Our Emission Pledge

Seagriculture EU
18 - 20 June 2024
Tórshavn, Faroe Islands

Our Emission Pledge

Taking responsibility for our emissions

We firmly believe that the Seagriculture conferences play a crucial role in advancing the sustainable development of the seaweed industry and recognizing seaweed's potential as a significant crop for carbon sequestration and its positive impact on combating climate change. However, it doesn't take away the fact that organizing a conference will always cause CO₂ emissions in the short term. Therefore, we would like to take responsibility for the CO₂ emissions resulting from organizing the conference.*

How are we taking responsibility for our emissions?

We have decided to make a voluntary contribution to the financing of specific CO₂-reducing forestry projects in Germany for the climate and environmental impact caused by the event, travel and participation. For each participant of Seagriculture EU 2024, we will plant one tree within the selected forest conversion measures conducted by the non-profit organization WeReforest e.V..

Why did we choose this project?

The organizer, DLG Benelux, is part of the DLG Group (German Agricultural Society) which is a non-profit organization based in Germany. One of its key objectives is to promote international agricultural knowledge across nations, and the society organizes a range of agricultural exhibitions throughout the world.

The non-profit organization WeReforest e.V. was started by DLG and is their heart's project and their way to get involved for really more sustainability. Based on their professional experience in helping to organize leading international trade fairs and major events, they are aware that each event, as well as the travel of visitors to and from each event, causes significant climate-damaging emissions. In view of the fact that the German forest is in crisis, forest managers are facing enormous challenges. Therefore, WeForest would like to make a lasting contribution to the climate-stable conversion and reconstruction of the forests in Germany through concrete projects.

We have chosen that project as we know for sure that our donations are meaningful. All donations made to the non-profit WeReforest e.V. will be used economically and efficiently for the selected forest conversion measures.

*This does not mean we are claiming carbon neutrality.

WeReforest e.V.

WeReforest e.V. supports forest owners in the transformation and establishment of climate-resilient, sustainable mixed forests composed of native deciduous and coniferous trees.

Dedicated donations are used to create climate-adapted, structurally diverse, multi-layered, and ecologically valuable commercial forests using native tree species with consistently high growth and utilization potential, resulting in substantial CO₂ reduction capacity.

Through the implementation of expert reforestation, reforestation projects in areas affected by calamities, and forest transformation measures on woodland areas in Germany, WeReforest makes a positive contribution to climate protection, sustainable wood supply, and biodiversity conservation.

Reforestation is carried out locally, transparently, and traceably in Germany.

WeReforest e.V.

Forestry facts

Forest, the green heart

Forest produces oxygen and purifies the air. Deciduous forests produce 15 tons of oxygen per hectare every year, coniferous forests even come up to 30 tons per hectare and year. A single hectare of forest filters up to fifty tons of soot and dust out of the atmosphere every year.

Forest is a home

The forest is a habitat for countless animal and plant species. Of all terrestrial habitat types, the forest hosts the most species. Around 4,300 species of plants and fungi and more than 6,700 species of animals live in our Central European forests.

Useful function of our forests

Forest produces our climate-friendly, renewable raw material wood. In Germany, around 60 million solid cubic meters are felled every year, which is generally significantly less than regrowth, with the exception of a few exceptional years caused by calamities.

Recovery function of our forests

Forest offers rest, relaxation and a favorable climate for those seeking relaxation. The forest air is demonstrably healthy and the forest is used intensively for exercise and sporty activities.

Protective functions of our forests

Soil protection
Forest prevents soil erosion by water and wind.

Avalanche protection
Forests can prevent avalanches and mudslides from forming and slow down smaller avalanches.

Water protection
One square meter of forest floor stores up to 200 liters of water. Meltwater and rainwater seep away slowly and become clean groundwater thanks to the good filtering capacity of the soil.

Climate protection
Forests are the largest terrestrial store of carbon. In addition to the oceans, forests are among the current carbon sinks. Trees absorb the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide directly from the air for their growth and store the carbon in their wood. However, our forests are only a CO2 sink if they record an overall net increase in biomass production. This is achieved through sustainable use and use of wood in durable products.

Our forest is in need!

Our forests are severely affected by climate change because, as long-lived ecosystems, they can only adapt to rapid and severe climate change to a limited extent. Storms, the extreme drought of the years 2018-2020 and the bark beetle infestation - these have taken a toll on the forests in Germany in recent years. For the years 2018 to 2022, a calamity wood volume of 222 million solid cubic meters has been recorded (as of March 30, 2022). The forest area to be reforested is currently around 380,000 hectares!

Reducing our CO₂ emissions

Ultimately, reducing emissions is much better than offsetting and so, where possible, we are working to reduce our CO₂ emissions. This includes, but is not limited to:

Sustainable Catering: We collaborate with a caterer that places a strong emphasis on locally sourced, organic, and sustainably produced food, reducing the carbon footprint associated with our event's meals.
Eco-Friendly Materials: We make conscientious choices by utilizing recycled materials onsite and sourcing from local suppliers whenever possible, reducing transportation-related emissions and promoting sustainable production practices.
Digital Transformation: We've embraced a digital-first approach, significantly reducing our reliance on printed materials. This shift not only conserves resources but also minimizes emissions linked to paper production, printing, and distribution

We firmly believe that when every individual actively contributes to these efforts, we harness the collective power needed to achieve substantial reductions in emissions. Each small step, whether it's choosing sustainable catering, opting for eco-friendly materials, or going digital, adds up to make a significant positive impact on our environment. Together, we can lead by example and inspire change for a greener, more sustainable future.

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