Quito Municipality and CAF improve city air quality

(Quito, May 25, 2009).- A total of 30,000 trees were planted in various sites around the Ecuadorian capital thanks to the effort of the Quito Metropolitan Municipality, with the support of the Andean Development Corporation and the Botanical Gardens for the "Children of the present planting the air of the future" program.

Investment in the program, which totaled US$324,000, came from the funds provided by the Empresa Municipal de Movilidad y Obras Pblicas (EMMOP-Q) and CAF. Students from various schools in the city participated and received educational material and training along with their teachers in caring for the trees planted and the environment.

As part of the project, green spaces were planted to improve environmental quality, conserve urban biodiversity, and contribute to reducing pollution, among other benefits. The Quito Metropolitan District will expand this innovative process in coming years so that more of the city's schools and students become involved in the planting and maintenance of trees in strategic sites in the city.

The places where trees were planted included: the Central University campus, areas around the cable railway, Liga Barrial Iaquito sports center, La Luz central park, Liga Las Casas, Jipijapa central park, Dammer 1 park, Lomas de Monteserrn park, Moromoro park, Solanda and Santa Ana ecolgical parks, Liga La Magdalena, La Raya park, Carapungo park and El Chaquian park in Cumbay.

The planting and maintenance of the trees was managed by the EMMOP-Q Parks and Gardens Department, which provided students with basic tools, plants and fertilizers.

The species planted in the green spaces were: willows, limes, poplars, polylepis, alder, bottlebrush, yalomn, loquat (nispero) and jacaranda.

The tree planting program also includes monitoring the growth and survival of the trees and calculation of the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed in annual projections.