We are excited to announce a new initiative 'Trees for Votes' during this year's SU Leadership Elections where for every vote we will plant a tree. For transparency we are classing a vote as a voter, so although an individual may cast multiple votes, the person will only be counted once.

You already know that trees are really good at removing carbon from the atmosphere and converting that into oxygen, but these trees are helping to restore and protect global forest systems as well as as helping alleviate extreme poverty and provides employment and a sustainable resource for impoverished communities worldwide.

How many trees have been pledged?

The students' union have pledged to plant 963 trees based on the current number of voters in these elections between 7-10 March 2022.

How can I get involved?

It's easy - just vote! We are electing our four President roles and you just need to choose who you want to be elected during the voting period 7-10 March 2022.

Tell me more about the trees!

We will be working with Ecologi and one of their main tree planting partners, Eden Reforestation Projects, provided this information:

• We work carefully with all levels of government to secure written agreements designating the restoration sites as protected in perpetuity. 
• We hire local villagers to plant the trees. In this way, we alleviate extreme poverty within the impacted community. The villagers now have an economic incentive to ensure the wellbeing of the restoration project. They also have a sense of “ownership” over the trees and restored forest and they protect it with great care.
• A minimum of 10% of the trees to be planted are agroforestry species (fruit, fodder and construction species designed to provide food security and benefit legitimate human needs). Over time these trees become a source of sustainable income.
• We do all possible to supply the local villagers with alternative fuel sources (fuel efficient dry wood stoves and solar parabolic stoves), which reduces and or eliminates their dependence on charcoal.
• We also hire forest guards as part of the labor force. Forest guards are part of the overall budget.
• Most significantly, we have seen the villagers fall in love with THEIR forest. They also recognize and benefit from the restored forest through increase in fisheries, improved farming, cleaner water and the formation of micro enterprises.

via GIPHY