Act

Taimiteko – Seedling Action

Trees planted
400 000

4H’s Taimiteko (i.e. Seedling Action or Seedling Deed) is a good deed for the environment and for employing young people. The aim of planting trees is to employ young Finns and to increase the carbon sinks of Finnish forests. Young people get summer work experience by planting seedlings in areas that have not been in active forestry or agriculture use for decades, or that have ceased to act as peat production areas. Taimiteko uses spruce and pine seedlings.

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Purpose

Taimiteko’s goal is to plant 10,000 hectares of new forest by 2030, which means a total amount of about 20 million new trees. Our purpose is to increase the carbon sinks in Finland, thus fight global warming on a national scale and employ younp people, mainly thiose that are under 18 years old.

Results

Taimiteko started in the spring of 2019 and by the end of 2021 the young people employed by Taimiteko have planted almost 400 000 new trees, which means over 180 hectares. In the process we have emplyed over 400 young people.

Taimiteko has attracted dozens of sponsors: companies, communities, foundations and labor associations. In the fall of 2020 we launched a Seedling Shop, where private citizens can donate seedlings to be planted via Taimiteko.

Implementation

Natural Resources Institute Finland made thorough carbon dioxide calculations. These were used to estimate how much new forest should be planted yearly in order to compensate emissions. The calculator used in Taimiteko is based on these calculations.

Based on this idea, Taimiteko was formed, and today it is a part of 4H Finland’s strategy. Forestation and forest management have been in 4H’s agenda for long, but only Seedling Deed has made it possible to combine creation of new forest, employment of young people and a change for organisations to compensate their carbon dioxide emissions. The practical planting of the seeds is being coordinated by the local 4H associations.

Over 200 local associations hire and make employment contracts for the young employees. Employees receive training for the job and safety at work is being ensured. In addition to providing earning opportunities the goal is to further and teach good working life skills of young people. Employees receive a piecework pay from planting the seeds

Impact
Excitement
Replicability
Project Director, Sustainable Everyday Life at Sitra
Markus Terho
Co-founder at Solved - The Cleantech Company
Janne
Review

This Planet Act combines environmental and social responsibility aspects and can be utilized by organizations as a way to compensate for their CO2 emissions and that raises the replicability of this act.

About Markus
A corporate responsibility veteran, with over two decades in the industry. He has held several notable positions, among them, he has served as the global sustainability chief at Nokia. There he has managed global corporate responsibility activities, environmental and social responsibility, social investment portfolios as well as disaster relief and charity donations.
Review

The potential impact of this act is huge. 20 million new trees will capture a remarkable amount of CO2 during the growth (one cubic meter of the tree is roughly equivalent to 1 ton of CO2). On top of that employing young people is one of the top priorities.

About Janne
A serial entrepreneur and seasoned expert on energy and circular economy with more than 25 years of experience in the global business environment. Co-founder of 4 platform companies and currently a member of two national energy innovation jurys.

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