To mark Arbor Day 2007, the HSBC Cares For The Environment Fund agreed to sponsor the planting of new trees on St Julian’s waterfront promenade.

HSBC Cares For The Environment Fund is already very active in the 34U campaign in Malta, with a significant Lm45,000 sponsorship for the Xrobb l-Ghagin project over three years. This charitable fund is following HSBC’s global emphasis on trying to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. HCEF initially sponsored the project with Lm15,000 in order to plant one tree for every one of HSBC’s 1,500 employees in Malta.

The 34U campaign, which is leading to greater afforestation of areas at Salina Park, Mellieha, the Pinetum in Pietà, Xrobb l-Ghagin, Ta’ Qali and Buskett, also encourages the public to buy and plant their own tree in any of the selected areas.

HSBC employees have also been actively involved in the 34U campaign, turning out in their hundreds to plant 2,000 trees at Salina Park, and 5,000 trees and shrubs at Xrobb l-Ghagin last year. Another 1,200 trees have been planted at the HSBC Garden on Campus at the University of Malta, and a further 5,000 trees will be planted at Xrobb l-Ghagin this year.

“Malta will benefit greatly if more trees are planted and the HSBC Cares For The Environment Fund is once again doing its bit both to plant more trees and to increase awareness in urban areas by planting trees to replace all those that are missing or have died in the St Julian’s waterfront,” said HSBC Bank Malta plc’s chief executive officer, Shaun Wallis.

To mark Arbor Day, a day recognised worldwide on 16 January, the Agriculture and Rural Affairs Ministry organised a number of activities. These included a tree-planting activity on the St Julian’s seafront, and a tour of the Ta’ Qali National Park for students, where they got a first-hand experience of how trees are grown. Initiatives also included a 34U School Campaign – a tree-planting competition for schools.