Thumbs up to a sustainable initiative!

My Tree in Africa - has been introduced to give flying travellers the chance to offset the carbon impact of their flights and do some good in the South African communities. As the anticipated surge of visitors to South Africa arrive for the World Cup next year, My Tree in Africa will plant trees in under-privileged communities to provide shade and fruit, as well as sink the flight-associated carbon emissions.

Half a million visitors are expected for the 2010 Soccer World Cup, and this initiative is probably the only chance airline passengers will have to offset the impact of their travel. Each tree distributed to a community costs R90 and travellers can easily figure out the impact of their trip by using the ‘calculator’ on the My Tree in Africa site – www.mytreeinafrica.org . They can then feel good about flying to Africa and about “owning” a tree or two on the continent as well.

Trees absorb carbon dioxide, are a source of food, restore wildlife habitat, protect water quality, enhance public areas and this project creates jobs. Flying is one of the fastest growing causes of global warming - the average long haul flight produces 1.4 tonnes of carbon per passenger. One tree offsets four hours of travelling and every indigenous tree planted in South Africa absorbs in excess of 500kg of carbon during its lifetime.....so start planting!!