Banyan Tree Corporate Headquarters Marks Start Of 10-Year Greening Communities Programme

Singapore, 17 April 2007 – In 1994, Banyan Tree Phuket rehabilitated an abandoned toxic tin mine, turning Laguna Phuket into a lush tropical lagoon now widely recognised as one of Asia’s most awarded destinations. True to the guiding ecological philosophy of Banyan Tree, the Singapore-based group today has taken its first step to tackle global carbon emission issues by introducing its 10-year Greening Communities Programme.

The Programme aims to offset a significant amount of carbon emissions created by resort operations and guests’ international travel through planting trees.

In a simple ceremony today at a nature park in Bukit Timah, a group of 14 associates from Banyan Tree Corporate Headquarters gathered to break ground for the first 10 trees to be planted. This symbolic initial batch is the first instalment of a total of 2000 trees that will be planted by Banyan Tree Corporate Headquarters associates before year-end. The two-metre tall saplings of Elaecarpus Mastersii planted today were chosen because they are native tropical species that will thrive in Singapore’s secondary rainforests.

The planting takes place in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Billion Tree Campaign, featuring the Burnt Tree exhibition launching on 18 April 2007; the Global Business Summit for the Environment taking place from 19 to 20 April 2007; and ahead of Earth Day which falls on 22 April 2007.

Says Michael Kwee, Banyan Tree Group’s Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility, “Greening Communities is a programme we are enthusiastic about, both internally to bring about conservation awareness to our own associates, as well as externally to send a strong message. Each native tree we plant supports not only the local natural biodiversity but also helps our planet cleanse human-caused pollutants from the ecosystem. We will also work to ensure our efforts achieve greater impact than simply adding 2000 trees in each location per year for the next decade.”

Greening Communities
Over the next 10 years, Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts across the globe will plant 2,000 trees per year per resort throughout the local communities of their operational sites. This group-wide programme strives to offset a significant amount of carbon emissions created by resort operations and international travel thereby help to sustain the long-term future of the industry and global community.

Banyan Tree Lijiang, Banyan Tree Bangkok and Banyan Tree Bintan have already begun their 10-year Greening Communities responsibilities in their respective communities.

Planting Trees As Global Lungs
Banyan Tree is not just a participant but also an innovator in the bid to reduce and reverse environmental degradation. While the 1980s saw the threat of rainforest loss and effect on global air quality, and the 1990s presented the hazard of depleting ozone layers, the new millennium offers the highest level of alert yet with the accumulated effects of climate change. Trees have grown increasingly important not just as the foundation of natural living systems but also as carbon sinks to absorb the effects of modern living.