Gardens of Peace: borderless territories across five continents
The Gardens of Peace
Gardens awaiting inauguration
Nicosia - Cyprus
Cornwall - Great Britain
The Olive Tree
A millenary tree that crosses territories, cultures and communities
The olive tree does not follow political borders.
It grows where the climate allows it, but its cultural and symbolic presence also reaches territories where it cannot take root.
Exploring the relationship between the olive tree and different territories means looking at the world through a tree that brings together nature, history, culture and symbolism.
Where the olive tree grows in the world
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Hot, dry valleys and highlands of Inner Asia — olive-growing development and climate adaptation in Central Asia.
E3S Web of Conferences – Research of olive sprouts and fruits grown in Uzbekistan -
Slopes and valleys of the Himalayan system — presence of Olea ferruginea up to 2,400 m.
Fruits – Olea ferruginea Royle, Indian olive: an underutilised fruit tree crop of north-west Himalaya -
Longnan region (northwestern China, Gansu) — more than 40,000 hectares of olive groves.
Our China Story – Olive oil in Gansu -
Rajasthan desert region — pilot project in the desert.
The Guardian – Greening India’s deserts with olives -
Potohar Plateau and arid regions — a new frontier for olive growing in Asia.
Pakistan Business Council – Potential of olives -
Mountain terraces of Bcheale (northern Lebanon) — a territory of centuries-old and millenary olive trees linked to the traditional Baladi cultivar, an important heritage of biodiversity and local olive propagation.
Acta Horticulturae – Lebanese ancient olive trees and their relatedness with the local cultivar “Baladi” -
Upper and Middle Jordan Valley (Jordanian sector) — an ancient olive-growing territory associated with cultivars such as Nabali Baladi, Nabali Muhassan and Rasie, as well as centuries-old Romi olive trees adapted over time to arid environments.
Frontiers in Plant Science – Evaluation of genetic diversity among olive trees from Jordan -
Hills of Aleppo and Idlib and coastal uplands of Latakia and Tartus (Syria) — a mosaic of olive-growing environments characterised by local cultivars such as Zaity, Sorani, Doebli, Khoderi and Kaissy, adapted to different rainfall and temperature conditions.
CIHEAM – Oil quality and characterization of Syrian olive germplasm -
Slopes and valleys of the Zagros Mountains (western Iran) — a territory of ancient olive groves growing at different elevations and under different climatic conditions, preserving local genotypes and a high level of genetic biodiversity.
Acta Horticulturae – Ancient olive genotypes across the Zagros Mountains -
Aegean, Sea of Marmara and Mediterranean coasts of Turkey — a major olive-growing territory spanning different coastal regions, where elevation and the risk of cold and frost define cultivation limits and varietal distribution.
Agronomy (MDPI) – An Overview of Olive Cultivation in Turkey: Botanical Features, Eco-Physiology and Phytochemistry -
Crimean Peninsula (Black Sea basin) — olive growing in coastal microclimates near the northern climatic limit, with the selection of more cold-resistant cultivars.
Genes (MDPI) – Genetic Diversity of Common Olive (Olea europaea L.) Cultivars from Nikita Botanical Gardens Collection -
Shōdoshima Island (Japan) — the first olive-growing territory in the East (since 1908).
Japan Guide – Olive Park · JCB Japan Tips · LLA NBS -
Desert regions and arid valleys of the Gulf countries — emerging olive growing in hyper-arid environments (e.g. Al Jouf, with approximately 5 million trees).
AGSI – Trees of the Gulf · IOC – Olive growing in Saudi Arabia
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Coastal terraces and slopes of the Serra de Tramuntana (Mallorca) — a terraced agricultural landscape with historic olive groves, recognised as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
UNESCO – Cultural Landscape of the Serra de Tramuntana · Spain.info – Serra de Tramuntana -
The Umbrian slope between Assisi and Spoleto — terraced olive groves and an agricultural landscape recognised as a Globally Important Agricultural Heritage System (GIAHS).
FAO – Olive Groves of the Slopes between Assisi and Spoleto -
Plains and plateaus of Apulia — a major olive-growing territory, with extensive groves, centuries-old trees and a strong varietal identity (e.g. Coratina).
