiences and convictions about the power of trees to transform arid landscapes into productive ecosystems. His work was recognized by organizations such as the International Tree Foundation and the Global Earth Repair Foundation (International Tree Foundation). Despite his declining health, Campbell-Purdie continued to promote reforestation until his death in 1985 in Athens. His legacy lives on as an example of how determination and practical knowledge can generate significant changes in the fight against desertification.
IT MAY INTEREST YOU
Nation reinforces prevention and training against forest fires
The director of the Federal Emergency Agency (AFE), Santiago Hardie, referred to the support that the Nation provides in fighting fires. He argued that the majority of igneous sources respond to human interventions and that, therefore, social awareness is a central tool to reduce environmental, material and human damage.
Reforestation advances in the Historic Sanctuary of Machu Picchu with new restored hectares
The plan includes the planting of a thousand new trees in the sanctuary, in response to the damage caused by forest fires and environmental threats, with the support of local authorities and representatives of the tourism sector.
The South American country that changes construction thanks to an ancient, mega-resistant material: more than steel
This material that grows in South America creates the most resistant constructions and radically changes the world of architecture One particular building material has been used for millennia by various cultures in South America. This is due to its structural resistance that allows the creation of homes, bridges and shelters. Its archaeological presence shows that it was one of the most valued construction resources in seismic and humid areas.
