Earth Day | Banyan Tree Global Foundation

Earth Day

Banyan Tree and Angsana properties are pleased to celebrate Earth Day on 22 April 2010 for the fifth year running. We welcome guests, local community stakeholders and the company's associates to join in for complimentary activities at each of our locations around the world. Come experience our engaging activities as they help raise awareness of sustainable tourism and environmental conservation, even while getting to meet like-minded people - all connected under the familial, green shade of the Banyan Tree.

Banyan Tree Al Wadi

An adventure beckons at the newly opened Banyan Tree Al Wadi, which incorporates a Nature Reserve into its grounds. On 22 April, be one of the first to find out how many gazelles and oryx have been re-introduced to this nature reserve in the desert of Ras Al Khaimah, and how Banyan Tree's global philosophy of sustainability led to this latest venture.

Our environmental officers are on hand to guide you through the Activity Centre, Falcon Mews which will re-introduce local falcons to the wild, and the Khan Zaman ('back in time') trail in true Bedouin style. The walk includes a rare glimpse into the survival of desert animals, as visitors read animal tracks leading to the animal watering hole were 22 native ghaf trees will be symbolically planted. The day ends in inimitable Middle East hospitality, at the Saffron restaurant terrace overlooking the watering hole and desert sunset, enjoying a special selection of cocktails and canapés from the resort's chefs.

Banyan Tree Bangkok

On 20 April, Banyan Tree Bangkok will hold a cocktail event in its Grand Ballroom, where various stakeholders will be displaying their work to improve the environment around Bangkok. Participating partners include WWF, Think Earth Foundation, the local Sathon district board, and the World Heritage Site of Kuiburi National Park.

In this event, Banyan Tree Bangkok announces their 2010 activities, which include the continuation of the Greening Communities tree planting programme in and around Bangkok; efforts to preserve the Kuiburi National Park as a habitat for 200 Thai wild elephants, and the launch of a 12-month resource saving competition for the schools in Sathon district.

Banyan Tree Bintan

Banyan Tree Bintan partners with Angsana Bintan to take the kids out of school for a great cause of Greening Communities. In the morning of 22 April, associates from both resorts will bring over 50 participants comprising school children, government agencies, guests and associates, to Sungai Kecil to plant a total of 3000 much needed mangroves to replenish the land.

In the afternoon, scientists from the National University of Singapore will join our Conservation Lab Manager and other guests on a snorkeling safari to discover the common corals and fish that live just offshore from the property. Heading towards evening, guests may browse the nature display at the Conservation Lab open house before an environmental talk at Santai Deck, complete with refreshments.

Banyan Tree Hangzhou

Opened in December 2009, the gracefully designed Banyan Tree Hangzhou in China is strategically located in the Xixi National Wetland Park, a ‘living water park’ that has paved the way for the establishment of fish ponds and reedbeds, and reintroduction of 270 biological specie such as persimmon, mulberry, bamboo, willow and camphor trees.

To celebrate the resort’s first Earth Day on 22 April, local media, business partners and resort guests will gather for a fish releasing ceremony, where 5000 fish fry of Crucian, Chub and Herring species obtained with the help of the local Forestry Bureau will be released into the wetland canals surrounding the resort. Guests will learn about the importance of these native fish, which help to keep the waters clean and control the growth of algae, while also reducing the local mosquito population. The resort will also introduce its ongoing environmental programmes, in keeping with the strict ecological guidelines surrounding the Xixi Wetlands – ensuring that this space of natural diversity remains intact for future generations. The ceremony will be followed by a cocktail gathering to thank participants for showing their care.

Banyan Tree Lijiang

Banyan Tree Lijiang is no slouch when it comes to Greening Communities tree planting. Its goal to plant a total of 20,000 fruit and olive trees over a period of 10 years, has seen immense benefit to the community who harvest and sell the fruit. On 22 April, guests first participate in tree planting before being invited to a candlelight cocktail during lights-out hour.

Associates also get into the spirit of the event with a ban on internal email on 22 April, and instead will exercise walking and talking more to their colleagues in the camaderie of raising awareness of resource conservation and other environment issues.

Banyan Tree Mayakoba

Banyan Tree Mayakoba has based its Earth Day appreciation on the Mayan principle of sacbe white road), which historically connected temples, cities and other sacred sites. Banyan Tree Mayakoba’s 22 April sacbe will take guests through an ecological-cultural tour that includes the Mayan gum tree legacy, indigenous handicrafts, and the redeveloped art of xunan kab (Mayan beekeeping). During this interactive sampling tour, guests can observe first-hand the making of traditional gum and sweet melipona honey direct from bees, whilst learning the techniques of sustainable hotel operations and receiving a Mayan handicraft souvenir of their Earth Day journey.

