Support for tree planting program in Quito

(Quito, May 9, 2008).- In the Quito Botanical Garden a non-reimbursable technical cooperation agreement was signed between the Andean Development Corporation and Empresa Metropolitana de Obras Públicas (EMOP-Q) to execute the "Children of the present planting the air of the future" program. Its objective is to promote the planting of 30,000 trees with the help of students from various educational institutions. The institutions involved must accept the challenge of planting and caring for the trees for one school year. The Quito Botanical Garden is the institution which will execute the educational component of the project, opening a new space in its facilities dedicated exclusively to boys and girls.

The city of Quito has suffered constant aggressions to its parks and gardens and a project of this nature is strategic for generating environmental awareness among the population.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), urban population needs a minimum extension of 9m2 per inhabitant of green area for a healthy environment, whereas Quito currently has only 4m2 per inhabitant.

Thanks to this project, the green spaces will be effectively tree covered to improve environmental quality, conserve urban biodiversity, and contribute to combating air pollution, among other benefits. This innovative process will mean that in future years the Quito Metropolitan District will be able to continue this effort to link more schools and students in the city to planting and caring for trees in strategic places.

As part of its environmental strategy, CAF considers the environment to be a transverse interconnecting component of the social, economic and cultural development of nations.