66 Fostering Sustainable Ecosystems About the Report Leadership Messages About the Theme Corporate Overview Stakeholder Engagement and Materiality Assessment Our ESG priorities and Performance Blue Carbon Project to preserve mangroves in Gabon C A S E S T UDY Arise IIP has launched its Blue Carbon Project with the aim of conserving 10 million sq mt. of precious mangroves within Gabon. The project is located in the Pongara National Park, Gabon, home to the highest mangroves in the world. This initiative comes from the partnership between the ARISE Group and the Gabonese Ministry of Environment, with the ambition to stop the destruction of mangroves in the capital city and implement successful restoration projects in the country. The project activities are initially located in the Akanda commune of Gabon, which has experienced rapid urban expansion in the past years. The project could also be expanded to other locations in Libreville or Gabon, such as the mangroves of the Mindoubé Landfill, which have been affected by immigration and plastic pollution. These valuable mangroves play a pivotal role in our ecosystem and will be endowed with special conservation status. We have signed a 20-year memorandum of understanding with the Gabonese government to restore and conserve mangroves affected by urbanization. To achieve this, we are working with a number of private and public stakeholders in Gabon, as well as several local expert entities and NGOs, to protect biodiversity and conserve all mangroves. The Community and Corporate Social Responsibility Mangroves Program aims to restore destroyed mangroves and protect at-risk mangrove ecosystems that are threatened by urbanization and industrialization. In addition to contributing to capacity building through work with local experts, the project aims to involve neighboring communities as well as company employees in the restoration and protection of mangroves, increasing awareness. The project also strives to implement incomegenerating activities that are compatible with mangrove ecosystems, such as eco-tourism and fisheries. The project is estimated to reduce and absorb approximately 200,000 tCO2e in average yearly over 30 years, including around 700,000 tCO2e in the first 10 years of implementation. The project is estimated to reduce and absorb approximately 2,00,000 tCO2e in average yearly over 30 years, including around 7,00,000 tCO2e in the first 10 years of implementation. Volunteers and Consultants at the mangroves conservation site
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