Corporate sector in action: Yves Rocher Group pledges 1 million trees in support of the Billion Tree Campaign at press conference with Achim Steiner and Wangari Maathai

Nairobi, Kenya - The Yves Rocher Group announced their pledge to plant one million trees as a contribution to Plant for the Planet: Billion Tree Campaign in a press conference today at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi.

"I am here today, side by side with Professor Wangari Maathai and the Executive Director of UNEP, Achim Steiner, to pledge a million trees towards the Billion Tree Campaign which UNEP coordinates so successfully," said Jacques Rocher, President, Yves Rocher Foundation and Director, Sustainable Development and Prospective. Mr. Rocher also called for the campaign to be extended beyond 2007.

The Yves Rocher Group, the world's first brand of botanical cosmetics, is present in more than 80 countries, and Mr. Rocher stated that, "Through us, this important message will be passed on to the 30 million women customers of Yves Rocher. In turn, our clients will disseminate your message and will advocate for the Billion Tree Campaign. They will be part of the movement which you inspired with great vision, and they will act as spokespersons for UNEP to continue to spread the word and contribute to sustainable development on our one planet, the one we all share and must care for."

As of today, the Billion Tree Campaign website registers over 613 million tree planting pledges, already exceeding the half-way mark just three months into the campaign.

* Remarks by Mr. Jacques Rocher, President of the Yves Rocher Foundation and Director of Sustainable Development and Prospective
[pdf - 50 KB]

* Additional information on the Yves Rocher Group and the Green Belt Movement may be found on the following websites:
The Yves Rocher Group: http://www.yves-rocher.com/
The Green Belt Movement: http://www.greenbeltmovement.org/

* Two more for the Billion Tree Campaign [pdf - 50 KB]

* Transformations - Weekly publication of the World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF)