The final planting of trees within the framework of the AERObika reforestation project took place in Balandinsky Bor today. The project is being implemented jointly by the Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant (part of the Mechel Group) and the My Planet environmental charity foundation. In total, 100 thousand young pines were planted in May this year. The plantings compensate for the forest areas destroyed by fires.

According to the data of the State Forestry Administration of the Chelyabinsk Region, 8 thousand hectares of forest have been damaged in the region this year.

The project with the “telling” name “AERObika” aims to restore green shield ”of the city, as well as reducing the carbon footprint of enterprises by 159 tons of CO2 per year, this is exactly the effect that the planted trees will give.

CMP employees and environmentalists have already planted 97 thousand seedlings in the Balandinsky and Uzhovsky pine forests. The final 3 thousand seedlings have been planted today. Due to the proximity to the Chelyabinsk airport and the recent assignment of the name of Academician Igor Vasilyevich Kurchatov to it, the landing area received the symbolic name "Kurchatov Quarter".

The project was supported by the main forestry department of the Chelyabinsk region and Shershnevsky forestry. Foresters helped to select tree planting sites. Experts showed forest lands affected by fires, and also instructed on correct planting for better survival of seedlings. Before the landing, the area was cleared of burnt and fallen forests and plowed up.

In 2016, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a law on the creation of a "green shield" around megacities.

“This action is very important for improvement of the environment. The forest creates an aspiration surface that cleans the air and is a powerful precipitator of toxic particles. Sometime in 15-20 years you will come here and will not recognize this place: this territory will take such a beautiful view. Mechel is fulfilling its obligations under the comprehensive environmental plan. I thank the enterprise for such actions and I hope that they are not the last ", - emphasized the Minister of Ecology of the Chelyabinsk Region Sergey Likhachev.

" I would like to thank the Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant and the My Planet Foundation for organizing the landings. Within the framework of this action, 100 thousand seedlings were planted - this is a huge figure ", - said Sergey Lavrov, head of the Main Department of Forests of the Chelyabinsk Region.

" The forest planting sites we have chosen are unique in that they are residual tape forests. We must protect these relict forests and therefore help in their restoration after the fires. We are very pleased that the leadership of Mechel Group and the Chelyabinsk Metallurgical Plant supported us in this endeavor, ”said Ksenia Galkina, director of the My Planet environmental charity foundation.

“ Reforestation is part of our environmental program, aimed at reducing the impact of enterprises on the environment. Increasing green space for an industrial city is very important. We are grateful to the My Planet Foundation for its professional approach and colossal work, ”stressed Oleg Korzhov, Mechel PAO General Director.

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