Apulia Region – Olio di Puglia PGI (information and documents) -
Hills and valleys of Tuscany — a mosaic of production areas where terrain, microclimates, harvesting and milling choices result in distinctive sensory profiles.
Olio Toscano PGI – Production and areas (Consortium) -
Coastal terraces and slopes of Liguria (Riviera Ligure) — hillside olive growing and dry-stone walls, where manual work and coastal microclimates are decisive.
Riviera Ligure PDO Consortium – The territory -
Western Sicily (Val di Mazara) — a major Mediterranean olive-growing territory, with extensive cultivated areas and local varieties (e.g. Biancolilla, Nocellara del Belice and Cerasuola).
Val di Mazara PDO – Extra virgin olive oil -
Olive-growing landscapes of Andalusia (Mar de Olivos) — a “sea of olive trees” proposed for the UNESCO World Heritage List for its historic agricultural landscapes.
UNESCO – The Olive Grove Landscapes of Andalusia · Olive Oil Times – Sea of Olives -
Aegean islands and coasts (Greece) — a mosaic of small plots and olive groves on slopes and traditional terraces.
Olive Groves and Landscapes in Greece · Landscape Change in Olive Plantations on Lesvos Island -
The Istrian Peninsula (Croatia and Slovenia) — terraced olive groves of the northern Adriatic and award-winning oils.
Why Istrian olive oil is so special · Olive production on cultivated terraces in northern Istria -
The Alentejo region (Portugal) — vast olive-growing landscapes across rolling plains, vineyards and cork-oak woodlands.
Visit Alentejo – Amazing olives and world-class olive oil -
Slopes of the Mühlviertel (Upper Austria, Austria) — an experimental territory where rising temperatures and increasing drought are encouraging research into new crops. In Gramastetten, several hundred olive trees are already growing, and a research project is assessing their potential as an agricultural crop adapted to changing climatic conditions.
ORF Österreich – Test neuer Kulturen: Oliven und exotische Kräuter -
Vineyards of the Zellertal (Palatinate, Germany) — a wine-growing territory where climate change is opening new possibilities for Mediterranean crops. In 2026, a winegrower planted around 900 olive trees of six varieties to test whether olive growing could become a new productive crop in the region.
Tagesschau / SWR – Oliven-Bäume in der Pfalz: Winzer im Zellertal startet ungewöhnliches Experiment -
Iceland – botanical and cultural interest in the olive tree — in a territory climatically far removed from the Mediterranean growing range, the olive tree is the subject of botanical and educational interest as a symbolic, resilient species of great historical and cultural value.
Kjarnaskógur – Hin evrópska olía: Olea europaea L. -
Cornwall — olive groves in a temperate oceanic climate, at the northwestern limit of the traditional growing range.
BBC News – Olive trees in Cornwall · Olive Oil Times – Olive trees take root in England · Cornish Olive Growers
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Arid valleys of northwestern Argentina (Catamarca, La Rioja, San Juan, Mendoza) — olive groves in Andean foothill valleys between 23° and 32° S.
Olive growing in the arid valleys of Northwest Argentina -
Coastal oases of southern Peru (Tacna, Arequipa, Moquegua) — historic olive groves dating from the 16th century in irrigated desert climates.
Juan Vilar – Olive groves in Peru -
Transverse valleys of northern Chile (Copiapó, Huasco, Limarí) — olive cultivation in arid valleys between the Andes and the Pacific.
Agricultural ecosystems with olive trees in the Limarí River basin · Frontiers – Olive cultivation in the Southern Hemisphere -
California (inland valleys and central coast) — the heart of North American olive research and innovation.
UC Davis – Olive Center · Olive Oil Times – Olive Production Manual for California -
Central and southern Texas and the coastal belt — emerging plantations at the edge of the growing range, with strong potential but a risk of winter frost.
Texas A&M – Texas Fruit and Nut Production: Olives -
Baja California and Valle de Guadalupe (Mexico) — one of Mexico’s main olive-growing territories, where olive trees characterize the agricultural areas of Valle de Guadalupe, Santo Tomás and San Vicente. In the country, the tree also retains a strong symbolic value, associated with peace, reconciliation and unity among peoples.
