My favorite - The oak tree
February 5, 2016![Spaziergang im Herbst](https://static.dw.com/image/17175449_800.webp)
Aurel Lozan is an environmentalist and works for various reforestation projects in the Republic of Moldova. But the oak tree is his particular favorite.
Oak trees have been around for about 12 million years. But in the Republic of Moldova the giant oak forests have all but disappeared. Lozan works for Forest Law Enforcement and Governance (FLEG), a forest protection program financed by the World Bank. Under FLEG, Lozan supervises the reforestation process. The environmentalist explains that oak forests are important for biodiversity. Up to 350 different kinds of insects can live on just one tree.
About 'My favorite'
With all the talk of endangered species, the value of biodiversity and the usefulness of ecosystems we sometimes forget why plants and animals are really worth protecting: because we love them, or depend on them for our very own wellbeing. People from all walks of life and in all parts of the world have a favorite species. The reasons are many - perhaps because it is beautiful, or fascinating, or it helps them secure a livelihood. Meet some of these people and their favorites in our series "My favorite."