HSBC Commit to change

Tree for You Afforestation

The Tree for You project is a tree planting campaign in Malta, begun in 2005 and pledging to plant more than 10,000 trees per year for a total of three years over five locations.

HSBC has supported the campaign with a nearly US$190,000 donation, including more than US$46,000 per year beginning in 2006 for the Xrobb l-Ghagin area – providing funding for 20,000 trees and three sites. One of these sites will include an educational centre, a research centre, a dormitory and a rehabilitation centre for wild animals, birds, dolphins and turtles. HSBC has also seconded an employee to the Ministry for Rural Affairs and the Environment to work on the campaign.

In past centuries, the natural vegetation and animal habitats of Malta were removed to make room for increasing agricultural needs of human habitation. Previous reforestation initiatives have been undertaken, but never with a concerted effort and have often introduced alien species into an already fragile habitat. The Tree for You campaign is unique in that it is backed by many different aspects of society and aims to increase awareness of the issues and engage the community in the project. In addition to involving school children and volunteers in the actual planting of trees, anyone can buy a tree through the campaign’s website. These can be given as gifts, memorials, or for a celebration.

In 2006, 16,000 trees were planted by the Tree for You campaign.