Source: Avans.nl

Graduates of Dutch University receive tree as gift in new forest

Avans University in the Netherlands is growing a forest by planting trees for and with each new graduate.

Dutch uni gives a tree as a gift to all graduating students

GreenOffice students Lisa Heyman and Nick den Bol of Avans had a big dream – to give a tree as a gift to all graduating students and thus create a new forest. The aim is to help restore nature and, in the long term, to make Avans education CO2-neutral. The dream did not stop there.

The Van Gogh National Park (currently under development), Brabants Landschap, and the Municipality of ‘s-Hertogenbosch. The first 4,000 graduation trees were planted in November this year.
Lisa and Nick teamed up with the Life Terra foundation, The Van Gogh National Park (currently under development), Brabants Landschap, and the Municipality of ‘s-Hertogenbosch. The first 4,000 graduation trees were planted in November this year. Source: Avans.nl
During the next few years, the newly planted forest will grow to 100,000 trees. Source: BrightVibes
Of course, no trees will be handed out during the ‘drive-through’ graduation ceremonies that will take place at Maaspoort in ‘s-Hertogenbosch and the ice rink in Breda, among other places. Source: BrightVibes
The Avans Forest Avans Alumni plant a graduation gift that keeps on growing Source: Life Terra Foundation - Facebook
The trees will be well cared for until Life Terra plants them in November together with the alumni at a site in the Van Gogh National Park, which stretches from Breda to Helmond. Source: BrightVibes
The various species of trees will be carefully selected in a way that reflects the needs of the surrounding area in terms of promoting biodiversity. Source: BrightVibes
“We have been pleasantly surprised by the many positive responses we are receiving from Avans and fellow students,” say Nick and Lisa.
Symbol of growth: “We have been pleasantly surprised by the many positive responses we are receiving from Avans and fellow students,” say Nick and Lisa. Source: BrightVibes
“Solidary and sustainability are really key values here.” Source: BrightVibes
The Graduation Tree is a gift with a positive impact on the climate. Source: BrightVibes
The trees contribute to making Avans education CO2-neutral in due course and provide cooling the earth, and the forest has a positive effect on biodiversity. Source: BrightVibes
The Graduation Tree symbolises the development that students experience at Avans – a process that of course continues after their studies. Source: BrightVibes
“This admirable student initiative is just the first of the initiatives we want to develop in the next few years to create a robust forest and to generate greater biodiversity. It fits in with our sustainability aims and our social responsibility. It’s fantastic that the idea originated from our students themselves.”
The outgoing president of Avans and official patron of the new forest, Paul Rüpp, says, “This admirable student initiative is just the first of the initiatives we want to develop in the next few years to create a robust forest and to generate greater biodiversity. It fits in with our sustainability aims and our social responsibility. It’s fantastic that the idea originated from our students themselves.” Source: BrightVibes
All graduates are warmly invited to plant -and tag their own adopted tree during the alumni tree-planting ceremony in November. Using the GPS coordinates they receive, they can track the growth of the planted tree over the years on the Life Terra app.
Tree-planting ceremony for alumni in November. All graduates are warmly invited to plant -and tag their own adopted tree during the alumni tree-planting ceremony in November. Using the GPS coordinates they receive, they can track the growth of the planted tree over the years on the Life Terra app. Source: BrightVibes
Life Terra’s mission is to plant 500 million trees in Europe over the next five years, working towards a sustainable future for us all. Through this students’ initiative, Avans University of Applied Sciences is making an active contribution towards this ambition.
Partnership with Life Terra Life Terra’s mission is to plant 500 million trees in Europe over the next five years, working towards a sustainable future for us all. Through this students’ initiative, Avans University of Applied Sciences is making an active contribution towards this ambition. Source: BrightVibes
If someone leaves the school. If someone new comes to your school, then you can always give a tree. It’s always a super nice gift.
It’s an idea that could be implemented in any school. If someone leaves the school. If someone new comes to your school, then you can always give a tree. It’s always a super nice gift. Source: BrightVibes
“The long term vision of an education is that you are a lifelong learner. The world is changing very quickly. And everybody, you, me.., all of us are developing. And that's why it's good that we as Avans also stay connected and also invite our alumni to come back.
Sarah Wilton, board of directors Avans University of Applied Sciences said, “The long term vision of an education is that you are a lifelong learner. The world is changing very quickly. And everybody, you, me.., all of us are developing. And that’s why it’s good that we as Avans also stay connected and also invite our alumni to come back. Source: BrightVibes

Brought to you in partnership with Life Terra: let’s plant together!

Life Terra is a foundation with a mission to enable people to take impactful climate action now. We facilitate tree planting, educate future generations, and develop tree monitoring technology.

Life Terra is founded on the knowledge that tree planting is regarded as the most cost-effective nature-based solution to capture carbon. As part of a multi-faceted mitigation strategy, planting trees can play an important role in the fight against climate change and the devastation it causes (heat waves, drought, forest loss, desertification, erosion, flooding).

Life Terra seeks to bring people together to plant 500 million trees in 5 years, harnessing and monitoring nature’s own carbon capture mechanism and enabling citizens to take urgent action against the climate crisis.

Life Terra is one of Europe’s largest climate action initiatives. It brings together 15 experienced organisations from 8 countries and is led by the newly established Life Terra foundation. This project was awarded €7 million support by the Life Programme, which the consortium will use as seed money to put this initiative on the map. More information about the Life project can be found under Actions and Expected results.

  • Planting

Planting a diverse mix of tree species is essential to our planting plan. We believe firmly in “the right tree in the right place”, for more effective land restoration and greater ecosystem resilience.

  • Monitoring

Monitoring trees is important to ensure that the climate & environmental benefits we claim to make are happening! We are busy developing a state-of-the-art monitoring program, where you can track your tree.

  • Education

Education is our most valuable investment. Life Terra is working with educational specialists to create a STEM based, interactive environmental education program for children ages 8-14.

  • Community

Community involvement is key to our success. If we want to scale tree planting and speed up the pace of climate action, we need your help planting and teaching people how to plant.

  • Objectives

Life Terra is Europe’s initiative to lead the fight against climate change, prepare future generations, drive greener policies across the board and generate investment and growth in green jobs.

Source: LifeTerra 

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