Paul Bibby
Ethical search engine Ecosia will use every cent of its profits today (January 23) to fund tree-planting in areas affected by the Mt Nardi bushfire.
For the next 24 hours 100 per cent of the profits from Ecosia searches will be counted towards the reforestation of native, subtropical trees, which will be undertaken by Australian tree-planting organisation ReForest Now.
Assessment of semi-tropical rainforest affected by fires is already underway and Ecosia’s tree planting of more than a hundred native species will begin next month.
Based upon daily search volumes, Ecosia predicts it will be able to fund the planting and restoration of at least 20,000 trees, with the help of users around the world, and it is hopeful the number could be much higher.
The project will involve the planting of over 100 different tree species and 450 different plant species, which Ecosia says will make the area more resilient against future fires, increase rainfall, sequestering carbon and naturally clean the air.
‘As an Australian living overseas I have followed the fires of the last few weeks with horror,’ Hannah Wickes, CMO of Ecosia, said.
‘This new project allows us to plant trees that will not regenerate naturally following the devastating fires, it will also prioritise native and endangered species under threat.
‘We’re hoping for a record day of searches so we can overshoot our target of 20,000 trees substantially. This would allow us to build forest corridors that connect remaining patches of rainforest.’
Ecosia will announce the exact number of trees due to be planted on Friday, 24th January.
Locals in the Byron Shire and surrounds will be able to join tree planting community days in the coming weeks.
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