IT service provider Conclusion supports the Brabant Landscape in its plans to transform agricultural land into nature in collaboration with Trees for All and makes the planting of 29,000 trees near Bergen op Zoom possible. This creates a new ecosystem covering eight hectares: the Conclusion Impact Forest. Forest planting on this scale is rare in the Netherlands, making this a unique project.
The forest project is named Zeezuiper and combines various social challenges, such as compensating for CO2 emissions, improving existing forests, combating drought, and increasing biodiversity. One of the criteria is planting native tree species. These are trees that have traditionally occurred in a specific area or region. Furthermore, the project offers new green recreational opportunities near Bergen op Zoom.
Ecosystem for sustainable social impact
With the long-term collaboration with Trees for All, Conclusion realizes significant social impact. The project goes far beyond compensating for CO2 emissions through the one-time planting of trees. Conclusion has consciously chosen a location in the Netherlands, as this is also the area where the company emits the most CO2. The company will remain actively involved in the project in the coming years.
Conclusion employees plant first trees
Conclusion literally rolls up its sleeves for the establishment of the Impact Forest. On February 25, a hundred colleagues from the Conclusion ecosystem will put on their boots to plant the first trees. Various types of trees will be planted, including lime, hornbeam, sporkwood, yew, sweet cherry, and summer oak. In addition to 5.5 hectares of forest, a herb- and fauna-rich field will be established on 2.5 hectares, along with a herb-rich grassland and some ponds.
Engbert Verkoren, CEO of Conclusion: "Planting and nurturing the Conclusion Impact Forest feels like a very natural project for us. We operate at the heart of society, as we bear responsibility for countless mission-critical IT projects for governments and businesses. In doing so, we make a significant contribution to society, but we are also a user of it. We consume products and move ourselves. Thus, we create waste and emissions. We want to give something back in a way that suits us. In our daily activities, we always aim for the long term and invest in sustainable relationships with our customers and partners. This creates a rich fabric of connections, making collaborating parties more resilient to unexpected events and more flexible in responding to changes. Nature works the same way. I am therefore proud of the collaboration with Trees for All and happy that with this new ecosystem we are making a lasting contribution to biodiversity in the Netherlands."
Frans van Zijderveld, program manager forest Netherlands at Trees for All: "We are very pleased with the collaboration with Conclusion. Together we can work towards a healthier and greener world. When ambitions for planting trees come together, such beautiful and, in Dutch terms, large forest projects can be realized. Thanks to the contribution from Conclusion, we can plant trees faster and more. There is still a large and urgent task for much more forest in the Netherlands. The collaboration between Conclusion and Trees for All makes a substantial contribution to this."
