[News Article] Korean Air grows forest in Mongolia
Korean Air grows forest in MongoliaBy Mun So-jeong, The
Korea Herald - Korean Air, the nation’s largest carrier, has planted over
125,000 trees in Mongolia's desert areas over the past two decades as part of
its environmental, social and corporate governance efforts. Since May 2004,
under the “Global Planting Project,” over 100 Korean Air employees have flocked
to Mongolia to plant trees in Baganuur, a district in Ulaanbaatar with the
country's largest open-pit coal mine. Baganuur district
was barren and covered with a thick layer of coal dust blowing from the mining
area -- obviously not a suitable area for growing trees. Adding to its dry
climate and accelerating desertification, even the local residents raised
doubts about Korean Air’s tree planting project. “There was nothing;
only barren desert,” said a Korean Air official who visited Baganuur in 2004,
the first year of the project. Nevertheless, Korean
Air employees visited Mongolia for nearly two decades. The tree planting
project in Mongolia even became a mandatory overseas training session for new
employees in their second year at Korean Air. They started by
growing trees that can survive in arid regions, including poplar trees, sea
buckthorns and Siberian elms. By cooperating with the local government and
experts, Korean Air also built irrigation systems for a stable supply of water
to the forest. Their cumulative
efforts have now formed a lush, green forest with 125,300 trees, about twice
the size of Yeouido Park in Seoul. The official name of this forest is “Korean
Air Forest,” and it is now home to insects, birds and small animals. The Korean Air
Forest also works to block harmful dust blowing from the coal mine areas into
other local neighborhoods. Containing essential
vitamins and minerals, sea buckthorn berries grown in this forest are also
distributed to the local residents. As an excellent
example of an eco-friendly volunteer activity, the Korean Air Forest received
an environmental award from Mongolia's Ministry of Environment and Tourism in
2009. Korean Air is
looking forward to expanding its Global Planting Project by growing another
forest nearby, the company said. Following its
efforts to improve the environment, Korea's No. 1 carrier is now contributing
to the development of the local community in Mongolia by donating computer labs
to seven public schools and providing medical services. Source: http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230903000164
2023.09.05
>
>
