Trees are crucial for the ecosystem, providing clean air, water, and supporting biodiversity. Thomas Brail, founder of the National Tree Surveillance Group, advocates against deforestation, particularly concerning the controversial A69 highway project in France, which threatens agricultural land and wooded areas. With significant public opposition, Brail emphasizes the need to protect trees for future generations, advocating storytelling to connect communities with nature. His activism includes climbing trees and undertaking hunger and thirst strikes to raise awareness about environmental issues.
Trees play a vital role in sustaining our planet’s ecosystem. They are not only essential providers of clean air and water but also act as natural filters for carbon dioxide, support biodiversity, and serve as sources of raw materials and energy. Scientists classify trees as primary producers within the food chain, underscoring their importance to life. In urban areas, local governments are eager to plant more trees, while in rural regions, industrial and infrastructure projects often lead to their destruction.
Thomas Brail, the founder of the National Tree Surveillance Group, is dedicated to protecting trees from being cut down. He expresses relief regarding the suspension of construction projects that threaten these vital resources. In a podcast that highlights positive societal impacts, Brail comments on a significant ruling: ‘The public rapporteur has raised concerns about the environmental authorization, indicating there is no compelling reason for the project. This marks a historic decision in France for a project that is two-thirds complete.’ However, both the State and the Tarn department have appealed this decision, leading Brail to lament: ‘This could still take years.’
Controversies Surrounding the A69 Project
In the Occitanie region, the A69 highway project has been a topic of debate for over three decades, aiming to connect Castres and Toulouse across a span of 23 kilometers. Brail points out that ‘This project will lead to the artificialization of 400 hectares of agricultural land and has already resulted in the clearing of 17 hectares of wooded areas. In a recent public inquiry, 90% of the nearly 6,000 respondents expressed opposition to the project. Both the environmental authority and the national nature protection committee have voiced unfavorable opinions.’ He further claims that the initiative lacks public utility, stating, ‘The highway begins at the foot of the Pierre Fabre establishment.’
Rallying for Trees and Community
To garner public support, Brail emphasizes the necessity of storytelling and highlighting the community’s connection to trees: ‘When the temperature rises in Paris, everyone seeks refuge in parks. Trees and aquatic phytoplankton are our only significant sources of CO2 absorption.’ He warns that constructing new roads could exacerbate issues: ‘Our primary goal is to halt further construction. Highways encourage increased truck traffic and the establishment of logistics hubs.’
Interestingly, Brail does not categorize himself strictly as an activist or environmentalist; rather, he describes himself as a family man concerned for the future of his child: ‘Let’s stop labeling each other to create divisions. I’m just an average person striving for a peaceful future for my son.’ Alongside fellow advocates, he climbs trees to protect them, stating, ‘I am in the trees to save them. Nobody wants to harm squirrels.’ Notably, this movement has adopted the moniker ‘the squirrels.’ In 2023, Brail engaged in a hunger strike lasting 38 days, followed by a thirst strike: ‘The hunger strike aimed to raise awareness about the consequences of damaging agricultural land on our food supply, while the thirst strike highlighted the essential role trees play in providing water.’