Go plants trees to offset CO2 effects

Go has teamed up with Nature Trust (Malta) committing itself to plant 3,000 trees in various conservation areas to help in offsetting the effect of carbon dioxide emissions on global warming.

The tree-planting initiative symbolically kicked off at Wied Għollieqa Nature Reserve near the University on Tuesday, where CEO David Kay and Nature Trust president Vince Attard planted three pines.

The event marked the second phase of Go's eco-friendly campaign, which started at the Earth Garden Festival in Ta' Qali.

In line with its drive to cut down on the carbon footprint, Go had urged customers to bring their used top-up cards - mobile, internet and fixed line - to the Earth Garden Festival last May, pledging to plant a tree for every five cards.

"Our effort at tree-planting underpins Go's commitment to sustainable development and is hugely in keeping with the principles of sound corporate social responsibility," Mr Kay said.

Mr Attard hoped other companies would follow suit to safeguard the environment for the benefit of present and future generations.

It cost €45,000 to maintain the nature reserve, which produces its own honey, carob syrup, wine from prickly pears and capers to raise funds.

Nature Trust has upgraded the indigenous tree nursery, growing local trees that were used in afforestation projects, Mr Attard said.