Campus Digest

200 green volunteers plant 500 saplings to offset carbon emissions

31 Mar 2014

{{currentSlide}} / 3
Around 200 volunteers support the No-waste Low-carbon Tree Planting Day
The fact that 260 adult trees are needed to offset each person’s annual carbon emissions reflects the importance of tree planting to the environment
The younger generation contributes to the tree planting activity

About 200 BU GreenieS (BUGS) volunteers joined hands to plant more than 500 saplings in Mui Wo on Lantau Island during the “No-waste Low-carbon Tree Planting Day” held recently, with the aim of offsetting 10 tons of carbon emission annually.

According to the Global Forest Watch website developed by the World Resources Institute, large tracts of woodland had disappeared in Lantau Island due to construction activities and there is now a forest loss alert classification on the area. In view of this, BUGS organised the “No-waste Low-carbon Tree Planting Day” enabling the family members and friends of the HKBU community to lower the adverse effects of global warming by planting trees. Professor Albert Chan, President and Vice-Chancellor of HKBU, and Mr. Andy Lee, HKBU Vice-President (Administration) and Secretary also participated in the tree planting activity.

One of the BUGS volunteers said, “By participating in this event, I learnt that a tree takes a long time to grow, and it would take one year to absorb 23 kg of carbon dioxide. However, a person eating 1 kg of beef would cause 27 kg of carbon emissions. Therefore, on average we need 260 adult trees to offset each person’s annual carbon emission in Hong Kong. This reminds me to cherish our resources and spread the important message of how everyone can help to combat global warming by reducing our carbon footprint.”