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Thousands of volunteers work on the foundation’s plantings, most of whom Franciska knows well. Together with Iván Bojár András, they are the driving force and soul of the organization. Although she had a “regular” profession, she says she truly found herself in this civic activity. Her favorite tree is the beech, but what kind of tree she would be is revealed in the conversation.

You have been part of the founding team of 10 Million Trees from the very beginning. Why did you decide to join?

– Four and a half years ago, Iván’s post popped up on Facebook, and I felt I had to apply. The writing was published on July 6, 2019, and the Facebook group was formed on the 9th. 

I think it mattered that we knew each other as children when I became a member of the founding team. Our mothers worked as restorers in the same workshop, and although we weren’t friends, we always knew about each other. In socialism, the museum environment was a unique, intellectual, somewhat resistant world where the sense of belonging to the same litter was important. So, I had a kind of trust, and obviously Iván did too, that this would be good.

In such a transition, the question arises: there must have been some vacuum in your life, within you, that made you open to the message…

– For some time, I had been troubled by the thought that the world was heading in the wrong direction, and I didn’t have the ability or capacity to change it. 

I slept little, woke up anxious, which had personal reasons as well, but the bad sleep disappeared as soon as I started getting involved with 10 Million Trees. This activity pulled me out of the helpless, oppressive state I was in. 

I didn’t think that the problems that caused my anxiety would be solved quickly, but I wanted to do something because, on one hand, it took me away from my worries, and on the other hand, it gave me the opportunity to contribute to an important, common cause. 

I found companions in the team, and I was surprised at how many people came with similar thoughts, how many were experiencing the same things as I was. And while before I thought, what could I do alone, in the togetherness, there was already the possibility of collective action, and that gave me strength. I often experience this feeling since then: just a few days ago, thirty to forty of us planted 1,350 tiny saplings. It is an uplifting feeling to be part of this. As a coordinator, I am essentially connected to every planted sapling, and we are already over 300,000.

What is your role at the foundation, what are your daily tasks?

– My main task is to coordinate the daily operational work for the functioning of the national community, but I am also present at the plantings. 

When an organization is built from scratch, everyone does what they can grasp. Meanwhile, we also need to get to know each other, how the other operates, who is good at what, and what they can take on. 

At the beginning, I said I had a few hours a week for this, but then it sucked me in, and now this is my main occupation. Iván is the founder and leader of the organization; he speaks publicly, he has a vision, he sees years ahead. As for the tasks that need to be accomplished in the meantime, I take care of those, of course, discussing everything together. 

I am good at organizing tasks for the next day or for three months from now, and I have a clear view of how people operate. A very good symbiosis has developed between us. Iván has a huge fire within him, he is charging ahead, showing us where to go, and I can support him in getting us there.

Have trees and nature been an important part of your life since childhood?

– So now I will come out: I didn’t come from the green side, but rather from the side of action. Everything I know about tree planting, I learned since I started working here. 

I am generally interested in human relationships. The fact that the direction of change in the world is negative has not so much appeared to me in relation to the environment or ecology, but rather in relation to people’s behavior. 

I have a great circle of friends, but for a long time, I have felt that I am moving in the same bubble with the same people. I longed for openness to meet new faces because I felt I was becoming narrow-minded. In the 10 Million Trees initiative, I am more interested in the people. Of course, I have come much closer to green thinking than before, but what keeps me in the system is the community and the connection to the community. 

I work with valuable, interesting people in a positive, rather than accusatory environment. Unfortunately, at home, the typical behavior is trolling and sniping, not supportive behavior. The 10 Million Trees not only gives meaning to my life, but it is also good to be part of it. As a translator, I have never been in a leadership role, and it is exciting to experience that this is also possible, beyond the fact that what I do has an impact on my environment.

How significant is this supportive environment you are talking about?

– The 10 Million Trees initiative is now multi-layered: the central team consists of 15-20 people, with whom I have a more or less daily relationship. There is a national coordination team of about 100 people, and several thousand volunteers. Our work is increasingly recognized and acknowledged. 

Recently, we received a special award at the Superbrands Gala, which was a real surprise because we thought we were invited to introduce ourselves as a civil organization offering green solutions.

Does becoming more well-known also mean new tasks and greater responsibility?

– Every new season presents us with new challenges. Companies are required to “go green” and focus on sustainability. 95% of the contributions come from them reaching out to us, and we must step up every time to meet the demands that arise. This is incredibly exciting because we need to be innovative. We are becoming more visible, which brings greater challenges. 

For example, last year a bank approached us to plant trees in a hundred schools. This is actually a hundred mini-projects, which is difficult even for a national gardening company to manage. Of course, we didn’t say no. The growth is exponential, and the foundation is clearly on the verge of a significant leap; a scaling change has begun at 10 Million Trees. 

Until now, we have primarily planted in public areas, but we want to increase the number of trees, as the climate situation calls for it. We had a reforestation campaign where we sought places for two million trees, and surprisingly many people applied. We are currently preparing these areas and are looking for funding for this.

You mentioned earlier that instead of support or donations, you refer to contributions. Why is this wording important?

– Although legally this is support, for us, this term suggests a hierarchical relationship between the parties. But these matters need to be handled together; we are rowing in the same boat, so the relationship is also a partnership. We also use the terms contribution and collaboration for educational purposes to express that we are doing this together, and the relationship is one of equality rather than dependency.

While the planting itself is a logistical magic trick, how do you track the fate of each planted area? Who maintains and waters these trees and forests? What responsibility can you take on in this regard?

– In the words of Péter Geszti: we plant and nurture. It is typical, of course, that when it comes to tree planting, the cost of watering is rarely factored in. If we plant in schools or institutions, they take on the care, but in public areas and afforestation projects, we have to solve this ourselves. We quickly learned that projects need to be offered as a package, meaning planting and maintenance together. And since we are a national organization, our operational costs must also be considered.

Do you have a favorite tree?

– The beech. It is a wonderfully beautiful tree with exciting shapes.

If you had to identify yourself with a tree or tree species, what would you be?

– The serviceberry.

What have you gained in self-awareness and personal development from the 10 Million Trees initiative? In what ways have you strengthened yourself?

– A relatively large part of my personality, previously unknown to me, has emerged. It turned out that I can collaborate well with many people, and I have developed significantly in conflict management as well. 

In the past, I always tried to avoid conflicts, or if I couldn’t avoid them, I didn’t handle them well. The 10 Million Trees initiative provides an opportunity for me to continuously improve in this area, as I maintain contact with a diverse range of people and companies. This situation inspires me; I have learned techniques that help me navigate difficult situations. This benefits the cause, the community, and me as well. I have learned to make decisions freely and responsibly, which strengthens me, as it seems to work. I have become a stronger and more effective version of myself thanks to the work here and the community.

That’s a pretty good closing statement, but with the holidays approaching, I must ask: will you have a Christmas tree at home, Franciska?

– There is a very good answer to this in the knowledge base on our website, and I encourage everyone to read the experts’ position. In short, the essence is that we need to separate the concepts of forest and plantation. The latter is cultivated for cutting down. A balled pine is not a good solution either. But I think this is not so much an ecological issue as a cultural one, and I am a bit more lenient in this regard.

Read the second part of the series: Dénes, the problem solver!

Source – Vulkán Literary Journal: https://vulkanfolyoirat.hu/nichs-andrea-hervai-franciska/