SACREMENTO, CA and QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA -- 11/04/09 --
ECO2 Forests Inc.
(PINKSHEETS: ECOF), an international sustainable forestry company focused
on reforestation and carbon sequestration projects, has announced a
five-year contract with Empress Trees to supply Kiri Tree nursery stock for
planting in its Global Forestry Plan projects for the next five years.
The contract will see an immediate supply of nursery stock for the recently
acquired ECO2 Forests Research and Development Centre (RDC) in Jimboomba,
Queensland. Empress Trees will also closely collaborate with the RDC in
further development and linear selection of the species and in the
refinement of nursery-stock matrices and mass propagation techniques.
"This contract with Empress Trees positions ECO2 Forests well for the
coming planting season in the Asia Pacific Region and in Australia. We are
currently finalizing the evaluation of a number of projects, which will
provide the opportunity for us to begin planting in this growing season
from November through to March," Chief Operating Officer Ray Smith said
today.
Empress Trees will propagate and supply 150,000 nursery stock seedlings for
the RDC alone, where ECO2 Forests will grow a small scale Kiri Tree forest
for R&D purposes based on the Global Forestry Plan planting systems, as
well as develop its own nursery stock generation capability to back up
Global Forestry Plan projects.
Nursery stock supply is expected to reach 3 million in years two and three
of the contract. Flexibility in the ECO2 Forests nursery stock generation
process allows rapid production increases to meet surge requirements for
new and additional projects as and when required.
"The Kiri Tree is an extremely durable species which allows direct nursery
stock distribution from the RDC to projects around the world for immediate
planting. This process allows us to plant the moment the land is ready for
the Kiri trees, ensuring we optimize each stage of the Global Forestry
Plan," added Smith.
The Kiri Tree is a deciduous hardwood tree developed by ECO2 Forests
consultants over the last 20 years for implementation in the company's
Global Forestry Plan and is the ideal sustainable alternative to most
traditional forestry projects. The Kiri Tree grows remarkably quickly,
typically growing 30-35 feet (10-12 meters) in the first growing season.
After the first growth season, the leaves on a tree can grow up to a meter
wide, absorbing up to ten times as much carbon dioxide (CO2) from the
atmosphere as other trees.
This huge level of carbon sequestration will allow a single Kiri Tree, at
full maturity, to have sequestered more than two tons of CO2. The carbon
sequestration generates carbon credits which ECO2 Forests intends to sell
through carbon markets to help governments and organizations to meet their
carbon emission reduction targets.
After 3-5 years, the Kiri reaches up to 65 feet (20 meters) on average. The
trunk then thickens to yield up to 2.5 cubic meters of timber after 7-8
years.
"As global demand for timber, and in particular sustainably managed timber,
continues to rise, and carbon emissions continues to become a critical part
of everyday business, ECO2 Forests, with the Global Forestry Plan and the
Kiri Tree, is strongly positioned to capitalize on this demand as our
Global Forestry network expands," Ray Smith said.
About ECO2 Forests Inc.
ECO2 Forest Inc. (PINKSHEETS: ECOF) is an international sustainable
forestry company focused on reforestation projects and carbon credit
production under our Global Forestry Plan for a positive environmental and
economic impact through large-scale bio-sequestration of carbon dioxide
greenhouse gases and the growth and sale of sustainable timber to global
markets.
Our unique Intellectual Property vested in Kiri Tree reforestation
positions the company well to take advantage of the emerging demand for
renewable forests and the escalating carbon credit market.
Headquartered in Sacramento, California, the company has adopted an 'E4
Philosophy' to ensure positive Environmental, Economic, Employment and
Educational outcome is achieved in all of its reforestation projects.
For more information please visit www.eco2forests.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
This press release contains statements which may constitute
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Securities Act of
1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended by the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Prospective investors are
cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of
future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, and that actual
results may differ materially from those contemplated by such
forward-looking statements. Important factors currently known to management
that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in
forward-looking statements include fluctuation of operating results, the
ability to compete successfully, and the ability to complete
before-mentioned transactions. The Company undertakes no obligation to
update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions,
the occurrence of unanticipated events, or changes to future operating
results.
For all media enquiries please contact:
United States
Amber Macalam
ECO2 Forests Inc.
P) (916) 979-1000
E) Email Contact
W) www.eco2forests.com
Australia
Andrew Laing
ECO2 Forests Inc.
P) (+61) 420 971 030
E) Email Contact
W) www.eco2forests.com
