Tree Planting Project Update

AP Sensing’s partner WeForest recently released its mid-year report for the Mt. Mulanje project in Malawi. This is one of WeForest’s newest projects, and the project that AP Sensing began contributing to in 2019 by planting 100 trees for every fiber optic sensing interrogator unit (DTS/DAS/DVS) that we sell.

WeForest’s goals for Mt. Mulanje in 2020 were to establish 90 ha of community-managed forest, raise 200,000 cedar and pine seedlings, provide support to 5 beekeeping clubs (for alternative sources of income for the local community), and engage 10 schools in its environmental education program.

 

2020 Progress

Currently, 140,000 cedar seedlings are being raised in local nurseries. The cedar seedlings are being used to re-plant areas of cloud forest on top of the mountain and as hedges around homesteads. As the species is slow growing, planting it as hedges helps to protect it from animals and theft. The trimmings can also hopefully be a source of cedar oil for export. Since the beginning of 2020, 30,000 cedar seedings have been planted as hedges and 10,000 on the mountain plateau. In April, the survival rate of those planted as hedges was 98.9%.

Effects of COVID-19

The effects of COVID-19 on the project were manageable, as most of the seedlings raised will be planted at the start of the rainy season in late November. However, it did affect planned environmental education lectures at the 10 schools participating in the program, and meetings to prepare for beekeeping activities were also delayed.  

Year-End Plans

The second half of 2020 will involve intensive field support and monitoring of the cedar and pine seedlings, beehive distribution and training, monitoring visits on progress of cedar hedges, environmental education classes at schools, establishment and maintenance of firebreaks on the mountainside and planting all remaining seedlings in the rainy season at the end of the year.

Why is AP Sensing Planting Trees?

The AP Sensing tree planting program called “Passion for Plants” is intended to be a long-term partnership with WeForest due to our desire to take concrete action in the area of climate change, CO2 emission reduction, environmental protection and social impact. The benefits of tree planting have proven to be widespread, and vital to climate protection and caring for the planet. We recognize that as a successful company, we have the means and responsibility to make further contributions to the world around us. Additionally, AP Sensing appreciates WeForest’s scientific approach to restoring forests which ensures a maximum survival rate of the trees planted, carbon sequestration and a forest ecosystem that functions as it did before deforestation. A healthy forest also supports local agriculture, affects the soil and water supply, and has a positive economic impact on the region.

Interested in more information? Click here to read WeForest’s mid-year report.