Through a sponsorship with the organization Trees for All, TAUW Group plants 2,500 trees in Spain, the Netherlands and Ghana. Jacolien Eijer, director Sustainability at TAUW also actively encourages restoration of forests. “I firmly believe that if we want to address the complex issues of today such as energy transition, circularity and biodiversity, engineering consultants play a vital role. Not only through our advice but also in our behaviour as a company. That is why we choose to support community programs like this."
Together we have the knowledge and skills to shape a vital living environment: a world in which nature and human activities coexist in harmony. Jeroen Reimerink, ecologist at TAUW works on biodiversity projects: either rethinking this topic with clients, making it part of their design and constructions, or monitoring the results of these efforts. “Harmony is of tremendous importance, since our human future is fully dependent on a solid natural world and all of its functions. To achieve this harmony, we need a major transformation of our lifestyle: shifting from an exploitative to a regenerative lifestyle. One that is enhancing life on earth with everything we do (instead of our current destructive behaviour). This also means including nature in our perception of prosperity and wealth. If we do so, then large-scale restoration of ecosystems and biodiversity feel natural. We can start today! Nature will bounce back and the results will soon become invaluable to us in many ways.”
TAUW also chose to plant trees in Spain. The damages caused to nature can, fortunately, also be repaired by humans, says Eva Cortes Cabrera (sustainability coordinator of TAUW Iberia). “Previously, bare terrains were cultivated as agricultural land. Because of the complete erosion caused by this, very little is now growing there. In Spain we plant distinctive trees and plants that belong in the historic areas. Consequently, a variety of organisms will once again find a habitat in the area.”
The secret world beneath our feet is mind-blowing – and is key to our planet’s future according to Martin Doeswijk, director Soil and Groundwater at TAUW. “But society is disconnected from the soil system. People are unaware of the importance of healthy soils, despite our dependency on them. The soils deliver nutrients for our crops, it is a reservoir and filter for pure drinking water, trees grow on them, they clean our air and capture CO2, we build houses and create vegetable gardens on them. Our whole infrastructure of roads, canals and dikes is built upon and in the soil. Soil delivers us many raw materials and energy sources. So: There can be no life without soil and no soil without live!’’
Trees for All is a CBF-recognized charity. They plant forests in the Netherlands and abroad for a healthier climate, more biodiversity and better living conditions. Trees and forests play a crucial role in tackling climate change and the loss of biodiversity. There is no life without trees. That is why they are planting new forests worldwide, restoring degraded forests and raising people’s awareness of the importance of trees – whether close to home or on the other side of the world.