Supporting a local restoration project to reforest the island
Project:
Supporting a local restoration project to reforest the island
Client:
Financial service provider
Destination:
Iceland
the goal
- Corporate responsibility takes place on many levels and includes not only social but also ecological dimensions. Given the evidential effect that mankind has had on climate change, being active in environmental protection today is an immensely important contribution that can be made by companies and their employees.
- Given this, our client travelled to Iceland. The natural forests of the island have been greatly affected by the many active volcanoes, the harsh climate of the North Atlantic and most importantly, by humans. This has led to erosion and desertification. The team wanted to take on this challenge and support the local “Hekluskogar” restoration project, assisting in the reforestation of the region around volcano Hekla. In this area, the forests are increasingly threatened by erosion and volcanic ash.
the content
- Idea
Originally, a third of Iceland was covered by birch forest. In the ninth century Norwegian settlers arrived and required the trees for building and firewood. The fragile tree population has never recovered. To make matters worse, trees only grow 20 cm a year during their first five years due to the low temperatures and long periods of darkness. For about a hundred years, the Icelanders have been attempting to reforest their island. In the last decade alone, the wooded area of the island has doubled: about one percent of the total area is now covered by forest again.
Our client took part in this mammoth task, part of the existing renaturation project, by planting 10,000 seedlings in one “action” day.
- Implementation
- The team of forty people were already deeply impressed by the Icelandic landscape and assured of the importance of their mission as they drove to volcano Hekla. Upon arrival, the group split into four teams, these consecutively took care of the planting and fertilization of the seedlings, the care of the helpers and finally the preparation of the final handover ceremony. The requirement of planting 10,000 seedlings in only six hours spurred everyone on to maximum performance, so that by the end all seedlings were fertilized. At the end of the day, there was a traditional hot dog barbecue cooked over the campfire with a certificate ceremony for the participants.
- Along with the reforestation effort, we created a varied supporting program. Highlights included a round trip to visit Iceland’s most beautiful natural sites as well as a spontaneous whale watching experience.
- With the day of action, our client made an important contribution to the sustainability and reforestation of the region, and has developed a sense of the necessity for conservation and respectful management of our planet.
- Those who have tried to repair the damage done to the environment by mankind with their own hands, automatically experience a change in perspective. By taking on this exhausting task together, the mutual respect within the team flourished. The participants had the privilege of taking this gratifying feeling home with them and it will surely stick with them for a long time to come.
