The International Network of José Martí Forests, Gardens and Orchards contributes to the coordination of alliances for the creation, maintenance and visibility of reforestation, environmental and nutritional education initiatives, among others, through the creation and development of orchards, gardens, forests and other green areas around the world.
The Network seeks to directly impact communities through the creation and protection of green spaces, where environmental protection activities are linked with other educational, training and artistic-literary activities.
In addition to workshops for exchanging experiences at the local and national level, the Network helps to make visible events such as the International Colloquium José Martí for a Culture of Nature, also convened by the José Martí International Solidarity Project.
The international scope of this work has its origin in decades of activity developed in Cuba, with the coordination of the José Martí Cultural Society and entities such as the Ministry of Education and various mass, sectoral and student organizations, as well as with youth movements.
What are José Martí forests, gardens, and orchards?
Spaces inspired by the ecological and humanist ethics of José Martí, in whose development the managers especially seek the participation of children, adolescents and young people in order to jointly and harmoniously promote the cultivation of civic, ethical and aesthetic values, through the cultivation of the land and the creation of awareness about the importance of protecting the environment through the approach to the life, work and example of José Martí.
In this activity, the work written by José Martí is very valuable, a human being of great sensitivity who wrote many chronicles, poems, speeches where references abound to a great variety of plants, animals, forces and natural phenomena.
How to create a José Martí forest, garden, or orchard?
People interested in promoting the creation of these spaces or in the development of gardens, orchards or forests near schools, local development projects or different institutions, can familiarize themselves with the principles with which we work and contact us in order to access our working documents , as well as the experiences that are already being developed in different parts of the world.
Where do Martí’s forests, gardens, and orchards exist today?
Currently, many places in Cuba are recognized as Martí forests, gardens, and orchards, and the number of educational and agroecological initiatives bearing this name is gradually increasing. Notable initiatives have also been established in Italy, Venezuela, Mexico, and Japan.
International Meetings of Martí’s Forests, Gardens and Orchards
From its inception, the José Martí International Solidarity Project placed great importance on cultivating a love for nature, taking advantage of the central role this idea plays in José Martí’s ideology. This led to the first, second and third editions of the José Martí International Colloquium for a Culture of Nature, held in 2004, 2010 and 2026, respectively. While these events brought together a wide range of initiatives at the time, not directly related to the “Martí forests, gardens, and orchards” as we understand them today, both are considered milestones in the evolution of these initiatives.
Since then, spaces like this have multiplied, organized by the Martí Program Office and the José Martí Cultural Society together with founding entities such as the Antonio Núñez Jiménez Foundation.
Contact Information:
Coordination of the José Martí International Solidarity Project: Héctor Hernández Pardo, Deputy Director of International Relations and Collaboration of the Martí Program Office (OPM):
- Email: hpardo@cubarte.cult.cu ; jmarti@cubarte.cult.cu
- Website: http://www.opJosé Martí.cu/
Coordination of the International Network of Martí Forests, Gardens and Orchards:
Luca Bondi, founder and coordinator of the Humanitarian Association Semi di Pace (Seeds of Peace), Italy.
- Email: segreteria@semidipace.org
- Web page: https://www.facebook.com/semidipacetarquinia/
References: