Scouts Launch Carbon Credits Centennial Challenge

MEDIA RELEASE

Scouts Launch ‘Carbon Credits’ Centennial Challenge

16 May 2007

Scouting New Zealand is to launch a ‘Carbon Credits – Tree Planting Challenge’ to Scouts in each of its five regions throughout the country, to mark the Movement’s centennial year.

“We are asking Scout Groups across each Region to plant a minimum of 100 trees this year to mark our centennial. What makes it more of a challenge, is working out what the carbon credits will be on all the trees planted this year. It is difficult to work out exactly, but we are aiming to contribute a clean-up of 100 tonnes of carbon dioxide through this challenge,” says Geoff Knighton, CEO of Scouting New Zealand.

According to Roman Jacques, a Sustainability Scientist from BRANZ, “The amount of CO2 sequestered by a single tree varies with geographical location, soil type, rainfall, the species of tree and its age and health. A large tree has the capacity to clean up to one ton of CO2 during 20 years of its life.”

On this basis, Scouts aim to contribute the environmental equivalent of 100 tonnes’ of carbon credits. “Planting 100 trees is certainly achievable and when you consider the CO2 weight equivalent of say, 83 motor cars, 32,000 Auckland telephone directories or even 20,000 old style video recorders, it highlights that what we do really can make a difference,” says Mr Knighton.

This year Scouts are liaising with Regional, District and City Councils as well as the Department of Conservation to provide support for Arbor Day activities, on 5 June.

ENDS

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