How we are going to plant a million trees
10 DKV principles for forest restoration and against climate change
We know that there is no single solution for mitigating climate change. Most of the needed actions, such as transforming the energy sector, carbon taxes or changes in diet and mobility, require political will, private sector commitments and financial resources.
But, we also know that restoring natural forests is a positive climate mitigation strategy, given its potential to capture carbon, as well as creating habitats to alleviate the biodiversity crisis.
Mitigating climate change
Restoring forests and preserving existing forests can help reduce the CO2 accumulated in the atmosphere by more than 25%.
According to the 2019 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), if we continue to pollute at the current rate, in 12 years the effects on the global climate will be irreversible.
We do not only have to reduce and stop greenhouse gas emissions, but also remove the carbon accumulated in the atmosphere in order to mitigate global warming.
Science-based forest restoration
DKV Seguros defines the technical principles and requirements that the plantation of "One million trees" will follow based on the current scientific knowledge. The DKV initiative aims to contribute to climate mitigation by promoting forest restoration projects, but not in any way. We work with forest ecology research centres to ensure the suitability and feasibility of our plantations.
10 dkv principles for reforestation and forest restoration
1
The restoration of natural forests is a strategy with a multiple purpose: climate mitigation, habitat recovery and provision of ecosystem services.
2
It is also just one more action within the scope of the strategies for mitigating climate change and not a single solution.
3
We understand restoration in its broadest sense: in terms of new plantations and the preservation and management of pre-existing forests.
4
We prioritise the long-term resilience of forests and the landscape in which they grow, ensuring an appropriate distribution and management of pre-existing, spontaneously appearing and newly planted forests.
5
We prioritise the recovery of ecological functionality at a stand scale.
6
We prioritise the recovery of ecological functionality at a landscape level.
7
We work with a model of complex landscapes and agroforestry mosaics in order to prevent large fires from spreading and to favour the diversity of habitats and species.
8
We employ advanced reforestation techniques, when selecting locations, species and seedlings as well as when applying planting techniques that guarantee survival, to the extent possible.
9
Whenever possible, we involve the stakeholders (scientists, conservationists, landowners, farmers and livestock breeders, public administrations, etc.) when making decisions on management and conservation.
10
We work with experts to guide the restoration actions, specifically the Centro de Investigación Ecológica y Aplicaciones Forestales (CREAF-UAB).
Evolution of the plantations
We are transparent. Some trees grow, others don't. We have not only planted trees, we have also restored the ecosystem with shrub. There are even spaces where we collaborate with forest management as a tool for restoring the ecosystem.
Explore the temporary evolution of our projects with satellite images.