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Cruz Roja (Red Cross) in Andalucía has planted 9,900 native trees as part of a wider project to offset its carbon footprint and support ecological restoration. The work has taken place on farms in El Burgo, Málaga, and Valverde del Camino, Huelva, with volunteers and programme beneficiaries helping to create greener, more biodiverse woodland areas.

 

Since the beginning of 2025, more than 200 people have taken part in the planting effort. Together they have introduced native species including pines, olive trees, carob trees, poplars, ash trees, elms, cork oaks and holm oaks. The aim is not just to plant trees, but to help build more resilient natural spaces over time.

 

Most of the work has focused on the Los Machos estate in Valverde del Camino, where 7,640 trees have been planted across 50 hectares. The remaining saplings have gone into a ten-hectare plot in El Burgo, in Málaga province. In many cases, new trees have been planted to replace others that did not survive, as Cruz Roja also takes responsibility for maintaining the reforested areas and replanting when needed.

 

The initiative forms part of the CO(mpensa)2 project, which is designed to offset emissions that cannot be directly reduced. Through this work, Cruz Roja says it has already cut its carbon footprint by 50% in Andalucía. The project also supports the creation of carbon sinks and helps increase biodiversity in the areas where the trees are planted.

 

Cruz Roja has also become the first social organisation registered in the Andalusian Emissions Compensation System, known as SACE, under the Regional Ministry of the Environment. That commitment includes measuring and recording its carbon footprint, reducing emissions and improving carbon absorption through practical steps such as solar panels, water-saving measures, better lighting, fleet renewal and lower paper use.

 

The organisation’s environmental work goes beyond planting trees. Cruz Roja also carries out cleaning actions in natural areas, runs awareness campaigns on sustainable habits and supports families in Andalucía who are experiencing energy poverty, including help with utility bills and advice on saving energy.

 

Image: Cruz Roja