BDO has partnered with the East African Wild Life Society (EAWLS) to plant 5,000 Red Cedar trees in the Aberdare Forest Reserve, in Kenya,
At the end of last year, thousands of BDO employees from around the world came together online in a virtual event, designed to bring the whole organisation together to recognise inspirational stories from colleagues worldwide, after another year of pandemic related challenges.
The topic of sustainability was a common thread throughout the event, driven by the company’s commitment to support the goal of Net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 or sooner, along with our Global Public Policy Committee (GPPC) peers, with whom we joined the Net Zero Financial Service Providers Alliance (NZFSPA) in September 2021.
In line with the organisation’s support for the fight against climate change, the decision was made to offset the carbon emissions from the event via the tree planting initiative. On 13 January, Trond-Morten Lindberg, BDO's Regional CEO EMEA, accompanied Sandeep Khapre, Regional CEO of BDO in East Africa, to a ceremonial tree planting ceremony. The ceremony cements BDO’s partnership with the EAWLS and their commitment to the regeneration of the Aberdare Forest Reserve, an important water catchment area for Kenya. The 5,000 donated trees will be planted in April 2022 during Kenya’s rainy season and will play a vital role in restoring biodiversity, whilst providing jobs to people from the surrounding communities.
Trond-Morten Lindberg firming soil around a newly planted Red Cedar seedling at the inaugral tree planting event in Kinale Forest, Kiambu County.
Trond-Morten said, “What started out as an idea to ensure that a BDO event held in December 2021 was carbon neutral has evolved into an initiative with an impact that will be felt for many years. When they reach maturity at 10 years, these trees will sequester 109 Metric tons annually of carbon dioxide (CO2), and represent our commitment to sustainability now and in the years to come.”
Established in 1956, the EAWLS is one of the oldest membership-based, public benefit conservation organisations in East Africa, with a mission to enhance the conservation and sustainable use of the environment and natural resources in the region. Sandeep Khapre, Regional CEO for BDO in East Africa, says that BDO chose to partner with the EAWLS due to the tremendous progress it has made in complementing the government’s reforestation efforts.
Nancy Ogonje, Executive Director, East African Wild Life Society and Sandeep Khapre, RCEO, BDO in East Africa during the project launch
To find out more visit: https://swara.co.ke/eawls-and-bdo-east-africa-form-tree-growing-partnership/