THE GREAT SANAMA TREE

Xander Petersen, 11

London

Long, long ago, in the town of Sanama a group of Warriors wanted to expand their dwellings by cutting down the trees in the surrounding forests. The forest was inhabited by a smaller group of people known as Foresters, who loved, understood and preserved wildlife. However, the forest wasn't just for the Foresters, they shared it with lots of animals and plants. In the centre was the Holy Tree of the Foresters, known as The Great Sanama Tree. They worshipped the tree every day and told it their worries and problems, as has been tradition of their people for many centuries. It was like an elder parent to them, and they believe that it solved every problem it was told. Legend has it that the reason the tree was so wise was that many rare and special animals made their home and habitat within it.

It wasn't long before the Warriors effortlessly overcame the Foresters and started cutting down their home at a rapid pace. Tree by tree, plant by plant, animal by animal, their forest was slowly dying. The Head Chief of the Warriors was cutting down the most trees and was eager to be the one who cut down the Great Tree. With his axe in his hand, he was about to strike The Sanama Tree when he looked around to see a monkey scampering down it. In a language which he didn't think he knew, yet in that moment he understood perfectly, the monkey told him that a curse will be upon the one who kills this tree.

He ignored the monkey.

As the first blow of his axe dug into the thick bark a snake slithered down the tree. Speaking to him in a language that he didn't know, yet at that moment understood perfectly, it told him that generations of animals have lived in this tree and that misfortune will be upon anyone who kills it. He ignored the snake and his axe splintered the trunk for the second time. The corner of his eye caught a sloth slowly moving his way down the branches. In a language that he didn't know, yet at that moment understood perfectly, the sloth said to him that the ways of man are wrong. They chop down one tree, then get greedy, come back for many more until nothing is left to hold the ground in place. A tragedy will come upon any man who kills this tree.

Mid-swing of his axe, the man suddenly stopped and stared at the tree, his eyes capturing its magnificence and beauty for the first time.

Many years later, in the Forest of Sanama there were plenty of big, tall trees and many Warriors had moved in with the Foresters and man and nature lived friendly and carefree together.

We are cutting down too many trees and we need to do whatever we can to stop deforestation. Every small or big bit helps.