HSBC Vietnam plants forest in Cat Tien
BAT – Vinataba JVC sponsors seedlings for reforestation in Cao Bang
By Hoang Vy - The Saigon Times Daily
HCMC - HSBC Bank (Vietnam) Ltd. (HSBC Vietnam) has partnered with Cat Tien National Park to begin a long-term reforestation project to help fight climate change.
Over the next three years, the bank will contribute to a fund of nearly VND900 million to plant 10,000 trees on 22.5 hectares at the park in Dong Nai Province.
The first batch of 3,300 trees were planted last Saturday. Three hundred HSBC staff will participate in three field trips annually to implement the project.
Once complete, the 22.5 hectares of forest is expected to absorb over 150 tons of carbon dioxide each year.
Four species of trees, namely afzelia xylocarpa, sindora siamensis, hopea odorata and dipterocarpaceae planted in the area will also provide a natural habitat for animals and birds and help maintain the original ecosystem.
In addition, HSBC credit card holders can also take part in the program by either registering to switch from paper to e-statement or earn reward points for trees they pay to plant from August 15. Customers will have their name tags hung on the trees they donate as a symbol of recognition.
* British American Tobacco (BAT) - Vinataba JVC on Tuesday handed over more than 220,000 acacia and eucalyptus seedlings, worth nearly VND115 million to farmers and plantation units in Cao Bang Province.
This was the second round of seedling handovers under BAT – Vinataba JVC’s program to support tree planting and greening in 2010 with over 2 million seedlings worth VND1 billion given to five provinces of Dong Nai, Tay Ninh, Gia Lai, Cao Bang and Lang Son.
Tree planting and greening is a long-term program of BAT – Vinataba JVC to respond to Vietnam’s Government’s call to protect and conserve forests in the country.
Also, on the occasion of the Year of International Biodiversity and to promote the 2010 sustainable development strategy of BAT Group, BAT – Vinataba JVC since 2010 has collaborated with Earthwatch, a non-government organization to implement “Biodiversity” in Vietnam.
The “Biodiversity” program researches species diversity, genetic resources, ecosystems and strategies to protect ecosystems for the sustainable development. The program, initially implemented in Gia Lai Province’s IaPa District, is expected to extend to other areas, including Krongpa, Gia Lai, Tay Ninh, Lang Son and Cao Bang.