SK Innovation is expanding its mangrove forest restoration project from Binh Long Province to Can Tho City, aiming to restore local ecosystems.
On October 13, SK Innovation announced that it signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Can Tho City government and local social enterprise MangLub for the restoration of mangrove forests. MangLub is the first social enterprise established by SK Innovation in Binh Long Province in 2019 to support the mangrove restoration initiative.
Under the agreement, SK Innovation will secure planting sites for mangroves in Can Tho and establish a collaborative system to manage and protect the reforestation areas with the local community. The company plans to create a total of 200 hectares of new mangrove forests in Vietnam by 2030, which is four times the size of Seoul Forest, a large urban park in Seoul that covers 50 hectares.
Local residents will participate directly in all phases of the project, supporting job creation while also providing environmental education to raise awareness about the value and importance of mangroves among residents and students. This initiative aims to promote both ecosystem restoration and sustainable growth in the community.
The ecological restoration impact will be scientifically measured using SK Innovation's life cycle assessment (LCA) capabilities. The biodiversity footprint of the planting areas will be analyzed, allowing for systematic management of restoration outcomes.
Mangroves have a carbon storage capacity five times greater than that of typical plants and play a crucial role in providing habitats for various species, making them vital for ecosystem conservation. Often referred to as the 'lungs of Asia,' they are recognized as a nature-based solution for addressing climate change and preserving biodiversity.
Since initiating its mangrove restoration project in Binh Long Province, SK Innovation has expanded its activities to Myanmar, Malaysia, and Fiji. Employees from SK Innovation's affiliates have also participated in planting activities. Since 2018, a total of 1.14 million saplings have been planted, covering an area of 294 hectares, approximately six times the size of Seoul Forest.
Kim Woo-kyung, head of SK Innovation's PR team, stated, "In addition to resource development and power generation projects in Vietnam, SK Innovation is also pursuing core renewable energy initiatives such as solar and wind power. We aim to contribute to the sustainable growth of the local community by promoting not just reforestation activities but also youth employment through local social enterprises and environmental awareness education."
SK Innovation began its mangrove restoration project in Vietnam in 2018 after signing an MOU with the government of Tra Vinh Province, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and local businesses.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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