SK Inno, 'Mangrove Forest Restoration'... Continues Despite COVID-19

Planting of First Mangrove Seedlings This Year on 'Beon Island' Near Cha Bin Province, Vietnam
Approximately 3944 Tons of CO2 Absorbed... Contributing to Climate Change Response and Environmental Value Creation

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoonju Hwang] As part of its commitment to ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management, SK Innovation will continue its ‘Mangrove Forest Restoration Project’ this year to address climate change and preserve biodiversity.

SK Innovation announced on the 25th that it conducted its first mangrove seedling planting activity of the year near Ban islet in Tra Vinh Province, Vietnam.

Once called the lungs of Asia, mangrove forests are disappearing due to indiscriminate development and environmental issues. Most countries in the Mekong region, including Vietnam, are facing difficulties caused by the destruction of mangrove forests. Mangroves not only have excellent carbon dioxide absorption capabilities but also serve as habitats for diverse species. Therefore, they hold significant value for climate change mitigation and biodiversity conservation. Additionally, mangroves act as breakwaters capable of responding to tsunamis, which is why many experts strongly emphasize the urgent need for mangrove forest restoration.

SK Innovation first visited Tra Vinh Province in southern Vietnam in 2018 with its members to plant mangrove seedlings as part of its climate change response efforts. However, since last year, the global COVID-19 pandemic and strengthened social distancing measures have made it difficult for members to be dispatched for local volunteer work in Vietnam.

This year’s project will be continuously implemented in small groups of five or fewer people until August, considering Vietnam’s local COVID-19 prevention guidelines. SK Innovation has set a goal to restore a total area of 46 hectares of mangrove forest in the Vietnam region this year and plans to plant approximately 140,000 mangrove seedlings.

By the end of last year, the area of mangrove forest restored by SK Innovation in Vietnam reached 70 hectares, with 340,000 mangrove trees growing. Achieving this year’s goal will bring the total restored area to 116 hectares, surpassing 100 hectares since SK Innovation began the mangrove forest restoration project. The amount of carbon dioxide absorbed through this effort is expected to reach approximately 3,944 tons, contributing to climate change mitigation and environmental value creation.

SK Innovation has not limited its efforts to Vietnam; in 2020, it expanded the mangrove forest restoration project to Myanmar, planting a total of 45,000 mangrove seedlings over an area of 18 hectares. Although the political situation in Myanmar remains unstable, the company aims to maintain a similar scale of planting this year. Through these efforts, SK Innovation is contributing to the environment of the Korea-Mekong region as a leading South Korean company.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.