Feldkirchen bei Graz, 10 June 2022: With the motto “ÖKOPROFIT plants trees and creates habitats”, this year ÖKOPROFIT has been looking for companies which would either plant trees, or even make sites available to other companies for planting. Graz Airport was also very pleased to get involved. So 20 different large-crowned trees have been planted on land at Graz Airport by various companies and by the municipality of Feldkírchen, as well as by the ÖKPROFIT team at the Graz Environment Agency.
“Trees are a place of refuge for many different animal species, and they have a positive influence on our (micro)climate”, explains Wolfgang Grimus, Managing Director of Graz Airport, “so we were delighted to be involved in the campaign by the Graz Environment Agency by providing land for a total of 20 trees. We have also planted Hungarian oaks ourselves together with ÖKOPROFIT.”
“Graz Airport owns the largest, extensively cultivated meadow areas in both the immediate surrounding and further away”, says Jürgen Löschnig, Managing Director of Graz Airport. “Upgrading this green area, for instance by suppressing non-native plant species or by means of today’s tree campaign, is very important to us!”
Roland Kloss, Head of the ÖKOPROFIT Division: “We just can’t plant enough trees! Thank you to all the companies which are participating here and sending out a small signal. We still have to do much, much, much more for climate protection.” Airport is home to ÖKOPROFIT’s first avenue of trees In total, 20 large-crowned trees which are five metres in height have been planted by 17 companies and the municipality of Feldkírchen, as well as by the ÖKPROFIT team at the Graz Environment Agency. The trees were provided by the Ledolter tree nursery, which also participated in the campaign with two honey locust trees. All the tree sponsors are shown on a panel in the airport entrance area.
In its lifetime, one large-crowned tree binds approximately 10 kg of CO2 a year It is not just during heatwaves that we are aware of the crucial role trees play for a pleasant microclimate; they are also important for biodiversity. Countless different insect species, birds, and also pine martens, bats and squirrels make their home here.
ÖKOPROFIT is an environment programme from the Graz Environment Agency, which benefits the environment and the economy. Graz Airport has already been involved in this programme for many years, and has received awards 23 times for its environmental achievements.
Photo: Graz Airport. The tree sponsors.
