In Colombia, The Forest Of Peace Honors 8 Million Lives Lost In Civil War

With the participation of President Juan Manuel Santos, the first trees of Colombia's Forest for Peace were planted August 19 in the Amazon department of Vaupés.

This nationwide effort, which is now seeking support from the international community, is a living monument to honor victims of a 60-year-old civil strife that's coming to an end after nearly four years of negotiations between the government and the FARC -- one of the world's oldest and strongest insurgencies.

President Santos was joined by his Minister of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development, Luis Gilberto Murillo Urrutia; Ximena Patino, founder and President of href="http://www.savingtheamazon.com/en/" Saving the Amazon ; and representatives of the Indigenous associations Vaupes, who will be responsible for planting and maintaining the forest.

In the words of President Santos, the goal is to plant "many forests across the country so that the number of trees matches the number of victims in this conflict".

That's over is eight million people.

Once the peace treaty is signed between the government and FARC, the nation will vote in a referendum whether to approve it or not.