Athens-based international shipping company Andriaki and Arbor Day Carbon, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Arbor Day Foundation, have united on a mission of large-scale tree planting in the Mississippi River Alluvial Valley, supporting the creation of verified carbon dioxide removal (CDR) credits.
Over the past year, this joint project has successfully planted a total of 1 million native trees across the alluvial plain area positioned in parts of Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
This partnership builds on a few years of fruitful cooperation, as the Arbor Day Foundation and Andriaki have been jointly working on large-scale tree planting since 2021.
The Mississippi Alluvial Valley, once a flourishing floodplain forest ecosystem, is now one of the Southeast areas most affected by agricultural expansion, land conversion, and deforestation.
Data from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service indicates that by now, more than 75% of this riparian forest has been destroyed, taking away a meaningful part of the available habitat for many wildlife species, including migratory birds, for which this forest represents a vital pit stop.
Located in the American Southeast, the valley is part of one of the global priority areas for the Arbor Day Foundation and its tree-planting operations, powered by a wide community of growers and supporters.
To help restore this location back to its lush landscape, Arbor Day Carbon and Andriaki teamed up with local planting partner and carbon credit supplier GreenTrees®, who carried out the project’s operations.
Under the partnership, trees native to the area were planted on land that has been degraded and deforested in recent decades as a result of conversion to corn, cotton, and soybean production sites.
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In a broader perspective, this collaboration also helps restore key wildlife habitats and improves the quality of local water while enabling private landowners to access alternative income streams.
For Andrianaki, the partnership with Arbor Day Carbon also aligns with the company’s ESG strategy and sustainability goals.
Demonstrating a commitment towards climate-forward innovations and improvements, Andriaki is setting an example for other shipping companies looking to address their environmental footprint and contribute towards meaningful ecological improvements.
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