Aymeric is Founder and Director at Lord of the Trees, a global project that's working to grow new ecosystems in deforested areas worldwide. Aymeric shared how new technology presents exciting opportunities for planting trees and restoring degraded landscapes, "one of the biggest and cheapest ways of taking CO2 out of the atmosphere to tackle the climate crisis".
Read about Aymeric's story here.
Can you tell us about Lord of the Trees?
Lord of the Trees is a global reforestation project that combines precision drone technology with the knowledge of environmental experts, scientists, engineers, and indigenous communities to replant seeds and grow new ecosystems in deforested areas worldwide. We aim to give nature the ultimate helping hand rewilding and encourage the return of pollinators, insects, birds, and animals to disturbed environments through our proprietary Seedpod technology and precision-companion planting using drones.
Why is Lord of the Trees taking climate action?
Can you tell us about your commitments to climate action?
The UN’s Decade of Ecosystem Restoration (2021-2030) was endorsed at the World Economic Forum in Davos in 2020 in recognition of the urgent need to address the effects of climate change. This initiative resonates equally with our mission to help restore ecosystems while addressing climate change challenges.
Loss of native vegetation and fragmentation of habitats are major threats to ecological communities. As natural vegetation is removed and becomes increasingly fragmented, the diversity of plants and animals is reduced. The decline in animal and plant species affects the natural dynamics of ecosystems. It is important that the biological diversity of ecosystems is maintained to ensure the survival of all living organisms.
Our work isn't just about planting trees. We deliver bespoke solutions for every project, taking into account terrain, soil composition, wildlife, and surrounding ecosystems. Consulting with indigenous communities and local forestry experts helps us formulate the optimum combination of trees, bushes, and other flora to create the healthiest possible forests that will thrive for decades to come.
Lord of the Trees also builds wildlife corridors of native wildflowers and small shrubs around agricultural land, along major transport corridors, and through forests. These enhance biodiversity and help pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds reclaim their former habitats as well as allowing species that are on the brink of being endangered to build up their numbers.
Is there a project you are working on that you are excited about?
We are currently working on projects to rehabilitate a native forest area after previous pine plantation activity in Tasmania, mangrove rehabilitation in both New South Wales and South Australia. We are most excited about working on projects of restoration after bushfires in both Australia and overseas.
What real-world opportunities have you uncovered from taking climate action today?
Corporations are becoming more and more conscious of the need to nurture their Environmental, Social, and Corporate governance. As such, corporations and countries alike are incentivized to plant trees in order to earn carbon credits to offset their emissions.
In practice, this makes reforestation an even more attractive proposition in terms of cost/benefit analysis.
Our reforestation practices will support the role of land in removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere.Our innovative solution in this sector will significantly improve carbon sink into forests allowing us to withstand climate impacts.
Rehabilitation of our coastal wetlands such as mangroves, tidal marshes, and seagrasses are known as ‘Blue Carbon’ ecosystems are also of the utmost environmental importance as they absorb three to five times more CO2 than regular forests while largely contributing to ocean health.
Lord of the Trees will apply for Gold Standard certification for all of its projects, which would mean we are approved by the Gold Standard Foundation enabling our customers to claim carbon credits for the work we do.
Consequently, our ventures will lead to a tangible reduction in greenhouse gasses as well as making a positive contribution to economic, environmental, and social welfare.
What climate action would you like to see Australia take?
More protection for our trees, forests, and our oceans! Alignment with many other countries committing to a net-zero emissions target by 2050 along with a more solid transition to renewable energy sources.