After planting a total of 6.6 million trees, or 73 percent of the target, as of 2018, the Aboitiz Group announced that it is on track to reach its 9 million trees goal by 2020.
The target is part of the group’s Simultaneous Tree Planting initiative. STP is under A-Park, its largest environmental program that supports the Department of Environment and Natural Resources’ Expanded National Greening Program.
The planting of nine million trees by the end of 2020 would mean the conversion of an estimated 189,000 tons of carbon dioxide (tCO2) into oxygen or the equivalent of about 9,000 hectares of lush reforested areas, or more than 37 times the size of Bonifacio Global City.
In time for the celebration of World Environment Day on June 5, Aboitiz and DENR signed a Memorandum of Agreement to renew their partnership to sustain ecological balance.
“I express my heartfelt thanks to Aboitiz Equity Ventures and Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. for teaming up with the DENR once again for the attainment of nine million trees under the A-Park Project by 2020,” said DENR Secretary Roy A. Cimatu.
“It is heartening to know that working towards your corporate objective would also mean addressing poverty alleviation by engaging the services of the local people in forest activities like seedling production, plantation establishment, and maintenance and protection, among others,” he added.
Aboitiz Equity Ventures, Inc. executive vice president and chief operating officer Sabin M. Aboitiz reiterated the group’s commitment to DENR’s programs.
“We strongly believe and adhere to the DENR’s mandate to protect the environment and we anchor our initiatives to the ENGP to sustain ecological balance. Our enduring partnership with the DENR for community-based forest management is a testament to our shared responsibility and highlights our contribution to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal on Climate Action,” said Aboitiz.
Since 2010, Aboitiz team member volunteers have gathered in chosen planting sites in various parts of the country to plant indigenous trees.
In July, an estimated 95,000 seedlings will be planted by Aboitiz team members and stakeholders nationwide.