Over the last two years, we've been building futures, in more ways than one.
Our 'Planting Futures' campaign has been a huge success. We've planted 196,578 trees over a two year period, and we're delighted to announce that we smashed our two-year tree planting target, reaching 109% of our goal for 2021/22.
Why did Morrisby initiate the Planting Futures campaign?
Our work involves looking into the future, to help people map their path towards a fulfilling and rewarding future. This cannot be done in isolation and it is clear that climate change poses a threat to our way of life in years to come.
By playing our small part in tackling the situation we hoped to more than negate our carbon emissions. More importantly, we can show by example that it is both desirable and possible for businesses to operate on a zero-carbon or even a negative-carbon basis. If other businesses were also able to find a way to achieve this goal, then the worst impacts of climate change could be averted.
Why did Morrisby choose trees?
We chose to plant trees for a number of reasons. Not only did the theme of planting and growing resonate with our ethos of helping people grow their own futures, but trees themselves bring with them a multitude of benefits for our planet...
Climate
Climate change is more prominent than ever before, and we need to do our part in mitigating its effects.
Trees help cool the planet by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. A mature tree can absorb an average of 21kg of carbon dioxide per year, locking it into its trunks and branches. As they grow, trees also release oxygen into the atmosphere, making them a powerful tool in the fight against climate change.
In cities, trees can reduce ambient temperatures by up to 8° Celsius; they also provide shade and habitats for a plethora of animals, making cities a healthier, safer place to live.
Health
Trees help clean the air we breathe and filter the water we drink. They absorb harmful carbon from the atmosphere and were the original source of the key ingredients in many medicines. The most commonly used drug in the world, Aspirin, originally came from the bark of the willow tree.
Jobs
Forests provide jobs to over 1.6 billion people worldwide. Since Morrisby concentrates on the careers of future generations, it's important that we appreciate these roles and the social benefits they bring to communities across the globe. Preserving careers in forestry and agriculture is important to us.
Ecosystems
Forests contain 60,000 different tree species, 80% of amphibian species, 75% of bird species and 68% of the world's mammal species, according to the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre.
It's absolutely crucial that we don't lose this biodiversity otherwise we risk losing both plant and animal species that are vital to our existence. Protecting forests is key to this.
How we've planted so many trees
We partnered with One Tree Planted - a non-profit organisation that is dedicated to global reforestation.
For every Morrisby Profile completed during 2021/22, we made a donation to One Tree Planted, which resulted in one sapling being planted in a location of our choice.
Since 2014, One Tree Planted has planted an incredible number of trees and we're proud to be contributing to their fantastic initiative.
Where we've planted our trees
We all share the single atmosphere and all benefit from the tree planting projects around the globe. Nevertheless, we felt it fitting to support those near our main areas of operation, the UK and Australia.
Scotland
We supported a project by The Borders Forest Trust to help restore native habitat in the Wild Heart of Southern Scotland. The goal was to reforest 1,800 acres of land between Talla Reservoir and Gameshope in order to reverse the effects of deforestation from centuries ago.
The severe impacts of clearing and livestock grazing have meant that this area of land cannot rely on natural regeneration to recover. By planting trees here, native woodland will be restored, once again providing quality habitat for wildlife and recreation benefits to local communities.
This project is part of a larger landscape ecological restoration effort that seeks to restore over 3,100 hectares of land in Scotland.
Australia
The South West is a biodiversity hotspot; tall native forests of Jarrah, Kauri and Eucalyptus trees blanket this corner of Australia.
Our project was part of an effort to restore habitat. We supported a project around Toolibin Lake where some 33,615 seedlings were planted. Located in Wheatbelt, Western Australia, this wetland offers important habitat to a number of migratory birds.
In 2021, One Tree Planted committed to planting over 500,000 trees in this special region of Western Australia, including areas that were impacted by the Black Summer bushfires.
What do Morrisby's efforts mean for the environment?
Since 1990, approximately 420 million hectares of forest have been lost through conversion to other land uses. The trees we've planted will help to repopulate some of this space, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality and increasing biodiversity.
Each tree will absorb, on average, around 21kg of CO2. With the expected survival rate of 85%, that means 1,650 tonnes of CO2 will be taken out of the atmosphere each year.
Coupled with the other carbon reduction policies within Morrisby, including far less travel and more efficient IT infrastructure, Morrisby is net carbon negative after two years of planting.
Whilst these benefits continue to build, we will seek to reduce our carbon emissions even further, helped by our IT partners moving to 100% renewable energy.
We're proud to be making a positive impact on the environment and we'll continue to work towards sustainable solutions in the future.
Thank you to everyone who has supported our Planting Futures campaign over the last two years by completing a Morrisby Profile. We are excited to see what projects we will be able to support in 2023 and onwards and continue in our pledge to do what we can to protect our planet!
