Following the September 2023 earthquake in Morocco, the search engine Ecosia pledged one day’s profits to support recovery in the High Atlas region through the High Atlas Foundation. The collaboration has led to the planting of 80,000 trees, repair of irrigation systems, and installation of solar panels, benefiting 50,000 families while addressing environmental sustainability and economic recovery.
In September 2023, a catastrophic earthquake severely affected the High Atlas region of Morocco, devastating local farms and displacing families. In response, the search engine Ecosia pledged to donate the profits from its searches on a specific day last year to the High Atlas Foundation (HAF) to assist in the recovery efforts, which included restoring infrastructure and planting 200,000 trees. A year later, the collaboration has successfully led to the planting of 80,000 trees, the repair of numerous irrigation systems, and the installation of 60 solar panels throughout the affected villages. President of HAF, Mr. Yossef Ben-Meir, highlighted the extent of the earthquake’s impact, noting that 50,000 families in the region suffered from the disaster. He detailed the loss of homes and ongoing shelter crises faced by many families, stating, “A village of 300 people lost half its people. Many villages were completely devastated.” Ecosia’s Chief Tree Planting Officer, Mr. Pieter van Midwoud, characterized the initiative to allocate profits for recovery as an obvious choice, emphasizing the longstanding relationship with farmers in the affected villages. “It’s a moment where you put everything aside and say ‘we have to do this,’” he remarked. Over the last eight years, Ecosia has collaborated with the HAF and local farmers, establishing eight nurseries that provide seedlings essential for agricultural sustainability in the High Atlas region. The cultivation of carob, olive, and nut trees is critical for enhancing both ecosystem resilience against erosion and adaptation to climate change. Mr. van Midwoud pointed out that following the earthquake, the focus shifted to the most affected areas, prioritizing the restoration of essential water and energy infrastructure. Mr. Ben-Meir described HAF’s mission as fostering community development, emphasizing the community’s desire to diversify crops and move beyond traditional barley and corn farming. Compounded by a severe six-year drought, these efforts also seek to bolster local resilience through self-sustaining revenue initiatives. He noted the potential of tree planting projects to generate income while contributing to broader social and human development. In conclusion, the nurseries supported by Ecosia are producing vital seedlings tailored to farmers’ needs, achieving independence through a system where farmers financially support their seedling requirements. This initiative has essentially created “tree planting machines” in the High Atlas mountains, representing a sustainable legacy for future generations.
The article discusses the aftermath of the earthquake that struck Morocco’s High Atlas region in September 2023, highlighting the significant destruction caused in local communities reliant on agriculture. The involvement of the search engine Ecosia, which pledged its profits to aid recovery efforts through the High Atlas Foundation, emphasizes the role of corporate responsibility in disaster response and community development. This collaboration has led to significant environmental restoration efforts, including tree planting and infrastructure repair, crucial for rebuilding local economies.
The partnership between Ecosia and the High Atlas Foundation demonstrates a proactive approach to recovery following natural disasters by integrating environmental restoration with community development. The successful planting of trees and repair of infrastructure not only restores the local environment but also provides economic opportunities for families affected by the earthquake, fostering resilience against future challenges.
Original Source: www.forbes.com
