- The company plans to reach 20 million trees planted worldwide by the end of the decade.
- Only in Spain, 932,000 trees have already been planted in conservation and ecosystem restoration projects, according to Emilio Tejedor, Director of Iberdrola’s Tree Programme.
Iberdrola is committed to the conservation and restoration of forest ecosystems, which is why it created the Trees Programme, with Biodiversity and Forest Ecosystems, in 2020 with the goal of promoting the conservation and planting of 20 million trees by 2030. Since its launch, it has promoted the planting of 3.4 million trees, and by the end of the year the figure will reach five million.
“The Trees Programme has its main focus on the protection and promotion of biodiversity – where forests play a major role. But without neglecting the social aspects and the fight against climate change that it can offer. Only in Spain, it has promoted the planting of more than 932,000 trees in conservation and ecosystem restoration projects on over 900 hectares”, pointed out Emilio Tejedor, Director of Iberdrola’s Trees Programme.
In the rest of Europe, more than 457,000 trees have been planted. In this sense, it is worth mentioning the Támega hydroelectric complex (Portugal), with more than 377,000 trees; and Greece, with almost 75,000 trees planted as part of onshore wind developments.
In Brazil, in recent years, actions have been carried out in the Permanent Preservation Areas for conservation and regeneration on over 8,975 hectares and for monitoring and conservation on over 18,400 hectares. In total, more than one million trees have been planted.
Among last year’s actions, it is worth highlighting the continuation of the creation of the Biodiversity Corridor, with more than 3,000 hectares, between the forested areas of the Iguaçu National Park – PNI with the Area of Direct Influence of the UHE Baixo Iguaçu, in the vicinity of the reservoir. To date, conservation work has been carried out on 1,135 hectares and more than 110,000 trees have been planted.
In addition, work has been expanded in the development of the Corumbá and Telespires Permanent Protection Areas where more than 50,000 trees have been planted by 2023; in addition to the 54,800 trees on 56.6 hectares in the Luzia Solar Complex.
The network businesses of Neoenergia, the company’s Brazilian subsidiary, carried out forest restoration actions in 2023, planting approximately 7,200 trees of native species in São Paulo and Pernambuco, respectively.
More than 890,000 trees have been planted in the UK – mainly as part of the Kilgallioch Onshore Wind Farm (Scotland). Over 1,600 trees were planted to compensate for the land occupied by the East Anglia One offshore wind farm’s onshore cable.
In Mexico, the planting figure is close to 70,000 trees. Maintenance continued on the more than 25 hectares planted in 2019 at the La Venta III wind farm; and the 38 hectares at the Escobedo combined cycle plant (Northeast), where, to date, more than 23,500 trees have been planted at this site.
Reforestations through the volunteer programme
As part of the Global Volunteering Programme promoted in all countries, several reforestations have been carried out by volunteer employees and their families.
“Iberdrola’s social and environmental commitment is fully shared by the people who work at our company and who year after year dedicate their time to helping, contributing to well-being and social progress, as well as to preserving the environment and sustainability”, says Begoña Barberá, Head of Diversity and Social Projects at Iberdrola.
Thanks to these initiatives, volunteers have planted almost 30,000 trees in Spain, 25,000 in Brazil and more than 15,000 in Mexico. In the United Kingdom, the ‘Trees For Life’ project continues, where this year 400 trees were planted in the grove owned by ScottishPower, Iberdrola’s Scottish subsidiary. In Spain, since 2008 we have been collaborating with Fundación Lurgaia in the recovery of the native forest of Bermeo and Muxica in the Biosphere Reserve of Urdaibai, Bizkaia, with the planting of 10,000 trees of 22 different species. In Madrid, volunteers are recovering one of its largest ‘lungs’, the Casa de Campo, after the damage caused by Filomena storm, more than 4,000 trees have been planted; and in Solosancho, Ávila, more than 1,300 trees have been reforested to recover land affected by the Navalacruz fire.
In total, the company has planted 3.4 million trees to date.
Source link: https://www.iberdrola.com/
