On Thursday, March 19, 2026, the Communion Forest organised our first session in 2026 of the Connect, Share and Pray with two sessions held at 8 AM and 4 PM GMT to accommodate all from across the Communion. The Connect, Share and Pray sessions are designed with a consistent format: to bridge the gap between spiritual reflection, practical and advocacy activities and action presentations. By creating a space for shared learning, we aim to deepen diocesan and episcopal engagement and unite the Communion in a common rhythm of prayer for the earth. In March, our focus turned toward Forest Ecosystems.
Why Forests Matter
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), a forest is defined as land spanning more than 0.5 hectares with trees higher than 5 meters and a canopy cover of more than 10%. While the definition is technical, the impact is life-giving:
- Global Lungs: Nearly a third of the Earth is covered by forests.
- Biodiversity Hubs: They house 80% of all terrestrial species – animals, insects, and plants.
- Human Connection: Forests are home to 300 million people and provide food, timber, fuel, medicine, and jobs for billions more.
- Climate Regulation: They recycle our air, regulate rainfall, and manage the climate patterns we all depend on.
Read more about the vital role of forest ecosystems here.
The session opened with a devotion led by the Rt Revd Graham Usher, the Bishop of Norwich and the Church of England’s Lead Bishop for the Environment. As an ecologist by training and a passionate advocate for biodiversity, Bishop Graham invited us to see trees not just as resources, but as part of God’s intricate tapestry of life.
“At the heart of being an Anglican is the call to strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and to sustain and renew the face of the earth. God’s earth, God’s creation, God’s gift. And when we plant and care for trees, we’re not only living out this aspect of our discipleship, but I think we’re also expressing a great hope for the future.”
Watch Bishop Graham’s devotion and opening prayer here.
The webinar featured three distinctive voices sharing practical actions and advocacy insights from their respective regions:
- Fredrick Odinga (Kenya): Fredrick shared inspiring stories of practical action on forest ecosystems in Kenya, highlighting how local communities are leading the way in reforestation and conservation. Watch the video presentation here.
- Rev. Dr. Rodrigo Espiuca (Amazon): As the Communion Forest Facilitator for the Americas, Rev. Dr. Rodrigo spoke on the Curupira Project designed in response to a context of increasing environmental pressure, attacks on territorial rights, and the weakening of public protections for Indigenous communities and traditional peoples in Brazil. Watch the video presentation here.
- The Very Reverend Ives Vergara Nunes, Dean of the Holy Mary Anglican Cathedral in the Amazon, Gabriele Paula da Silva e Souza, Social Worker and specialist in Social Technologies, and Laura da Rosa Bassotto, Social Sciences student, presented on the Amazon forest and the social environmental justice initiative for the indigenous people. Watch the video presentation here.
Access the full webinar recordings here.
A Collect for Trees
Almighty God,
whose wisdom is revealed in all creation,
and who planted the garden of the earth for the flourishing of every living thing:
grant us thankful hearts for the forests that praise you in their beauty and abundance;
turn us from careless use to faithful stewardship;
and protect the forests of the world from fire, disease, and destruction;
that the earth may be renewed, the nations healed,
and all creation join in joyful song before you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.
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