The concept behind an auction is competing in order to acquire a desired object at any price. It is also the “laqta” acquisition of a unique, original, and priceless object.

Ibsar’s ‘planting trees’ auction has redefined the objectives of what an auction is; it is no longer about a thing to possess. Rather, it promoted the ‘invaluable’ desire to plant trees all over Lebanon. The ‘objects’ for sale were trees, identified by their names and their specificity. The ‘lots’ were divided and priced according to the number of trees, set at 10,000L.L, matching the cost of growing a small tree. The ranged from 50,000L.L. to 1,000,000 L.L.

Unlike usual auctions, the trees (objects) paid for, were neither seen nor possessed. They surely bore the name of the ‘acquirer,’ who would have to take a trip to the village or the city where they were being planted in order to see, but not own, them. Ibsar keeps a reliable record of kind and number of planted trees.

The trend of ‘possessing’ is defeated in this auction since it only means to fulfill the desire to restore, conserve, and [why not] embellish the environment.

The pleasure o f bidding is not mitigated in the process. On the contrary, bidding for a  ‘dream come true’ heightened the experience. Some of the bidders were experiencing an auction for the first time. The thrill of bidding higher than the opponent and sometimes ‘acquiring’ the lot was multiplied by the fact that no object was acquired.

The only remaining objective was to fulfill the desire to participate and sponsor tree planting.