voluntary work was undertaken - 1000 young pine trees were planted next to the area of large woodland which was destroyed by fire last year located not far from Smiltyne.
voluntary work was undertaken - 1000 young pine trees were planted next to the area of large woodland which was destroyed by fire last year located not far from Smiltyne. The administration of the Courland National Park organised voluntary work, and the employees and insurance consultants at Commercial Union Lithuania Life Insurance offered to participate.
The woodland is vitally important in combating the sand blowing wind in the Neringa dunes. Several centuries ago when the woods of the Kursiu Nerija (Courland Spit) were felled, sand enveloped several villages, and areas of land succumbed to the sea, leaving bare crests of hills. It was only from the middle of the 19th century that care of what remained in the Courland Spit was taken seriously as well as the strengthening of the dunes and the planting of trees. This time the woods have been burning in almost the entire Courland Spit, but this is because of disastrous human action, blazes, air pollution and diseases, hectares of trees being destroyed or felled for the foresters, whilst protecting remaining areas.
This time around 100 Commercial Union Lithuania employees and insurance consultants are voluntarily participating in the various social projects, giving assistance to the staff administering the Courland Spit National Park. This Saturday 1,000 common two year pine seedlings were replanted next to the location where the fire occurred, in a 0.8 hectare area which was destroyed, and rubbish was gathered up and the ground prepared for other seedlings.
This is not the first time that Commercial Union Lithuania has assisted in the work in Neringa. In August Commercial union Lithuania employees and insurance consultants from all operating company departments around Lithuania gathered up everyday waste, tidied up the area destroyed by fire, strengthened the dunes in the area of the Smiltyne fire, the dunes in Preilai, and on the beaches at Juodkrante.
This year Commercial Union Lithuania employees and insurance consultants are also planning for 2% of residents income tax to be transferred to the fund supporting the administration of the Courland Spit National Park. Using these funds which have been collected, the administration of the park intends to acquire modern technological equipment for surveillance of the woodlands, dunes and plant seedlings. Next year there are plans afoot to yet again replant some young woodland which has gone to ruin by a large fire.
"It is important to understand that we can create this world in which we will live for one, ten or a hundred years, with our own hands and our own work and of that we have no doubt", states the director of Commercial Union Lithuania Asta Ungulaitiene. "We want to encourage people to protect these assets which were given to us by nature. This is a concern for every one of us regardless of profession or social status. We also invite other companies, schools and families to rally to help tidy up and clean the natural world and to be able to breathe in fresh air in the spring."
"We very much appreciate and always willingly accept the help of the residents of Lithuania. We would not be able to replant large areas of woodland using our own energy alone. It was splendid to see that amongst the plethora of everyday concerns the employees and insurance consultants of Commercial Union Lithuania also found time for social needs" - states Jolanta Lygutaite managing director of Courland Spit National Park, sharing her thoughts.
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For additional information please contact:
Vaidotas Aleksiunas
UAB "Commercial union Lietuva Gyvybes draudimas
(Commercial Union Lithuania Life Insurance Ltd)
Marketing and Public Relations Manager
Telephone: (8-5) 269 06 20
Mobile: (8 682)22 01
E-mail vaidotas_aleksiunas@cu.lt
Indre Minderiene
UAB "Commercial union Lietuva Gyvybes draudimas
(Commercial Union Lithuania Life Insurance Ltd)
Marketing and Public Relations Specialist
Telephone: (8-5) 269 06 10
E-mail indre_minderiene@cu.lt
Notes to editors:
The company Commercial Union Lithuania Life Insurance belongs to Aviva the fifth largest insurance group worldwide and the socially responsible business programme was carried out on a group scale. With more than 300 years operating experience worldwide and serving 40 million clients the group has a long running established tradition of social responsibility which extends to everything in the consciousness of the business community. Commercial Union Lithuania together with other Lithuanian enterprises and business associations and the development programme of related peoples has founded a national network of enterprises with social responsibility in Lithuania and this year is an active member of this network.