DCX Provides Aid to Island of Leyte
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03-02-2006, 12:25 PM
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DCX Provides Aid to Island of Leyte
DaimlerChrysler Provides Aid to Island of Leyte
*Fundraising project in the wake of devastating landslide
*100,000 tree seedlings to stabilize soil banks
*Company is involved on the Philippine island of Leyte since January 2004 through a Public Private Partnership project
Stuttgart, Germany, February 27, 2006
Following the natural disaster on the Philippine island of Leyte, DaimlerChrysler AG is donating EUR 20,000 to reforest the devastated soil banks on the south of the island. The money, which is earmarked for the environmental charity Euronatur, will be used to buy around 100,000 seedlings of native rainforest trees and fruit trees. "The reforestation will help to prevent a disaster like this from happening again," said Dr. Michael J. Inacker, Head of External Affairs and Public Policy at DaimlerChrysler AG.
The Company is already familiar with the problems in the region: Since January 2004, DaimlerChrysler has been working on a different part of the island of Leyte in a Public Private Partnership with Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) and the University of Hohenheim. The aim of the partnership is to cultivate the shade-loving abaca fiber banana among native trees including coconut palms on a sustainable basis. This also significantly reduces soil erosion. At the same time, the Company is working to make economic use of abaca fiber in vehicle construction.
The rainforest largely vanished from the island around 50 years ago. It was cleared to make way for coconut plantations. This subsequently caused a severe catastrophe in the early 1990s: Depleted by monocultures, the soil was unable to withstand the heavy rainfall. Mudslides killed around 8,000 people in and around the town of Ormoc. "The mountains on Leyte rise sharply beyond the coast. Only a natural mixture of vegetation can guarantee that the soil on the hanging slopes stays where it is," explains Claus-Peter Hutter, President of the Foundation for European Natural Heritage (Euronatur).
As part of the DaimlerChrysler abaca project, the current fallow areas are being reforested with native trees and shrubs. The abaca fiber banana plays an important part in this process. It is distinguished in many ways by its optimal characteristics. According to tropical forest expert Friedhelm Göltenboth from the University Hohenheim, who will also be supporting the new fundraising campaign, "Abaca will even grow in the shade of tall trees, provides farmers with an additional source of income and prevents soil erosion together with other plants."
As a company committed to sustainability, DaimlerChrysler has been working for years on projects to make use of renewable raw materials in automobile construction. These include, for example, coconut fibers, flax, sisal and the abaca banana. Since September 2004, abaca fibers have been used in the spare wheel recess cover in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and now the B-Class as well. The high performance fiber is distinguished by its excellent ecobalance and outstanding technical properties, which are similar to those of fiberglass. "The aim of the abaca project is to create a win-win situation together with our partners combining economy and technology, ecology and social aspects, and to establish an exemplary project for the region," says Prof. Herbert Kohler, Head of the Body and Powertrain Research and Chief Environmental Officer of DaimlerChrysler.
Source: DC News
Link proving source: http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/dccom...-0-0-0,00.html
*Fundraising project in the wake of devastating landslide
*100,000 tree seedlings to stabilize soil banks
*Company is involved on the Philippine island of Leyte since January 2004 through a Public Private Partnership project
Stuttgart, Germany, February 27, 2006
Following the natural disaster on the Philippine island of Leyte, DaimlerChrysler AG is donating EUR 20,000 to reforest the devastated soil banks on the south of the island. The money, which is earmarked for the environmental charity Euronatur, will be used to buy around 100,000 seedlings of native rainforest trees and fruit trees. "The reforestation will help to prevent a disaster like this from happening again," said Dr. Michael J. Inacker, Head of External Affairs and Public Policy at DaimlerChrysler AG.
The Company is already familiar with the problems in the region: Since January 2004, DaimlerChrysler has been working on a different part of the island of Leyte in a Public Private Partnership with Deutsche Investitions- und Entwicklungsgesellschaft (DEG) and the University of Hohenheim. The aim of the partnership is to cultivate the shade-loving abaca fiber banana among native trees including coconut palms on a sustainable basis. This also significantly reduces soil erosion. At the same time, the Company is working to make economic use of abaca fiber in vehicle construction.
The rainforest largely vanished from the island around 50 years ago. It was cleared to make way for coconut plantations. This subsequently caused a severe catastrophe in the early 1990s: Depleted by monocultures, the soil was unable to withstand the heavy rainfall. Mudslides killed around 8,000 people in and around the town of Ormoc. "The mountains on Leyte rise sharply beyond the coast. Only a natural mixture of vegetation can guarantee that the soil on the hanging slopes stays where it is," explains Claus-Peter Hutter, President of the Foundation for European Natural Heritage (Euronatur).
As part of the DaimlerChrysler abaca project, the current fallow areas are being reforested with native trees and shrubs. The abaca fiber banana plays an important part in this process. It is distinguished in many ways by its optimal characteristics. According to tropical forest expert Friedhelm Göltenboth from the University Hohenheim, who will also be supporting the new fundraising campaign, "Abaca will even grow in the shade of tall trees, provides farmers with an additional source of income and prevents soil erosion together with other plants."
As a company committed to sustainability, DaimlerChrysler has been working for years on projects to make use of renewable raw materials in automobile construction. These include, for example, coconut fibers, flax, sisal and the abaca banana. Since September 2004, abaca fibers have been used in the spare wheel recess cover in the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and now the B-Class as well. The high performance fiber is distinguished by its excellent ecobalance and outstanding technical properties, which are similar to those of fiberglass. "The aim of the abaca project is to create a win-win situation together with our partners combining economy and technology, ecology and social aspects, and to establish an exemplary project for the region," says Prof. Herbert Kohler, Head of the Body and Powertrain Research and Chief Environmental Officer of DaimlerChrysler.
Source: DC News
Link proving source: http://www.daimlerchrysler.com/dccom...-0-0-0,00.html