London tree stump shows deforestation damage

London’s Trafalgar Square is playing host to an art installation designed to show damage caused by deforestation and climate change.

Ten rainforest tree stumps from Ghana are on display as part of an exhibition by artist Angela Palmer.

Organisers hope it will serve as a wake-up call for world leaders meeting in Copenhagen next month.

“I think these trees are silent witnesses, footsoldiers in the battle to stop global deforestation, and we want them to act as a wake-up call to everyone to come here, see them, touch them, to see this destruction for what it is,” said Andrew Mitchell, Director of Global Canopy programme.

Fully grown, the trees would easily stand as tall as Nelson’s Column, which towers over Trafalgar Square.

They will be in London for a week before being moved to Copenhagen for the climate change conference.

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tags: Climate, United Kingdom