Government of Mexico – Olive production in the Coastal Zone of Baja California · Government of Mexico – The olive tree, a millenary treasure of world food -
Southern Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul) — new extra virgin olive oils with awards and geographical indications.
Invest RS – Olive oils and wines from Rio Grande do Sul -
Uruguay (Maldonado, Colonia and other districts) — small-scale production with a high proportion of award-winning extra virgin olive oils.
Olive Oil Ranking – Extra virgin olive oils from Uruguay -
Canada – the olive tree as a symbol of peace and friendship among peoples — in a non-olive-growing territory, the olive tree and its branches appear in Canadian public and institutional culture as symbols of peace, reconciliation, friendship and international cooperation.
Governor General of Canada – Tree Planting at the Grove of Nations · Veterans Affairs Canada – Shrine Peace Memorial
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Rif hills and Taounate area (Morocco) — hilly olive-growing landscapes and Amazigh villages, with traditional knowledge such as toasted “alwana” oil.
ScienceDirect – Alwana, Amazigh olive oil from the Pre-Rif -
Haouz Plain and Atlas foothills (central Morocco) — large irrigated areas where the olive tree is a cornerstone crop in rural development projects.
Olive Value Chain Analysis in Haouz Area -
Cap Bon, the Sahel and Tunisia’s major olive-growing regions — a historic Mediterranean olive-growing territory where the olive tree is also a symbol of memory, identity, resilience, peace and dialogue between peoples.
La Presse de Tunisie – L’olivier d’Echraf, vieux de 2 500 ans, exposé au Japon : voici son histoire · La Presse de Tunisie – Journée mondiale de l’olivier : l’arbre millénaire défie le dérèglement climatique -
Mountain slopes of Kabylia (Algeria) — terraced hillside olive groves, local varieties such as Chemlal de Kabylie, and a strong bond between the olive tree and Amazigh identity.
Further reading – Kabylia region -
Siwa Oasis (Egypt’s Western Desert) — a system of gardens irrigated by springs and wells, where date palms and olive trees coexist in an ancient oasis landscape.
Siwa Oasis – landscapes of palms and olive trees -
Olive-growing valleys of the Western Cape and Swartland (South Africa) — a Mediterranean climate in the Southern Hemisphere, expanding olive groves and award-winning extra virgin oils (Riebeek Valley, Swartland Olive Route).
Table Olives of South Africa – Mediterranean Western Cape -
Afromontane juniper–olive forests of the Ethiopian Highlands — a mosaic of forests and grasslands where the wild olive (Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata) coexists with Juniperus procera, providing an important resource for reforestation and sustainable management projects.
Wild olive – Olea europaea subsp. cuspidata
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Mediterranean belt of the Murray Valley (Victoria and New South Wales, Australia) — Oceania’s main production area, with large irrigated olive groves between 31° and 38° S.
Hort Innovation – Olive Strategic Investment Plan (Murray Valley) · NSW DPI – Olive industry overview -
Mediterranean regions of Western Australia (Gingin, Chittering, Swan, South-West, South Coast) — olive groves between 29.5° and 34.5° S, influenced by the Indian Ocean and producing high-quality extra virgin oils.
DPIRD – Growing olives in Western Australia · Olives WA – Main growing regions -
Coastal hills of South Australia (Adelaide Hills, McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Coast) — vineyards and olive groves in a cool Mediterranean climate, with dedicated olive-tourism trails.
Olive Trails – McLaren Vale & Fleurieu Coast · The Olive Groves – Parngutilla (Adelaide) -
Tasmania (North-West, Derwent and southern coasts) — olive growing in a cool oceanic climate, with slow ripening and complex oils at the southernmost latitudes of cultivated olive trees.
NRE Tasmania – Olive growing factsheet · Tasmanian Olive Grove – Cool climate olive oil -
New Zealand (Wairarapa, Hawke’s Bay, Marlborough, Auckland, Nelson) — small and medium-sized olive groves in a temperate oceanic climate, with PDOs and distinctive monovarietal oils.
Olives New Zealand – Industry overview · Olives New Zealand – Wairarapa growers
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