Source: ESR
Staff from ESR’s Kenepuru Science Centre north of Wellington called a spade a spade last week as they came together and planted 300 native seedlings in nearby Tawa’s Woodburn Reserve – an enduring and positive mark of their time at ESR.
Over ten staff members took part in the event, which was arranged by ESR’s Sustainability Committee together with local nature conservation group Friends of Tawa Bush. ‘Science for communities’ is ESR’s vision, and what better way to give back to the local community than by staff rolling up their sleeves and planting native trees that will beautify the area for generations to come?
“It was great to connect with staff from across ESR and to share passion for reducing our carbon footprint, and to help re-establish native vegetation,” says Dr Kristin Bohm, who was one of the event’s key organisers.
Most Kiwis probably don’t think about trees too often, but the ecological value they bring our motu is huge – they shore up land prone to erosion while being one of the simplest methods of capturing carbon and reducing pollution in the air we breathe. And native trees provide homes for our unique birds like tūī and kerurū, while giving people shade on sunny days.
“Now more than ever we need to think about our impact on the environment, especially off the back of the recently-released landmark Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s AR6 Climate Change 2021: The Physical Science Basis(external link) report that paints a stark picture of our planet’s health.
“Although planting 300 trees won’t solve the world’s problems, it’s a step in the right direction and underscores that we are rolling up our sleeves at ESR: not just talking about climate change but working to address it and engender sustainability among our whānau,” Dr Bohm says.
