Positive Impact: IKEA protecting forests

Ikea bought 11,000 acres of forest in Georgia to protect it from development

Swedish retail giant IKEA bought a forest!

And no, they will not be making furniture from its trees but instead are protecting it from development, huzzah!

The Ingka Group, which owns the majority of Ikea stores, purchased 10,840 acres of land near the Altamaha River Basin.

"We truly believe responsible forest management is possible and we see that a large part of our responsibility towards the land we own -- and by extension the planet -- is to restore forests and plant more than we harvest," stated Ingka Investments managing director Krister Mattsson. 

"In all our properties nature conservation is important. In this particular US investment in Georgia, first it is important that the land cannot be broken up into small units and it remains forever forestland."

The land was acquired from The Conservation Fund, whose President, Larry Selzer, expressed, "We are honored to work with Ingka Group and applaud its dedication to preserve and enhance forest quality in the U.S. and Europe. Well-managed forests provide essential benefits, including clean water and important wildlife habitat, as well as mitigating climate change."

More than 350 plant and wildlife species live in the forest, including the endangered longleaf pine and gopher tortoise, who thankfully now have their home protected.

Looking after this forest is part of Ikea’s commitment to becoming climate positive, with the objective to reduce more greenhouse gas emissions than they emit by 2030.  

Let’s hope more companies take a leaf out of Ikea’s forest and follow suit!

Source: CNN

Author: David Brodecky