GITI Tire invests in conservation efforts

Bali, Indonesia -- GITI Tire (China) Investment Co. Ltd. is donating $1 million for conservation projects in northern Sumatra, Indonesia, and the mountains of southwest China.

As part of a partnership agreement with Conservation International, the programme will protect the habitat of threatened species such as the Sumatran orangutan in Indonesia and pandas in southwest China and replant forest areas while helping reduce levels of atmospheric carbon that are linked to climate change.

For the first year, the investment will offset the corporation's overall carbon emissions in 2008.

Half the money GITI is donating will support CI Indonesia's Northern Sumatra project to protect tropical forest that is home to the endangered Sumatran orangutan and other threatened species, GITI said.

Jatna Supriatna, regional vice president for CI in Indonesia said the collaboration is an important step in bringing more private sector investment for conservation programs in Indonesia.

The rest of the donation will support CI's China affiliate, the Shanshui Center for Nature and Society, in replanting nearly 150 acres of native forest, along with conserving wetlands and watersheds while benefiting the livelihoods of local communities in the mountains of southwest China.

From Rubber & Plastics News (A Crain publication)