Tourisme Montréal contributes to an agroforestry project to offset its CO2 emissions

MONTREAL, Jan. 28, 2014 /CNW Telbec/ - In its efforts to promote Montréal abroad and attract ever-increasing numbers of tourists to its metropolis, in 2013 the team at Tourisme Montréal has racked up over 920,000 km worth of business travel that produced 165 tons of CO₂¹_. Actively involved in sustainable development issues, the Tourisme Montréal office has chosen to offset its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by making a symbolic contribution to an agroforestry project implemented by Montréal Space for Life.

Through the Space for Life Foundation, the Tourisme Montréal office will donate $4,000 to the Montréal Botanical Garden's scientific research and development division in order to fund research in the metropolitan area, specifically in the municipalities of Notre-Dame-de-l'Île-Perrot and Saint-Télesphore. The plantation of trees and bushes will take place in the spring of 2014.

"Because of our interest in sustainable development, we have chosen to offset the GHG emissions associated with the air travel of our employees by supporting a Montréal organization. At the same time, this donation enables us to finance research to combat climate change, a cause that we consider particularly important for the tourism industry," said Yves Lalumière, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tourisme Montréal.

Agroforestry is a dynamic, ecologically based, natural resources management system that, through the integration of trees on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains production for increased social, economic and environmental benefits for land users at all levels.²

"We are very happy that Tourisme Montréal is participating in this project. Their funding will enable us to increase the number of trees we can plant and monitor their growth in order to better understand carbon sequestration," said Alain Cogliastro, Ph.D., a researcher at the Montréal Botanical Garden's.

As part of the greening process the organization initiated in 2008 and has been implementing for almost three years, Tourisme Montréal has been working to reduce its environmental footprint and encourage the tourism industry to go green. This is the fourth donation of its kind made by Tourisme Montréal.

In order to help mobilize the industry, the organization set up a green committee for the Montréal tourism community as well as a sub-committee tasked with responding to specific issues affecting environmentally responsible conventions. Starting last fall, an online Toolkit has also been made available for event organizers.

Business and leisure travellers seeking eco-friendly travel options will find a number of helpful tips on the Green Montréal section of Tourisme Montréal's website.

About Montréal Space for Life
Montréal Space for Life, the first space in the world dedicated to humankind and nature, brings together the Montréal Biodôme, Botanical Garden, Insectarium and Rio Tinto Alcan Planetarium. Together they are committed to safeguarding and showcasing biodiversity and invite people from Canada and around the world to join in this bold, creative urban movement.

About Tourisme Montréal
Tourisme Montréal leads the way in the collective effort to promote and position Montréal as a premier destination for business and leisure travel. It is also responsible for keeping Montréal's tourism product in sync with constantly evolving markets. For more information, go to www.tourisme-Montréal.org.

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¹ Found using the Planetair Calculation Tool.
² Source: World Agroforestry Centre

SOURCE: Tourisme Montréal

Alexandra Graveline
Manager - Corporate Public Relations
Tourisme Montréal
514 844-3558
[email protected]