The Million Trees Foundation Inc. (MTFI) received a major boost to its massive tree planting projects with a 23,700 euros (about PHP1.4 million) grant from Grundfos Foundation of Denmark following a memorandum of agreement (MOA) signed Thursday.

MTFI president and executive director Melandrew Velasco and Grundfos country director Thomas Mikkelsen signed the MOA at the SMC Multi-Purpose Center inside the MTFI nursery and eco learning center in Quezon City.

“This project grant for Million Trees Foundation has been approved over projects from other places in the world. This means that our foundation committee thinks that this is a very worthwhile cause and that it goes very well together with our company values,” Mikkelsen said.

The MOA calls for the procurement and planting of 5,000 seedlings/saplings involving fruit bearing and indigenous trees; monitoring the actual process of reforestation or rehabilitation needed for one year and replacement of dead saplings if the need arises; re-bagging of 1,500 seedlings; and maintenance, operational and information campaign support for the MTFI and the project.

The signing was witnessed by the Grundfos IS Support and Operation team manager Josephine Dela Cerna, and staff members Kassandra Anne Carmesis, Justine Mislang, Adreian Villanueva and Jerome Dominic Atendido.

Grundfos Foundation supports not only the healthy economic growth and development but also donates funds to vital philanthropic projects like the MTFI, Mikkelsen said.

“I like very much that it is not just, as Mr. Mel Velasco emphasized earlier, we are not just planting the trees and then that’s it. No, it goes further than that. It’s thinking about how we can integrate this. We talked about the walking trail, but also to integrate education. What we need to do is not just to fix the immediate problem, we need to change the mindset for the future. And the only way we can do that is by educating people,” he added.

Mikkelsen commended the efforts of MFTI for serving as the lead non-government organization of the Annual Million Trees Challenge of the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System that started the project in 2017.

In collaboration with partner stakeholders, MFTI has so far planted 6.8 million trees as of 2022 to protect the seven critical watersheds — Angat, Ipo, Kaliwa, La Mesa, Laguna Lake, Umiray, and Upper Marikina, including Manila Bay.

“We have a purpose, that is to help the water with the world’s climate and water challenges. With water, we can do a lot with our products and our technology to bring water to the people. That’s what we can really deliver. But in order to protect water, no amount of technology can do that. That’s where Mother Nature comes in,” Mikkelsen said.

The latest round of Grundfos community grants approved, roughly amounting to Danish krone 6.5 million (about PHP52 million), will also fund projects from Argentina, Romania, Spain, Slovakia, Ghana, South Africa, Peru, Chile, Denmark, Ethiopia, Colombia, Nigeria and Belgium.

There is still euro 1.3 million (about PHP77 million) available for the year and a new framework will be available in 2024.

All employees in companies within the Grundfos Group can submit applications on behalf of local organizations operating within the areas of water, climate and people.

The Denmark-based Grundfos is a full range supplier of pumps and pump solutions. (PNA)