One Million Tree Campaign pledges get a boost from Chalhoub Group

As a part of their world Environment Day 'Adopt a Tree' Campaign, green warriors from Chalhoub Group raised money to donate palms to Dubai Centre for Special Needs.

The 25 palms were planted within the school campus by enthusiastic students, Chalhoub employees, teachers' and EEG staff. An enthusiastic bunch of people came together to physically plant the palms on the hot morning. The sweltering heat did not deter the group from going ahead with the planting and along with the enthusiastic bunch of kids, they planted with gusto.

Mr. Patrick Chalhoub, CEO- Chalhoub group, EEG chairperson, Mrs. Habiba Al Marashi, Chairperson EEG - and students planted the first palm together.

The tree planting was carried for Dubai Centre for Special needs as a part of EEG's initiative to target Special schools, charity schools and government schools that would benefit from its campaign.

EEG Chairperson, Mrs. Habiba Al Marashi, said,

"EEG is proud to be the initiator of the campaign as planting indigenous trees in our urban environment will not only help with offsetting the carbon count of our daily lives, but also help in maintaining sustainable green spaces in our rapidly growing urban environment. EEG is thankful to organizations such as Chalhoub Group for lending a helping hand to EEG's Campaigns and Programmes."

Mr. Patrick Chalhoub, CO-CEO, Chalhoub Group said "In celebration of World Environment Day this year we are very proud to contribute to the One Billion Tree campaign along with the Emirates Environmental Group and the Dubai Centre for Special Needs. In addition to offsetting our carbon emissions as part of the global World Environment Day campaign , this is a reinforcement of the Chalhoub Group's commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility and environmental sustainability. Being able to involve our employees at every level and contributing to the communities that have allowed us to prosper, is our priority".

EEG is accredited to United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) governing Council. Tree planting is a part of EEG's commitment to the UNEP's Billion Tree programme, wherein EEG had pledged 1.5 million indigenous trees to be planted in UAE in the year 2007.

The One Million Tree Campaign is continuing in the year 2008, as an ongoing commitment to UNEP and the New Year has already brought together numerous corporate organisations and schools to plant trees for the latter that are committed to the cause of environmental protection and preservation. EEG surpassed its target and succeeded in planting more than 1,614,191 million indigenous trees.