You may or may not have heard of Ecologi. Either way, you’re going to find this blog’s insight into their work to help achieve carbon offsetting really interesting.
At Avrion, we believe we have a responsibility not just to our customers, prospects and suppliers, but also to the environment and world around us. Our 2020 Mission Statement included the following goal:
Within 18 months, for the business and its team to be as carbon neutral / negative as we can, with as little offsetting as possible.
To achieve our carbon offsetting goal, we originally had the dream to purchase a piece of land in the UK and plant trees for each project we won. We wanted to involve our employees in the physical planting for some adventure with nature. However, getting this started proved complicated.
Cue Ecologi
Through our LinkedIn network, we saw Kyan’s post about how they had a similar wish. They had teamed up with Ecologi as a stepping stone onto their Corporate Social Responsibility path. We were inspired. After a quick chat with Kyan, we were equally convinced that Ecologi was a powerful force against deforestation. So, we signed up in April 2021 – Ecologi gave both us and Kyan 30 “sparkly” trees as a thank you.
Avrion signed up with a view to offset the carbon for all our employees. We wanted them to also feel good about making a difference. Since then, Ecologi have used our subscription to plant 1,339 trees across projects in Marotaola, Madagascar and Changalane, Mozambique (see the bottom of this page for more information on the projects). That equates to 91.84 tonnes of carbon reduction! Our Ecologi forest is broken down as follows:
We were so inspired by the difference Ecologi is making. So this year, we decided to plant trees as a Christmas gift to our customers, prospects and suppliers. For a very reasonable sum, we have purchased 2,800 trees. These will be planted in Marotaola, Madagascar to help with the world’s carbon offsetting even more!
When we revisit our Mission Statement in 2022, you can guarantee that we will be adding more sustainable goals. This is not just for the benefit of our generation, but all future generations.
If you are ready to start your journey into sustainability, please use this special link. If you sign up, Ecologi will plant 5 trees in both your forest and ours as a thank you!
2024 UPDATE: Our forest has grown to the following number of trees:
Projects
Carbon offsetting scheme #1: Marotaola, Madagascar
Ecologi’s projects in Marotaola, Madagascar are run by Eden Reforestation Projects. They are a non-profit organisation whose mission is to provide fair-wage employment to impoverished villagers, whilst working on global forest restoration. They hire local people to plant, grow and guard to maturity the trees planted through the funding. As well as restoring forest ecosystems, Eden’s “Employ to Plant” strategy results in many positive socioeconomic and environment impacts.
Mangroves are a coastal tree species that grow worldwide in the tropics and subtropics. They are particularly proficient at absorbing carbon. They store carbon in their extensive root systems underground. Carbon stored in mangrove forests is considered blue carbon because it’s stored on the coast. Mangroves also provide excellent flood and storm protection to the coastal area itself.
Ecologi’s community has supported mangrove planting in this part of Madagascar ever since their founding in 2019. It’s estimated that during the full project period they will have funded the planting of 13 million mangrove trees here. The soil of mangrove forests alone may hold the equivalent of more than two years of global emissions — 22 billion tons of carbon, much of which would escape if these ecosystems were lost.
Carbon offsetting scheme #2: Changalane, Mozambique
The other project we contribute to is the terrestrial forest restoration in Changalane, Mozambique. The village of Changalane is unusual in the region, due to its majority adult-aged population, of which more than half are women. Historically, this village earned its livelihood through agriculture and the sale of coal. High poverty rates mean the population relies heavily on its natural resources and forests for survival. The intensive practices of tree-cutting for firewood and charcoal has led to a heavily degraded environment.
The Changalane project employs 15 full-time nursery workers to plant and grow the seedlings, and 30 full-time planters from the local village. Reforestation helps provide long-term financial stability to local families, as well as restore the terrestrial ecosystem. With Ecologi’s planting partner, Eden Reforestation Projects, funding will support the planting of a projected 1 million dry deciduous trees during the project period. These trees will help to re-establish a thriving ecosystem, and planting activities will prevent further deforestation by helping to alleviate local poverty.
Ecologi’s community goals for this project are in line with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, which are to:
- End poverty in all its forms everywhere.
- Rethink how we grow, share and consume our food, providing nutritious food for all.
- Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all ages.
- Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls.
- Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth, employment, and decent work for all.
- Reduce inequality within and among countries.
- Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.
- Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas, and marine resources.
- Sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, halt and reverse land degradation, halt biodiversity loss.
- Revitalise the global partnership for sustainable development.
Further information
If you’re feeling inspired and want to reduce your carbon footprint, sign up to Ecologi here or to find out more about Avrion’s current and future sustainable goals, get in touch.
