Plant Indigenous trees to mitigate the impact of climate change and offset your carbon
 
EEG is pleased to announce that its entire tree planting activities in the UAE is in support of UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign

FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT, PLEDGE TO PLANT A TREE!

• History of the Billion Tree Campaign
• EEG's One Million Tree Project
• Get involved: Pledge a Tree
• Carbon Footprint
• The importance of Trees in the UAE

History of the Billion Tree Campaign

The idea behind the billion tree campaign was inspired by Professor Wangari Maathai, an environmental campaigner, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate for 2004 and founder of Kenya's Green Belt Movement. Planting more than 30 million trees throughout Africa since 1977 in an attempt to reverse the effects of deforestation, Green Belt has grown considerably. When Professor Wangari heard about a corporate group who were planting a million trees, Wangari's response to them was "That's great, but what we really need is to plant a billion trees" This casual comment led to the creation of 'Plant for the Planet.' In November 2006 at the annual climate change convention conference in Nairobi, the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP) officially launched the plant for the planet project as 'Billion Tree Campaign.' Backed by Wangari, His Serene Highness Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco and the World Agro forestry Centre - ICRAF, the aims and objectives of the project is to encourage individuals, communities, organizations and governments to plant 1 billion trees worldwide by the end of 2007.

EEG's One Million Tree Project

The year 2007 marked the Year Of the Tree for the United Nations Environment Programme.  It officially launched the Plant for the Planet project as ‘Billion Tree Campaign’ which aimed to encourage individuals, communities, organizations and governments to plant one billion trees worldwide by the end of 2007.

In support of the billion tree campaign, EEG (an accredited member of UNEPs governing council) pledged to plant 1 million trees throughout UAE by the end of the year 2007.

The pledge was in step with EEG’s policy to combat global warming and mitigate the impact of human actions on the environment. It is proven beyond doubt that global warming and the associated climate change has been the one resolute factor that has played a key role in the recent series of worsening weather patterns all over the world. Rapid urbanization, dependence on fossil fuels, deforestation as well as the trend towards consumerism has contributed to the climate change phenomenon.

It is therefore imperative to recognize the burgeoning issue of climate change.

The multitude of actions, by individuals and organizations alike, to undertake positive steps towards mitigating  and adapting to the climate change phenomenon has gained precedence in the last couple of years.

EEG’s One Million Tree Campaign and provided one such channel for positive and reinforced action. The One Million Tree Campaign aimed to pledge and plant 1 Million trees in UAE. Held under the patronage of HE Dr. Mohammed Saeed Al Kindi, this unique campaign aimed at creating a sizeable increase in the number of sustainable green areas in UAE and mitigating carbon emissions.

Individuals, corporate organizations and educational institutes were offered the unique opportunity to pledge indigenous trees with the UNEP One Billion Tree Campaign, through EEG. An overwhelming outpouring of support has seen the campaign grow from strength to strength.

By November 2007, EEG successfully met and surpassed its target and by the end of the year 2007, EEG pledged and planted over 1.6 million trees all over UAE.

Sizable among the pledges were 1,457,000 trees from the Emirates Heritage Club-1,31,958 trees from the Dubai Public Parks and Horticultural Department, 15,393 trees from Dubai Industrial City and 2,950 trees from the Sharjah Municipality. 41 schools in UAE pledged over 4000 trees and individuals came forward to pledge more than 1000 trees.

Under the aegis of UNEP, the programme is continuing in the year 2008.

The year 2008 asks a lot of questions about how in tune with nature the current lifestyle really is. In the jet-setting era, the carbon count of day to day actions would hold profound significance for the future. The year 2008 is the year to act. Planting an indigenous tree would help balance the carbon count of the atmosphere and help mitigate some of the repercussions of the ‘modern’ way of living. As an old saying says, ‘A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step’- EEG’s One Million Tree Campaign is one of its many steps towards a better and sustainable environment in the UAE.

Get involved: Pledge a Tree

As part of the billion tree campaign, EEG's aims and objectives is to provide information about the campaign and to show you how you can help to make a difference by pledging to plant a tree this year. The campaign offers you the chance to get involved in one of the following ways:

Pledge to plant a tree in your back garden / school / university.

Buy a 1 meter plant for your apartment.

If you would be interested in donating funds that can be used to purchase and plant a tree on your behalf please contact EEG at eeg@emirates.net.ae or Tel 04 344 8622

Looking for a place to buy a tree or plant? The Dubai Garden Centre on Sheikh Zayed Road sells a wide range of flowering and fruit trees and house plants.

Carbon Footprint

The carbon footprint calculator is a measure of the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) emitted by our individual lifestyles. By measuring our carbon footprint we can offset our emissions by planting trees which will absorb CO2.

Carbon Footprint Calculator

Proposed Trees for Planting

The types of trees that should be planted are trees that are indigenous and those which can stand the salinity and scarcity of water in the region. Below are the list of suggested trees as follows:

a. The Ghaf tree (Prosopis cineraria)

b. Yasar (Moringa peregrina)

c. The Farfar Tree (Teccomella undulate)

d. Cassia senna (Cassia acutifolia)

e. Date palm (Phoenix dactyifera)

f. Neem tree

g. Sidra

The importance of having Trees in the UAE

Trees are important for a variety of reasons, offering numerous benefits for mankind, wildlife and the environment. They provide raw materials, food, medicine, shelter and shade and can prevent erosion, produce oxygen and help combat global warming by absorbing CO2. Their beauty adds diversity to the world's natural landscape. Over the past thirty years the landscape in the UAE has been greatly transformed. Inspired and supported by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan vast areas of desert have been replaced by lush parks, greenery, rows of trees and man made forests. This legacy of greening the desert lives on, highlighting the fact that the environmental, social and economic advantages of tree planting clearly outweigh any disadvantages.

Interesting facts about trees!

• In one year, an average tree inhales 12 kilograms (26 pounds) of CO2 - explore our planet.
  
• Trees can increase the residential property value by 15% or more - explore our planet.
  
• According to a study by FAO, the date palm in the UAE produces 5.9% of the worlds dates -The Economic Importance of Date Production and International Trade

REDUCE                  RE-USE                 RECYCLE

For more information on EEG's Million Tree Campaign or recycling contact EEG on Tel 04 344 8622, Email eeg@emirates.net.ae or visit us at villa no. JMR 68, Jumeirah -1. Between Dubai Zoo and Beach Centre.

TOGETHER FOR A BETTER ENVIRONMENT