The world is getting warmer by the day, this is the reason many sectors across the globe are undertaking measures to promote sustainable actions on climate change.
The 54th edition of Magical Kenya Open (MKO) ongoing at the par 71 Muthaiga Golf Club in Nairobi has not been left out in the promotion of actions that are combating global warming.
For every birdie scored by each of the 156 golfers who are looking for glory in the global showpiece at Muthaiga, which is part of the DP World Tour, tournament sponsors Absa Bank Kenya, who have sunk Sh 70 million in the contest, will plant 100 trees.
A birdie is a golf score that is one stroke lower than the par on a specific hole. The initiative, therefore, allows golfers competing in the tournament, to have an opportunity to contribute go sustainable actions on climate change
The Birdies for Trees initiative started at Muthaiga on Thursday and the leading financial institution is eager to plant 200,000 trees by the end of the year across the country especially during the long rainy season. Absa is committed to plant 10 million trees in the next five years.
The Birdies for Trees initiative is in line with Standard Group PLC commitment to support sustainable actions on climate change. The Standard Group is also the official media partner at the ongoing MKO in Muthaiga.
"In the spirit of Africanacity, that African spirit of always finding a creative way to get things done, we have found a resourceful means to tap into the unique power of sports, such as golf.
"We are using it to rally our stakeholders around sustainability and climate action through this initiative," Charles Wokabi, Absa's Head of Sustainability, Communications, and Corporate Relations told Standard Sports.
"We are looking forward to collaborating with more like-minded partners both in the public and private sector in amplifying this critical agenda while also raising awareness of climate change amongst our stakeholders to become more environmentally conscious.
"We encourage them to adopt appropriate solutions to mitigate environmental impact.Additionally, as a further demonstration of our commitment to the important sustainability agenda, all elements of our event set-up at the Muthaiga Golf Club, where we are hosting diverse stakeholders and customers in the four days of the tournament, are sourced sustainably, either through repurposed or recycled material," Wokabi underlined.
"As Standard Group, we are also supporting sustainable actions on climate change like the Fruity Schools Initiative, where we encourage communities and schools to plant fruit trees," Charles Kimathi, the Standard Group PLC Head of Corporate Affairs, underlined when the giant media outlet partnered with Lukenya University to support the forthcoming One Million Trees Marathon recently.
The inaugural race is slated for Lukenya University, Mtito Andei Campus in Tsavo East on March 26.
Winners of the race whose theme "Running For A Greener Future" will each walk home Sh500, 000 richer, in both men and women categories.
Former women's World Marathon record holder Tegla Loroupe and double women's world marathon champion Catherine Ndereba are some of the athletics legends who will grace the marathon.
Other invited athletes are the double men's half marathon champion Patrick Makau and two-time Boston marathon champion Cosmas Ndeti.
The Standard Group also advocates for sustainable actions on climate change through the Standard County Golf Classic Series that traverses Kenyan counties every year.
The Birdies for Trees initiative began as Birdies for Good during the 2021 MKO at the Karen Golf and Country Club in Nairobi.
It has so far raised over Sh11 million which have been used for long-term community development projects and national tree planting initiatives.
In 2021, the bank, in collaboration with the European Tour, raised close to Sh 8 Million from 1881 birdies scored during the 52nd edition of the MKO and the Kenya Savannah Classic.
The funds were used to support long-term community-based initiatives in Laikipia, Samburu, and Isiolo that address a variety of community challenges such as period poverty, desertification, and insufficient girl-child education.
In 2022, the initiative reinforced its sustainability commitments by using furniture made of waste timber that had been compacted and compressed, as well as up-cycled bicycles, which assisted in efforts to save trees.
The initiative also saw over 3,000 fruit trees planted in primary schools across the country. This followed an impressive performance by both local and international pro golfers who registered a score of 1,524 birdies in the MKO last year.
The bank ensured two fruit trees were planted for every birdie that was made on the pristine Muthaiga golf course. Each fruit tree was estimated to cost Sh1, 200 to effectively plant and grow.
