As SK Innovation is accelerating its ESG management in and outside Korea, the company has started the 2021 Mangrove Reforestation Project in Tra Vinh, Vietnam.

This is the fourth year since SK Innovation launched this meaningful program in 2018. Up until the end of last year, about 340 thousands new mangrove trees has been planted on the total area of 70ha through this project. This year, SK Innovation aims to restore 46 ha of mangrove with about 140 thousands trees that will be planted at Long Trị, Long Vĩnh, Cồn Bần areas.

▲Local residents participate in the Mangrove Reforestation Project initiated by SK Innovation. Photos taken on June 19^th

All in all, when completing this year’s plan, the program will restore a total area of 116ha of mangroves, exceeding the threshold of 100ha – an important milestone of the program. This is equivalent to 3944 tons of CO₂ that will be absorbed, contributing to mitigating the consequences of climate change locally.

▲The mangrove forest that is restored through the Mangrove Reforestation Project initiated by SK Innovation

The Mangrove Reforestation Project is one of the main activities supported by the “Sharing 1% Happiness” Fund of SK Innovation employees. This is a special fund in which the members of the company voluntarily donate 1% of their basic salary to contribute to the company’s social contribution and environmental protection programs.

In addition to financial support, in the first 2 years, SK Innovation organized regular volunteer activities for the company’s employees who fly from Korea to Vietnam to directly participate in tree planting and other local volunteer activities in Tra Vinh. The program is also joined by various members of the Vietnam Social Values Alliance initiated by SK Innovation. These include local government units, universities, enterprises, NGos such as Petrovietnam Exploration Production Corporation (PVEP), UNEP Korea, Hanoi National University, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, Tra Vinh University, various institutions of Tra Vinh Province, etc.

By the end of 2019, the Alliance had gathered in Vietnam seven times to participate in the Mangrove Reforestation Projects. However, due to the outbreak of COVID-19 last year, the program is being entrusted to local residents under the organization of Manglub, the first social enterprise in Tra Vinh founded by the Alliance, in cooperation with Tra Vinh Provincial Forest Protection Department.

In particular, due to the complicated epidemic situation in Vietnam at the moment, the tree planting activity last week was organized in small groups of 5 people or less, strictly complying with current epidemic prevention regulations under supervision and guidance of local government.

▲Local residents participate in the Mangrove Reforestation Project initiated by SK Innovation. Photos taken on June 19^th 2021

Besides the voluntary activities of planting trees to restore mangroves, SK Innovation and its partners also actively promote other social value creation activities such as conducting environmental protection education for local people.

In 2020, despite some obstacles of the pandemic, Manglub has successfully conducted various programs to raise awareness of environmental protection in Tra Vinh. About 500 local people, from schoolchildren to elderly residents participated in these activities. This year, Manglub also plans to continue promoting education and other activities related to environment in accordance with the local situation and epidemic prevention instructions of the government.

▲Some activities organized by Manglub in 2020: (Top) The handouts prepared by Manglub to help local people raise awareness of forest protection / (Bottom left) The drawing contest under the topic of Environmental Protection for students at Dong Hai A elementary school / (Bottom right) The eco-friendly fashion contest participated by students at Tra Vinh University

In addition to continuing the regular activities of planting mangroves on a large scale, this year SK Innovation also supports Tra Vinh in the seedling and rearing of Intsia Bijuga, a threatened mangrove associate in Mekong Delta area. The area for nursery and trial cultivation is about 1 ha. Tra Vinh Forest Protection Department believes that the collaboration with SK Innovation to restore Intsia Bijuga is an important step to help Tra Vinh residents realize the significance of   protecting endangered species and mark Tra Vinh’s proactive move to secure the local biodiversity.