For Our Emirates We Plant 2018

Published on February 14, 2019

EEG launched its Million Tree Project in 2007 as a response to UNEP’s Plant for the Planet-The Billion Tree Campaign.By 2010, EEG managed to plant over 2 million indigenous trees within the UAE.The campaign in 2018 took place on 18.12.18 under the patronage and presence of H E Engr Shkh Salem Bin Sultan Bin Saqr AlQasimi,member of the Government of Ras Al-Khaimah Executive Council and Chairman of the Department of Civil Aviation,in the Emirate of Ras Al Khaimah at a Sidr reserve in Ras Al Khaima

• To follow the legacy of H.H. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, late President of the UAE and one of the strongest environmentalists in the world; • To encourage all sectors of the society to take steps to combat Desertification, Climate Change and Global Warming; • To instil environmental ethics in the publics’ mind and create a powerful association between tree planting and positive actions for sustainable development; • To enable students to understand the benefits of trees and transform that understanding into a sense of responsibility; • To divert waste from landfills; • To implement habitual, long term recycling; • To promote volunteerism, civic responsibility in the society and Corporate Social Responsibility amongst organisations 1. Waste Management Programme a) Neighbourhood Recycling b) One Root, One Communi-tree c) Your Can For a Tree d) Green Call e) Recycle. Reforest .Repeat 2. Together We Plant 3. Adoption of Trees As the UAE is situated in the arid west continent desert belt of the Southeast region of the Arabian Peninsula, it is highly susceptible to various factors of an arid ecosystem such as water, soil, climate, vegetation, natural resources and biodiversity. Some of the gravest environmental challenges facing the UAE today are desertification, land degradation and the basic lack of fresh natural water sources. However, it has been established that tree planting is considered to be one of the most cost effective and environment friendly options to counter these issues. Project-wise breakdown of planting: Neighbourhood Recycling Project: In 2018, 85 trees were planted, which on maturity, will sequester 1.8 metric tonnes of CO2 annually. One Root, One Communi-tree: In 2018, 306 trees were secured by various entities and were planted on 18th of December. These trees on maturity will sequestrate 6 metric tonnes of CO2 annually. Your Can For a Tree: 12 trees were planted by the participants who deposited the minimum required quantity of Aluminium Cans under this project. These trees on maturity will sequestrate 0.2 metric tonnes of CO2 annually. Recycle, Reforest, Repeat: The 2018 participants who achieved their targets were all eligible to plant a total of 228 trees under the umbrella of this campaign. Together We Plant: In 2018, EEG collaborated with partners to plant a total of 100 trees across 3 schools in Abu Dhabi and Dubai. Thus, by the end of December 2018, a total number of 2,096,702 indigenous trees were planted. EEG has several plans in the pipeline to increase the impact and scope of this programme. EEG has has reached out to several of its active members to increase the impact of this Campaign. We would continue to invite private sector organisations and stakeholders to come on board through sponsorship and partnerships to further increase the sustainable green spaces in the UAE. We had initiated a couple of similar activities in schools in Bahrain and the Sultanate of Oman a few years back and we are confident that with the right partnership, we can also expand this wonderful campaign to other Arab countries that are in need to promote forestation, counter desertification and promote active sustainability.