Planting for the Planet.

CO2 emissions created by flying are perhaps one of the most important issues facing us today.

Airlines are working on the problem. Recent technical and operational progress has increased airline fuel economy per passenger mile by over 60%. Unfortunately, the increase in air traffic has more than wiped this progress out.

In the UK alone, it is predicted that aviation passenger journeys will increase from the present 180 million a year to 476 million by 2030.

It is generally accepted that every time we fly we contribute to global warming.

A passenger from the UK to Australia is responsible for more CO2 emissions than the average African in his or her lifetime.

Planting trees helps to neutralise the carbon emissions created by flights.

Although planting trees is not the complete solution to global warming, it goes a long way - and it’s something we can do now.

If everyone did this, then the damaging effects of flying would be reduced and it could be a major step in slowing down climate change.

Planting trees via Flying Forest is a simple, inexpensive way to redress the damaging effect of a flight.

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Conservation and Communities.

Conservation.

When Flying Forest plant trees, we try wherever possible to plant those trees which are indigenous to the region and thereby help to maintain and restore the bio-diversity of the area. In this way, not only do the trees take up CO2, but they’re also good for other wildlife, from tiny insects to large animals.

Planting and maintaining trees also helps to prevent land erosion, a major problem in many parts of Africa, and one which contributes to increased damage to people and the environment when flooding occurs.

Communities.

In many rural areas, women and children have to do much of the work in collecting firewood and growing crops. Flying Forest looks at ways in which to assist in reducing as much as possible the burden on women and children, initially by reducing the distance they have to walk to collect firewood, but also by looking at other programmes which can bring them an income from the trees through relevant agro forestry activities.

Flying Forest is also concerned about the devastation which has been caused by HIV/AIDS throughout Southern Africa. One of the major consequences of this is the dramatic and terrible increase in the number of orphans with no homes and no support. Flying Forest is developing programmes which can bring income through agro forestry activities to schools and orphanages and thereby helping, in a small way, to alleviate the problems.