Building Sustainable Environmental Infrastructure by Planting 10,000 Siberian Elms
KT&G Expands "Forest of Imagination" Project in Mongolia to Combat Desertification
KT&G announced on May 12 that, following Ulaanbaatar, it will create a "Forest of Imagination" in Argalant to help address the problem of desertification in Mongolia.
The KT&G Welfare Foundation Forest and Agriculture Center plans to plant 10,000 Siberian elms, known for their resilience even in Mongolia's harsh environment, in the Argalant area and install an irrigation system to establish sustainable environmental infrastructure. In addition, together with the non-profit organization Green Asia, they will provide education to local residents and hire them as local staff. Through this initiative, Argalant residents will be involved in planting and irrigation work, ensuring the ongoing management and maintenance of the Forest of Imagination.
KT&G Welfare Foundation officials and participants are conducting the tree planting activity of the "Forest of Imagination" on the 10th. [Photo by KT&G]
The funding for the Argalant Forest of Imagination was raised through the "Imagination Fund," a donation fund voluntarily contributed by KT&G employees. The Imagination Fund, launched in 2011 as KT&G's social contribution fund, operates as a matching grant program in which employees voluntarily donate a portion of their monthly salaries, and the company matches the same amount. Previously, KT&G created the Forest of Imagination in Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, three times since 2022 to prevent desertification in Mongolia.
A KT&G Welfare Foundation official stated, "We have expanded the creation of the Forest of Imagination to respond to climate change and preserve the ecosystem in Mongolia," and added, "In the future, we will continue to focus on improving global environmental issues and fulfill our social responsibilities as a global corporate citizen by carrying out customized social contribution activities in each country."
Meanwhile, KT&G signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Asian Forest Cooperation Organization (AFoCO) and is working to promote forest management and mitigate the impacts of climate change in Asia. These efforts include supporting the restoration and prevention of recurrence of wildfire-affected areas in Abai Province, eastern Kazakhstan, where a large-scale wildfire occurred in 2023, as well as creating mangrove forests in Indonesia.
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