SIBUR’s volunteers and partners planted over 3,200 pine trees saplings in the forest of Tomsk
16 may 2022
On May 14, Tomsk hosted a pine sapling planting campaign held as part of the Forest Formula, a project implemented within the framework of SIBUR's Formula for Good Deeds social investment program in cooperation with Tomskleskhoz and Tomsk Oblast’s Forestry Department.
A total of 45 people, including SIBUR’s own employees, their family members and students of TSU’s Biology Institute, took part in the eco-initiative. Thanks to the volunteers’ efforts, more than 3,200 pine seedlings were planted resulting in an additional 1 hectare of new forest.
For Tomskneftekhim, as for all other SIBUR enterprises, taking part in environmental projects and generally caring for our country’s natural resources and their replenishment, being involved in reforestation efforts and committed to the reduction of our environmental impact, have always been top priority objectives. They are incorporated at the top level into the company’s Sustainable Development Strategy. But it would be impossible to implement this agenda just through the company's efforts alone. That is why we find it extremely important and valuable that our projects bring together so many diverse people and organizations and that they resonate with our staff members, Vladimir Pleshkov, general director of Tomskneftekhim, noted.
Prior to starting the planting, the staff at Tomskleskhoz put on a master class for the participating volunteers to demonstrate the appropriate planting techniques and explain how to avoid damaging the saplings’ root system and ensure they take root. In the fall of 2022, the survival rate of the young pine trees is going to be assessed to help develop a care plan for the areas where previous tree planting campaigns had taken place.
This was our first experience being volunteers as a family. When we received an invitation to join the campaign, we grew very interested. As a family, we had always wanted to take part in an environmental campaign and the saplings planting event gave us the opportunity to help the Tomsk forest, Sergei Lipovka, head of logistics at Tomskneftekhim, commented.
As a follow-on to the tree planting campaign, every participant was invited to take part in the #Plant-a-Tree eco-challenge that will run through May 22, 2022. To participate, one would need to plant a tree, take a photo or make a video, and post it on VKontakte under the hashtags of #PosadiTree (Plant-a-Tree) and #VolonterySIBURa (SIBUR’s Volunteers), inviting their followers to repeat this feat of kindness and good will.