Egy turista naplementekor a mexikói tengerparton sétál és a távolban megpillant egy hajolgató alakot. Elsétál odáig és azt látja, hogy egy helybéli ember egyesével szedeget valamit a homokból. Nem bírja megállni szó nélkül, hát megkérdezi:
- Elnézést, uram! Maga mit csinál?
- Visszadobom a tengerbe az apály miatt a parton ragadt tengeri csillagokat, mert elpusztulnak, ha nem jutnak vízhez.
- De hiszen ennek semmi értelme! Több ezer van ezen a részen és ugyanez a helyzet a part további szakaszain, jó pár kilométer hosszan. Mindegyiket úgy sem tudja megmenteni.
A mexikói erre lehajol , felvesz egy tengeri csillagot a homokból és mosolyogva azt mondja:
- Ennek az egynek azonban nagyon nem mindegy.
ImperiTREE - the first saplings of the Imperity forest
Imperity Professional Milano ltd. considers sustainability a matter of its heart, that’s why we decided in 2022 to:
- to switch the recipes of all our products to be vegan, and
- change the virgin packaging of the products to recycled ones, gradually, brand by brand.
We are making good progress with this project, but at the same time we want to do even more for Mother Earth - for the benefit of the generation that will grow up after us -, that is why we participated in a joint tree planting program of MyForest in voluntary work on March 18, 2023.
Thanks to the decision of the UN General Assembly, people around the world commemorate the importance of forests and trees every year on March 21 from 2013. With the support of 193 member states, this date was designated as the International Day of Forests.
In honor of the International Day of Forests, four of our small team set off on a bright spring Saturday - by the company's electric car /charged with Imperity's solar panel system (!) / - to volunteer the MyForest Foundation's reforestation program in Kerekharaszt, project Nr. 2. Hungary.
The planting of free-rooted trees is ideal from October to April: we planted pedunculated oak, black oak, and other native species, as well as wild plums and wild cherries under the leadership of MyForest organizer and team leader Gábor Csikász.
It was nice to see that many other volunteers besides us dedicated their weekend free time to charity for the sake of the sustainability of our Earth.
We learned a lot of interesting things from Gábor Csikász about trees, the forest, and the tricks of planting, but also about why he and his foundation consider tree planting and afforestation to be an important mission - we fully agreed with his thoughts.
"In Transylvania it was used, when a small child was born, the father planted also a tree, and the 2 saplings grew together. This beautiful and usefull habit should be renewed, so that every small child has/could have a „tree- brother”, because the tree produces oxygen for the child, the child can sit next to him, and if appropriate, the child can take care of the tree himself." [8]
History: On the Kerekharaszt-2 plot of land, work began already at the end of autumn 2022 (the 3.6-hectare area was fenced with a wildlife protection net, acorns were sown in most of the area and native rare mixed species were planted)
In the spring of 2023, we planted free-rooted oak saplings in the rows left out of the area the previous fall, and we also planted the rest of the native rare mixed species with stakes and trunk protection netting.
Did you know? Every year, the world consumes approx. Losing 10 million hectares of forest, almost the size of Iceland [1]
Why are trees and forests important to humanity?
I/Because trees and forests play an important role in regulating climate change.
Forests play a major role in regulating the climate: they influence the quality of precipitation, cool urban areas, and absorb a third of greenhouse gas emissions.
The leaves of the trees bind the carbon dioxide content of the air, from which they produce oxygen with the help of water and photosynthesis. The canopy also helps filter out harmful substances, such as dust, soot, and oil derivatives sticking to its leaves.
The shade of the trees can cool your environment by up to 6 degrees thanks to the evaporation of the plants. But trees not only cool you with their evaporation but also with their shading. It gives shade to the walls in the summer and serves as a windbreak in the winter.
Thanks to the air layer between the leaves, it effectively reduces environmental noise. The forest edge also serves as a sound wall. It absorbs the noise of cars and is much better as a sound insulator than a brick wall. Its surface is uneven, soft, and flexible, it absorbs sound rather than reflects it back.
It serves as one of the natural drains of flash floods because the roots of the plants absorb the water, which the plants then utilize in their canopy.
The roots of trees also absorb the vibrations caused by vehicles, thus protecting our buildings: rows of trees and rows of trees between the roadway and the sidewalk divert the vibrations caused by heavy vehicles away from technical facilities and houses, thus preventing plaster collapse and wall cracks.
The forest reflects the climate of the area, by sequestering carbon dioxide, temperate forests have the effect of reducing global warming. The forest retains moisture and makes the flow of the rivers more even.
II/ Because trees and forests are essential for the health of people and the planet
The forest provides everything a person needs and can have. Meats, spices, fruits, and berries without chemicals or genetic manipulation: the forest is full of pure flavors and aromas. Fruits quench thirst and nourish. The root, stem, bark, leaf, flower, and fruit have many medicinal effects.
The various colors of the plants and their blossoming are a source of recreational experiences and refresh the heart and soul. The simple sight of trees can also make us feel calmer, happier, and more creative. This is also due to the essential oils - phytoncides* - emitted by the trees, which lower blood pressure, reduce stress, raise the pain threshold, and help in the production of anti-cancer cells.
*= Phytoncides are antimicrobial organic compounds that grow and are produced. The word was coined in 1937 by Dr. Boris P. Tokin, a Russian biochemist at the University of Leningrad.
Today, the forested area of our country is more than 2 million hectares, in 1920 it was only 1.1 million hectares. Hungary's forest cover is increasing every year [6].
III/ Because trees and forests provide shelter, food, and fiber.
The natural forest has a set of native species suitable for the place of production, and the natural processes taking place in the forests prevail freely in it.
It provides a permanent living space for the entire spectrum of forest species and communities typical of the area and enables their further evolution (Bartha and Gálhidy 2007).
It responds well to changes in environmental conditions, and as a result, is relatively stable, and all phases of forest development can be seen continuously in action.
Due to its diversity, it can regenerate despite changing environmental conditions [4].
In addition, they provide livelihood, raw materials for medicines, food, and shelter [5].
Trees serve us even after death: they accompany us as building structures, doors and windows, furniture, tool handles, kitchen equipment, cradles, and coffins (that is, throughout our lives).
We can listen to them as instruments when we are sad and when we are happy.
If we are cold, we can warm ourselves with their flame.
In the forest, the fallen, dead tree gives thousands of living creatures the opportunity for new life. Even when alive, it serves as a habitat for insects, reptiles, birds, and mammals. In the old days, even people lived in den of the tree in times of need.
2023.04.18.
