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Planting Trees? As a flooring company? You might think we’re mental, and we just might be, but since the start of 2024 we’ve been thanking our 5-star reviewers by planting a tree in their honour as part of our efforts to combat CO2. It’s an effort that started within the company in 2023 as we started to expand quicker than ever. There’s a lot we’re doing internally as a company, and the trees are one project we’ve made public.
But less about us, more about the trees – we’re planting forests in Kenya, and this is why:
Kenya, a large East African country, is located between Lake Victoria to the west and the Indian Ocean to the east. Its capital, Nairobi, serves as a significant regional commercial hub. The Kenyan economy relies heavily on agriculture and tourism as primary sources of external revenue.
Food security and poverty remain critical development challenges in Kenya, with approximately 36% of the population living below the poverty line.
In the Mau Region, local communities face numerous difficulties, including limited access to fresh water, poor road infrastructure, and inadequate educational facilities. The Mau Forest, which contains many rivers feeding into Lake Victoria, plays a vital role in the lives of millions of people.
Since the 1970s, deforestation in this region, driven by the need to support agriculture, charcoal production, and livestock, has led to significant land degradation. Combined with recent droughts, this deforestation has caused severe hydrological damage throughout the local watersheds, further exacerbating the challenges faced by the communities.
Planting Partner
As a flooring company, we don’t have the connections to be able to just plant mangroves wherever we like. We’re working with Ecologi, who’ve teamed up with Eden Reforestation Projects. Eden employs local people to cultivate, plant, and protect trees until they reach maturity, and they get their funding through companies such as ourselves and others that are working with Ecologi. This approach not only helps restore forest ecosystems but also brings multiple socioeconomic and environmental benefits through Eden’s “Employ to Plant” methodology.
What We’ve Planted So Far
This project is where most of our trees have gone so far. We’ve planted 33 Acacia Kirkii, they can grow up to 18m tall and can be used as firewood, they can be used to treat wounds or to treat dysentery or make tea. Interestingly this type of tree can form a symbiotic relationship with other plants where these smaller plants can latch on and use the nutrients in the tree!
We’ve planted 20 Vachellia xanthophloea, also known as the Fever tree was said to cause fevers by early pioneers in the people living close by, however this was incorrect and it was the fact this tree grows well in swampy environments which also happen to be great breeding grounds for mosquitos. It grows to over 25 meters tall. It grows fast, up to 1.5m per year in good conditions which make this tree an awesome candidate when trying to pull in CO2 from the atmosphere.
We’ve planted 77 Bruguiera gymnortiiza, another mangrove! We’ve planted quite a few of these in other places but we love them because our mission is mainly CO2 based, and these bad boys grow up to 35m tall and they grow wide, making them a brilliant CO2 capture tree! The wood can be used for firewood or for building, it can be made into tools, the bees love it and you can even eat its fruit.
We’ve planted 25 Croton megalocarpus, which is an awesome tree again for CO2 capture as they grow quickly and can shoot up to 36m high! They provide a bunch of shade which also helps with wind protection and soil conservation. The leaves are also great sources of nitrogen which make amazing fertilizers for plants too.
We’ve planted 79 Dodonaea viscosa, also known as Hopbushes. These plants grow quickly and like to stay around 5m tall and their flowers are loved by bees and other wildlife, helping support local farmlands.
We’ve planted 39 Dombeya torrida, a fast growing tree that can grow to 15m and grows easily, helping restore forestland easily and is often considered a “Natural Pioneer” in reforestation projects.
We’ve planted 30 Juniperus procera, a huge type of tree. It can grow from 25-40m tall and can get a trunk diameter of 2m. It’ll be a strong staple in the reforestation attempts and is a huge carbon store!
We’ve planted 20 Maesopsis eminii, also known as the Umbrella Tree. It’s a fast grower, up to a whopping 30m tall and is a perfect candidate for forestland!
We’ve planted 65 Olea africana. The wood smells like bay rum, it grows up to 15m tall, it produces edible fruit which has medical benefits and the wood is highly sought after for fine furniture. They’re great additions to the forest!
We’ve planted 34 Podocarpus falcatus which are evergreen trees that grow up to 45m but has been known to reach 60m! The trunks themselves can be up to 3m wide and this makes it a brilliant option for reforestation and for CO2 capture!
We’ve planted 42 Trilepisium madagascariense which grow up to 30m tall and are well known for helping a growing forest thrive. It produces fruit and even the seeds can be roasted and eaten. The wood is suited to furniture, the sap can be used as a red dye and there’s a bunch of traditional uses for the tree.
We’ve planted 23 Antiaris Toxicaria, which grow up to 40m tall!. As well as this making them great for removing carbon from the atmosphere, it’s also used as a lightweight hardwood for timber as well as for veneer. It’s bark can be used to dye clothes and paints from the high concentration of tannins. It grows fruit which can be eaten by birds, bats, possums, monkeys, deer, antelope and humans!
And finally we’ve planted 25 Warburgia ugandensis trees which have a wide range of uses. It’s wood is incredibly strong and resistant to insects. The leaves can be used to add spice to food just like chillies! It has lots of medical properties including being antimalarial, antifungal and antibacterial properties when consumed in vitro as well as in animal models.
Update: 17/10/24 – We’ve just added 25 Zanthoxylum usambarense to the grove too. This tree only grows up to 5m which is a lot smaller than others we’ve planted, however there’s a whole range of medical uses associated with this tree including treatment for Malaria and it’s wood can be used as timber, so once that carbon is captured the tree can be cut down and used, while another is planted in it’s place.
Join Us in Making a Difference
At Easipay Carpets, we believe in giving back to the planet. For every 5-star review we receive, we plant a tree through our partnership with Ecologi. Together, we can contribute to vital reforestation efforts, restore ecosystems, and support local communities. Your positive feedback not only reflects our commitment to quality but also helps us make a tangible impact on the environment.
Thank you for helping us grow a greener future.
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