The Arbor Day Foundation Partners With Andriaki Shipping to Plant 100,000 Trees in the Mississippi River Valley

LINCOLN, Nebraska (January 21, 2021) – Andriaki Shipping, a marine shipping company based in Greece, will partner with the Arbor Day Foundation to plant 100,000 trees in the Mississippi Alluvial Valley, one of the most ecologically degraded regions in the United States.

“We are thrilled to continue our partnership with Andriaki Shipping, this year supporting the restoration of one of North America’s most critical wetland resources,” said Dan Lambe, president of the Arbor Day Foundation. “The Mississippi Alluvial Valley is an important wildlife habitat, a watershed for millions of people, and an economic resource for individuals and communities – its revitalization will make a positive impact for generations to come.” 

The Mississippi River is a critical body of water in North America for commerce, climate, and energy. It is the largest river in the United States and the third-largest in the world. Its watershed is comprised of 33 states and two Canadian provinces. Each year over 505,000 metric tons of product valued at $80–$114 billion travels down the river.

Originally the area was covered with 25 million acres of forestland, but currently less than 5 million acres remain forested, which has dramatically affected the ecosystem. The loss of this precious resource has resulted in a decline of the wildlife as well as in the water quality that has since lead to an increasing dead zone in the Gulf of Mexico. This conversion of forestland has also resulted in the loss of its natural flood control buffer.

“Dedication to environmental sustainability is part of our vision; we are therefore very enthusiastic to partner with Arbor Day Foundation and support their efforts to facilitate change around the globe,” said Dimitrios S. Korkodilos, CEO, Andriaki Shipping Co. Ltd.

About the Arbor Day Foundation

Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation has grown to become the largest nonprofit membership organization dedicated to planting trees, with more than one million members, supporters and valued partners. Since 1972, more than 400 million Arbor Day Foundation trees have been planted in neighborhoods, communities, cities and forests throughout the world. Our vision is to help others understand and use trees as a solution to many of the global issues we face today, including air quality, water quality, climate change, deforestation, poverty and hunger.

As one of the world's largest operating conservation foundations, the Arbor Day Foundation, through its members, partners and programs, educates and engages stakeholders and communities across the globe to involve themselves in its mission of planting, nurturing and celebrating trees. More information is available at arborday.org.