EANS-News: Lenzing launches sustainable reforestation project in Albania
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Reforestation of 20 hectares of degenerated land in North Albania
Company Information
Lenzing/Shkroda - As part of its sustainability strategy "Naturally positive",
the Lenzing Group strives to ensure an intact environment and the protection of
forests as an important part of the ecosystem. Against this backdrop, Lenzing
initiated a project in Albania designed to promote sustainable forestry and
improve local living conditions. As a best practice example, 20 hectares of
degenerated land will be recultivated with forest and fruit trees in cooperation
with the local population and various NGOs. Moreover, concepts for sustainable
forestry will be developed with local schools.
Zwtl.: Important measures benefit Albanian forests
Albania's forest areas rank among the European regions with the most extensive
room for improvement. New approaches to manage the forests are necessary in
order to effectively cope with environmental problems and to fulfil the current
needs of society with respect to the sustainable use of natural resources.
Lenzing is supporting this process with this reforestation project. In this way,
it is moving ahead with implementing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of
the United Nations to which the company is committed.
"Lenzing has longstanding experience in responsible wood sourcing and extensive
forestry expertise. This project shows that the Lenzingers passionately stand up
for the viability of trees and forests and champion the interests of people
above and beyond their daily business and fiber production. The idea for this
project at this site came from Lenzing's wood procurement team. Our forest
experts have underlined the important role reforestation can play, especially in
this area", says Robert van de Kerkhof, Chief Commercial Officer of the Lenzing
Group.
The project launched by Lenzing is being co-financed by the Austrian Development
Agency, which brings together Albanian and Austrian experts as a means of
improving forest management skills, enabling an exchange of know-how among
vocational schools and revitalizing degenerated land in Albania.
"We very much appreciate Lenzing's decision to be actively involved in Albania.
The objective is to support local communities and work together to deal with the
problem of deforestation in Albania as well as to promote an exchange of know-
how between Austrian and Albanian schools", states Simone Ungersböck, Head of
the Office of the Austrian Development Agency (ADA) in Albania.
Zwtl.: More than 3,000 trees planted
There is a great need to take action in the Ana e Malit region in North Albania.
50 percent of the official forest areas do not contain any forest vegetation.
The results are erosion and annual floods, which in turn make life hard for the
local population, who primary earn a living from agriculture. For this reason,
3,660 fruit, deciduous and conifer trees were planted in the western part of the
Municipality of Shkodra at the foot of the Tarboshi Mountains and in close
proximity to the Buna and Drni rivers. In addition, erosion protection measures
were installed such as stone walls and double fences.
Zwtl.: Cooperation with local communities and NGOs
Within the context of the project, the local community will be actively involved
in the process in order to ensure a comprehensive transfer of knowledge. The
pupils at the Forest School of Shkodra will actively take part in the entire
process as a means of learning more about reforestation. Employees of Eco-Social
Farm, a facility for people with disabilities located directly below the
reforestation area, will take care of the irrigation of the seedlings.
Furthermore, an interdisciplinary cooperation will be carried out with the
Austrian school in Shkodra. The reforestation project will serve as the basis
for the diploma thesis of the pupils there. In turn, this will contribute to
sustainably raising the awareness of pupils and the general public with respect
to current challenges in forest management.
The project underlines the commitment of the Lenzing Group to promoting
sustainability and enables the company to establish best practice examples for
the industry and at the same time to learn for future projects and similar CSR-
related activities.
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Further inquiry note:
Filip Miermans
Vice President Corporate Communications & Investor Relations
Lenzing AG
Phone: +43 664 84 77 802
E-Mail: f.miermans@lenzing.com
Angelika Guldt
Sustainability Communication
Lenzing Aktiengesellschaft
Phone: +43 7672 701-2735
Mobile: +43 664 6112266
E-Mail: a.guldt@lenzing.com
end of announcement euro adhoc
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issuer: Lenzing AG
A-4860 Lenzing
phone: +43 7672-701-0
FAX: +43 7672-96301
mail: office@lenzing.com
WWW: http://www.lenzing.com
ISIN: AT0000644505
indexes: WBI, ATX
stockmarkets: Wien
language: English