Press Release - 17 March 2008

Kenyan communities working in the battle against climate change

Carbon Footprint Ltd’s Kenyan tree planting partner, ESCONET, has started preparing the ground for the next batch of trees to be planted in The Great Rift Valley, Kenya.

The reforestation initiative was placed on hold during the periods of civil unrest in Kenya at the start of the year, which claimed over 1000 lives and displaced several hundred thousand people from their homes. The communities of The Great Rift Valley are now trying to rebuild their lives and welcome the funding that Carbon Footprint Ltd’s customers have pledged to plant trees, offsetting their carbon emissions.

Mburu Waiganjo, Chairman of ESCONET, Kenya’s Escarpment Environment Conservation Network said, “The last few months have been horrendous for our people living in Kenya, but now we are trying to restore our lives back to some normality. We are planning to plant ten thousand trees over the coming weeks, and have more community members wanting to help than ever before.”

John Buckley, Managing Director of Carbon Footprint Ltd said, “We have all been deeply shocked by the atrocities seen in the news from Kenya over the past few months. Supporting this project is now more important than ever before, as these people need the support and employment this initiative offers.”

Through their work in the Great Rift Valley, ESCONET is mobilising and building the local community’s capacity to rehabilitate, conserve and protect the natural ecosystems and promote the sustainable maintenance of a clean and healthy environment.

John Buckley added, “With the funding we receive from individuals and businesses offsetting their carbon emissions, we are able to support this very worthwhile reforestation project. The project is so important, as it not only helps remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but it also provides work for disadvantaged communities, and a brighter future for orphans and people living with HIV and AIDS.”

Forests are important carbon sinks. They are often called the lungs of our planet, and now account for a third less land cover than what they once did.

Carbon Footprint Ltd helps individuals and organisations around the world to understand the impact they have on the environment and what they can do to reduce their carbon emissions. The carbon footprint calculator featured on the web site, www.carbonfootprint.com is one of the best on the internet, used by people all around the world as the first step to understanding and changing their lifestyles for the better.