As part of its global commitment to help regenerate Australia post bushfires, iconic French beauty brand, L’OCCITANE Australia has partnered with the charity partner for Australia’s National Parks, the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW), to restore natural habitats, native vegetation and support wildlife rehabilitation efforts across Australia.
Funded by the L’OCCITANE Ecosystem Restoration Fund, created in early 2020 by the L’OCCITANE Group to support ecosystems that are severely affected by natural disasters, $228,000* will be donated to FNPW as part of an initial two-year commitment. These funds will be dedicated to planting seedlings in Bushfire Recovery Nurseries in affected areas around Australia; with the goal to plant one million trees over the next five years.
This announcement comes just in time for National Tree Day on Sunday, 2 August, which calls for all Australians to give back to their community by planting trees and shrubs to improve the natural environment.
Pierre-Emmanuel Joffre, Managing Director, L’OCCITANE Australia, said: “Having first arrived in Australia just six months before the bushfires, I was saddened by the devastation they caused to the landscapes, wildlife and communities around the country. As a brand originated from nature and the use of botanical ingredients, it has long been a commitment of ours to respect and support biodiversity and so we are thrilled to be able to support the Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife in its mission of planting one million trees around Australia.”
FNPW, along with global reforestation nonprofit, One Tree Planted, announced the project to plant one million trees in Bushfire Recovery Nurseries around Australia on World Earth Day in April 2020. Trees from the Bushfire Recovery Nurseries will be integral in re-building wildlife habitats and will be planted in national parks across Australia, as well as other public and private lands affected by bushfires.
Ian Darbyshire, Chief Executive Officer, Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife said: “It’s thanks to partners such as L’OCCITANE Australia that we can respond quickly to the healing of our land post bushfires. Planting one million trees in Bushfire Recovery Nurseries around Australia will be an important step in our regeneration and we appreciate the support of the wider community to help restore and protect the future of Australia.”
Since 2015, FNPW has also worked on its initiative “Plant a Tree For Me’ in response to the progressively degrading environment. The initiative is a practical and effective way Australians can invest in conservation by donating to help grow native trees, increase biodiversity and provide vital habitat. A donation of just $10 will plant and maintain one tree.
Operating for over 50 years, FNPW’s mission is to fund conservation projects across Australia to safeguard wilderness and wildlife for future generations.