“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now”. Centuries later, this ancient Chinese proverb is more current than ever. In fact, even just a single tree can have a beneficial effect on the environment and communities who live nearby.
Taking this teaching to heart, in December 2019 Telespazio and e-GEOS decided to take the way of sustainability, and to work with Tree-Nation to plant 6,500 trees near the village of Sai, in the Maharashtra State, in India
After the stop imposed by the lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, tree planting was completed in recent months over an area of about two hectares of land that belongs to the local government, and included sapling lemon, Java plum (Syzygium cumini) and Indian Beech (Pongamia pinnata) trees.
Besides making up for about 2,200 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year, this reforestation task will have a positive impact on the entire local ecosystem. The trees will increase the land's capacity to hold water and, besides warding off floods, will help to re-establish underground water basins.
In addition, the presence of more trees will reduce erosion and washing out of the soil, and will provide a safe habitat for all local bird species.
But the forest will also have a positive impact on the local community, who will have the fruit available to them - like lemons and Jambul, the Java Plum - as well as other forest products.
Love Planet Earth: a global commitment
Telespazio's and e-GEOS's project, along with Tree Nation, is part of the Group's larger commitment to promoting sustainability, and is associated with the Love Planet Earth project launched by Telespazio in 2007. Over the years this has led to the producing of a calendar, exhibitions, and videos that deal with safeguarding the environment.
The 12th edition of the Love Planet Earth calendar, produced in 2020, is dedicated to our planet, of which the beauty, criticalities, and delicate balance between man and nature, are highlighted using satellite images. On the occasion of the 2020 edition, the calendar was produced using eco-friendly materials and recycled paper, and 6,500 copies were printed, with as many trees being planted, thereby limiting the impact of our activities on the environment even more.
It is precisely the satellites images used in the calendar that provide us with a privileged viewpoint of our planet, and that show all the changes taking place on the ground, whether they be natural or caused by man. These provide the ideal link between our everyday activities and understanding and safeguarding of the environment.
By way of our involvement in programmes like Copernicus, the European Commission's and European Space Agency's (ESA) constellation of Earth Observation satellites, or the geoinformation services we provide in the field of safeguarding our seas, fighting fires or deforestation, our business is closely associated with sustainability, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on the UN's 2030 Agenda, taken to heart by the entire Leonardo Group.
It is precisely our involvement in the SDG that gave us greater conviction in implementing numerous initiatives to limit the Company's impact on the environment.
Last year, for example, the Telespazio Group has began plastic free and done away with the consumption of plastic at all its Italian and foreign plants. At the same time, we are introducing electric or lower environmental impact company cars into our fleet.
Our long-term goal is to be a responsible, sustainable company: to do so we put our planet and safeguarding it at the centre of all we do.