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Plant Indigenous trees to mitigate the impact of climate change and offset your carbon emission

100 trees were planted by Emirates Environmental Group at Mushrif Park – Dubai, on the 20th May 2010, under the banner of “My Tree in Dubai” program.

10 trees sponsored by Union Properties were planted at Jumeira Model School – Dubai, on 23nd May 2010.

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. 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 was to encourage individuals, communities, organizations and governments to plant 1 billion trees worldwide by the end of 2007.

"We have a short time to avert serious climate change. We need action. We need to plant trees. Countering climate change can take root via one billion small but significant acts in our gardens, parks, countryside and rural areas." - Achim Steiner, Executive Director United Nations Environment Programme

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. 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 Million Tree Campaign provided one such channel for positive and reinforced action. The Million Tree Campaign aimed to pledge and plant 1 Million trees in UAE in 2007. 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.

The year 2010 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 2010 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.

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.
 

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
 

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!

1. in one year, an average tree inhales 12 kilograms (26 pounds) of CO2 - explore our planet.

2. 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

“For more information on UNEP’s Billion Tree Campaign, please click here”