Banyan Tree Ringha

An early morning start on 22 April at Banyan Tree Ringha sees a total of 2000 trees being planted throughout the day, as willing hands pitch in to plant 500 trees around the resort, and another 1,500 in the surrounding community. Trees and timber are a scarce resource in the Yunnan plateau, and our Greening Communities programme assists to place more trees where they are needed to replenish the land.

A fascinating Shangri-la Cultural Trek is conducted in the afternoon, accompanied with guides, local villagers, guests, partners, and all interested participants, with an eye to scooping up any thoughtlessly discarded litter in the pristine highlands. As a reward for the hearty work of the day, the event culminates in a Shudugang Cocktail Party offering a healthy menu from the resort’s chefs, and a photo album of the day’s meaningful activities, signed and commented on by its participants.

Guests will be further delighted with a special turndown gift on the night of 22 April, as they receive a small clay pot with soil and pine seeds as a souvenir of holding the earth of Ringha.

Banyan Tree Seychelles

Banyan Tree Seychelles, located in one of the most spectacular natural islands of the world, is ideally placed to be a custodian of the social and physical environment. An Earth Awareness Cocktail on 22 April serves to bring together interested parties, community members, guests of the resort, associates, local schoolchildren and other stakeholders for an evening of reflection and celebration.

Partners include the well known Marine Conservation Society of the Seychelles (MCSS), who conduct turtle conservation programmes on-site at Banyan Tree, and the local Takamaka Community Centre and National Counsel for Children, who are invited to display stands of their activities for visitors to peruse at La Varangue Bar area.

Banyan Tree Ungasan

Join us at Banyan Tree Ungasan for two special events, as the resort celebrates its first year of operations.

First is a whale and dolphin watch on 15 April, to kick off the resort’s ongoing cetacean programme in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature. The following day, guests can then view the oceans from Banyan Tree Ungasan’s watch deck to spot whales and dolphins in the ocean.

On 22 April, participants will take part in the resort’s first Greening Communities tree planting programme by planting of disappearing indigenous species such as the Bali frangipani, yellow bamboo, and Indian sandalwood. Get hands for a good cause, as these plants will benefit local villagers who regularly utilise such flowers and fruits for their upakara (religious) ceremonies.

Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru

Together with sister resort island Angsana Ihuru, Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru celebrates Earth Day on 22 April with local schools through a poster exhibition, inviting schoolchildren on the capital island of Malé to share their work of art with in-house guests. As resorts in the Maldives are generally isolated from local island life, this is a rare opportunity for visitors and local children to interact and learn from each other where it involves our shared environment.

The Marine Lab team on Vabbinfaru will also be conducting coral planting sessions throughout the day, for guests to participate in the Lab’s mission to bring about coral recovery, which in turn helps protect the islands of the Maldives from tidal damage and erosion.

Angsana Bintan

Angsana Bintan partners with Banyan Tree Bintan to take the kids out of school for a great cause of Greening Communities. In the morning of 22 April, associates from both resorts will bring over 50 participants comprising school children, government agencies, guests and associates, to Sungai Kecil to plant a total of 3000 much needed mangroves to replenish the land.

Angsana Ihuru

Together with sister resort island Banyan Tree Vabbinfaru, Angsana Ihuru celebrates Earth Day on 22 April with local schools through a poster exhibition, inviting schoolchildren on the capital island of Malé to share their work of art with in-house guests. As resorts in the Maldives are generally isolated from local island life, this is a rare opportunity for visitors and local children to interact and learn from each other where it involves our shared environment.

Angsana Riads Collection Morocco

Sensitive to the needs of women who are divorced or widowed in Morocco, Angsana Riads Collection Morocco has partnered with a welfare association to bring about a day of cultural awareness on 22 April. Women from the association will be invited to Angsana Riad Si Said to set up stands showcasing their 'life working', from sewing, crafting tea glasses, carpet work and more. Guests, associates and interested participants are invited to meet the women and get a glimpse of their lives and work.

A separate Arabian Lunch Buffet is also prepared on the charming Roof Top of Angsana Riad Si Said, in conjunction with the event. In this al fresco affair, guests, business partners, members of the media and other associates enjoy a casual ambiance as they participate in a presentation on CSR and how to be more involved.

Deer Park Hotel

Associates, friends, family and guests at Deer Park Hotel are undeterred by the challenge of Greening Communities tree planting in the under-privileged areas of Sri Lanka. Partnering with the Central Environment Authority, various government agencies, schools and community groups, our merry band of tree planters will aim to root 1000 to 1500 young trees into the ground in the district, for the enjoyment and benefit of community members.