Each year, more than one billion people participate in the Earth Day-related activities aimed at building a healthy and sustainable environment, address climate change and protect the Earth for future generations. Started in 1970, this designated day of April 22 has become an annual reminder of our responsibility to be good stewards of the Earth. This year’s Earth Day is focusing on the urgent need to plant new trees and forests worldwide. Our planet is currently losing over 15 billion trees each year (equivalent to 48 football fields every minute). Individuals and the nation need to get planting and help towards the global effort of 7.8 billion trees in the ground by Earth Day 2020: one tree for every person on the planet.
A tree planted today can remove up to a ton of CO2 from the atmosphere during the 40 years it takes to mature from sapling into a towering green giant. As a tree removes CO2, it also continuously returns enough (O2) to the atmosphere to support two people. Trees and forests are the most vital weapon we have against climate change. They absorb odours and pollutant gases like nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulphur dioxide and ozone, as well as filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark. Tree planting has a direct correlation to increased property values, reduced litter, higher social cohesion and a number of other social and psychological benefits.
Planting trees also helps communities achieve long-term economic and environmental sustainability. Increasingly, more people are turning to commercial forestry for its environmental and social advantages. Sustainably managed forests and plantations can be harvested to provide a profitable venture on a long-term basis. It increases foreign exchange earning potential for the country and creates new employment opportunities and economic development in rural areas.
On the Earth Day, many businesses turn their attention to issues concerning the environment and sustainability. For Sadaharitha, Sri Lanka’s leading commercial forestry company, every day is Earth Day. As a socially conscious company, Sadaharitha has enhanced the quality of life of its stakeholders through the provision of secured and sustainable investment and income opportunities that generate profits whilst safeguarding the environment.
Planting a tree provides an opportunity for people to get back in touch with the world around them and reflect on the steps they can take on a daily basis to reduce their environmental footprint. Over the years, the company has sold approximately 237466 plants to its customers. To date, the company has been instrumental in planting 279402 teak trees across 740 acres; 65020 sandalwood trees across 402 acres and 53200 agarwood trees on 133 acres thereby contributing towards a greener tomorrow.
-23 Apr 2016, Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka) http://dailymirrorepaper.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
