Take to the air with a clear conscience

AIR travellers are being asked to buy a tree for every two hours they spend flying. Guernsey company trees4travel will use the money to fight global warming. It plans to create huge forests around the world.

Islanders have already bought 5,000 trees, at a cost of £1.99 each, since the company's launch last month.

'It relieves people's guilt,' said founder Martyn Trebert.

'In Guernsey we have little choice but to fly, but this really does work. Its whole purpose is not to make things look pretty, but to get the job done.'

The trees will be planted as far away as Costa Rica and Canada but also in the UK.

'What's important is that it is a tangible product - people know what they're buying when they give their money,' said Mr Trebert.

'One tree will offset the CO2 emissions of a return flight from Guernsey to London.'

Only native trees are being planted.

The company has arranged a government-approved reforestation space in Costa Rica for 350,000 trees of 55 species. They include teak, Spanish cedar and mahogany.

Spruce and aspen are being planted in Canada and in the UK it will mainly be oak.

The company is also negotiating the use of a massive reforestation area in the Brazilian rainforest.

The oxygen produced by the trees counterbalances the harmful greenhouse gases produced by burning fuel. They will also help to keep the earth's temperature under control.

Each tree lives, on average, between 80 and 100 years. Every person who buys one will receive a certificate naming the species and where it is planted.

Mr Trebert plans to set up webcams in the reforestation sites. A GPS location is also given, allowing people to find their tree online through programmes such as Google Earth.

'I've always been interested in trees,' he said. 'This is something that everyone should be doing, but haven't been able to. But now they can because it's cheap, easy and cost-effective.'

Mr Trebert has been involved with environmental projects for many years. In 1991, he developed the concept of recycling printer parts such as ribbons and cartridges.

Ribbon Revival became a franchised project with 38 operations in the UK and 12 elsewhere.

States tree officer Andy McCutcheon is acting as an advisor. He will go to the Costa Rica site soon to check on its progress.

Robert Arlott, the son of former cricket commentator John, and his wife, Sophie, are also involved.

* For more information, log on to www.trees4travel.com.