Women are marrying trees to help save them

Women in Mexico are getting hitched to trees as a way to call attention to illegal logging that is devastating their state of Oaxaca. (PATRICIA CASTELLANOS/AFP/Getty Images)

Women in Mexico are going out on a limb to help save the forest.

A group of female activists in Oaxaca, Mexico, held a mass marriage ceremony where they each wed their own splintery groom to draw attention to illegal logging – a serious and devastating problem in the country.

Around a third of Mexico’s land is covered by forest. Oaxaca is one of five states hit hardest by deforestation, mostly caused by criminal groups, Metro reports.

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The women are trying to take a stand against the practice and are hoping the mass marriage will get people more involved with saving the woodlands.

“Marrying a tree is a way of protesting, to say that we need to stop exterminating Mother Earth every day, every minute, every second,” Dolores Leycigi said, Yahoo Lifestyle reports.

The ceremonies -- which are not legally binding -- were started as a way to give thanks to Mother Earth. (Reuters)

Though the ceremonies conducted during the “Marry a Tree” event are not legally binding, as trees cannot consent to marriage, the union is still a serious commitment to some.

“I thought it was very interesting that we have a commitment, not only with this tree, but with all of nature,” Leycigi said. “I thought about how much we’ve already damaged nature, so I decided to come and get married.”

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The tree marrying ritual began by an organization, Bedani, as a way to give thanks to Mother Earth for what is provided. The ceremony then turned into a symbolic wedding influenced by Incan customs.