Earth Times: Bayer Plants Trees With Chartiers Valley Intermediate School Students, Provides Free Environmental Education Materials

PITTSBURGH, 12 November 2007 - Reaffirming its commitment to sustainability and social responsibility, today Bayer employee-volunteers and Chartiers Valley Intermediate School third-graders rolled up their sleeves, grabbed their spades and planted trees on the school's campus, as the company announced that it has joined the United Nations Environment Programme's (UNEP) Plant for the Planet: The Billion Tree Campaign.

This announcement by Bayer marks the local commitment to the company's global pledge to UNEP's Billion Tree Campaign, which strives to combat climate change by encouraging individuals and organizations to plant at least one billion trees around the world by the end of 2007. Earlier this spring, Bayer AG in Germany pledged to help plant trees in Nairobi. Also, Bayer Corporation in the United States pledged $100,000 from the Bayer Foundation to the National Arbor Day Foundation to help plant 100,000 trees in an effort to reforest America's national parks damaged by fire, drought, disease and disaster.

In addition, through its local Making Science Make Sense(R) (MSMS) program, Bayer is providing free environmental education CDs to Chartiers Valley Intermediate School students and teachers. The CDs feature fun facts about trees and the environment, hands-on science activities and several MSMS audio series segments, like "Why do leaves change colors?" and "Why do pruned trees grow fuller?"

"Making Science Make Sense is about providing students with the kind of quality hands-on, inquiry-based science education that builds science literacy," said Dr. Attila Molnar, President and CEO, Bayer Corporation. "With the Billion Tree Campaign, we at Bayer are able to help students make the connection between science literacy and climate, while reinforcing the notion that everyone has a responsibility when it comes to environmental protection -- from the largest companies like Bayer that are working to develop innovative and environmentally sound products and practices, to private citizens who can help by carpooling, shutting off light switches, and, in this case, planting trees."

The impact of trees on climate is well documented. For example, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen, enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people. In addition, the net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day.

"Trees are vital to a healthy community and planting trees today is helping to leave a legacy for future generations," said Ronald Yasher, principal of Chartiers Valley Intermediate School, which is one of Bayer's partner schools. "We are extremely grateful for Bayer's strong support for this and other programs."