Emirates Environmental Group, in collaboration with Standard Chartered Bank, celebrated the beginning of the new academic year by planting 20 indigenous trees in Al Sufouh Secondary School for girls on Thursday, under the aegis of EEG's Million Tree Campaign.
The students and faculty at Al Sufouh School joined by EEG executive committee member, Ms. Sara Baker and SCB employees planted the trees in the school yard, while other attendees engaged in informative discussions with the students.
EEG Chairperson, Mrs. Habiba Al Marashi, said that the ideal way for EEG to begin its activities this academic year is by organizing a tree planting activity in Sufouh School as it is important to encourage students to plant trees in their environment. This, in turn, will have a significant impact by cleansing the air and providing a healthy school environment to help students excel and achieve.
Mrs. Sara Baker, EEG's executive member said: "EEG's One Million Tree Campaign aims to complement the urban environment and also combat the spin–off from human activities. Planting indigenous trees will not only help offset the carbon count of our daily lives, but also provide a cleaner, greener future for the next generation as UAE has witnessed an upsurge of growth and development in the past few decades with the desert habitat undergoing a sea of change. While the city line has witnessed the tallest and most breathtaking buildings, this rapid development has left a dearth of green spaces. Thus, planting and nurturing trees is necessary to strike a balance in the environment".
EEG is accredited to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) governing Council. The Million Tree campaign is a part of EEG's commitment to the UNEP's Billion Tree programme, wherein EEG had pledged one million indigenous trees to be planted in the UAE by the year 2007. However, it has surpassed its target by planting more than 1,618,493 indigenous trees till date.
