Fundación Repsol and Dorna continue tree planting project in Barcelona

Fundación Repsol, along with Dorna Sports, continued with its project to plant trees in Spain and Haiti in Barcelona. On Thursday, taking advantage of the second of the four 2010 MotoGP World Championship races in Spain – Jerez, Catalunya, Aragón and Valencia – the spotlight was on the national and international journalists who usually cover the Championship. In an area inside the Circuit de Catalunya, next to the l’Estadi turn, media specialists who cover the competition did their bit by planting several trees.

At every Grand Prix 1,000 trees will be planted at the circuit and in the surrounding area, and fans will be given the chance to plant their own tree at home using a kit containing everything they need. This project is being carried out in collaboration with WCAFI (World Clean Air Forest Initiative), endorsed by the UN Environment Programme.

For each kit, through a donation, a twin tree will be planted in Haiti and the amount collected will be donated in full to the agroforestry development project in this county, in collaboration with Solidaridad Internacional.

This social initiative to help develop and restore the environment is supported by everyone involved in the World Championship (riders, technicians, commissioners, press, etc.), who along with volunteers and specialists, will take part in planting the trees, which started at the Jerez Circuit in May.

The goal of the programme is to plant 29,000 trees of different species, such as poplar and ash, in Spain and the same number in Haiti with local species. In total, 58,000 trees will be planted. Fundación Repsol's commitment to helping rebuild Haiti will make planting trees a basic part of restoring the country: to provide fruit, agricultural produce, building materials and sustainable fuel for the local villages. The trees are integrated in the local agriculture and gardening systems.

This rural development project in the communal section of Pichon, Belle Anse, in southeast Haiti, aims to improve living conditions. The different actions in the project include the cultivation of allotments, the restoration of agricultural routes and training to respond to natural disasters. Planting is due to start in this country throughout 2010 and 2011.

Press release courtesy of Repsol Media Service