BANGKOK—Six Senses Resorts & Spas, a globally recognized leader in the field of sustainable tourism, is to create one of the largest reforestation projects in South East Asia as part of its commitment to the fight against climate change. The company has partnered with the PATT Foundation to plant more than 200,000 trees per year in the Chiang Mai region of northern Thailand. The project represents a multimillion dollar commitment by Six Senses over the next decade and beyond.
The project will mitigate an estimated 160,000 tons of CO2 annually by replanting 200 acres of forest every 12 months. Between 20 to 30 different species of tree will be planted. The scheme follows the Framework Species Method of Forest Restoration, which is designed so that birds and mammals, attracted to the plots, bring with them the seeds of many other forest trees. This encourages the establishment of a forest with the widest possible biodiversity, rather than a mono-type plantation.
The commencement of the project coincides with the UN International Year of the Forest.
Ambitious 2020 Goal
“Deforestation is still one of the main causes of climate change so the International Year of the Forest couldn’t have come at a more important time,” said Sonu Shivdasani, CEO & chairman of Six Senses Resorts & Spas. “Six Senses’ support for the Chiang Mai reforestation project underlines our commitment to becoming a decarbonizing company by 2020.”
Rainforests act as a giant sink of CO2 by sequestering vast quantities of carbon. Around 15.5 million hectares (38 million acres) of rainforest are cut down each year. Reforestation projects reduce carbon in the atmosphere and are effective long term options for carbon sequestration. Well-managed forests can replace lost habitat to improve biodiversity and provide social economic support for communities.
Six Senses is working with local communities in Chiang Mai and the company hopes that their input will play a vital role in the long-term success of the project. It is hoped that the region will become a vital sanctuary for endangered species from across South East Asia.
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