Lignaverda’s gala dinner at the Ghent Opera House on February 8th transformed the iconic venue into a night of elegance and environmental purpose. Our esteemed guest of honor, Her Excellency Mrs. Mekondjo Kaapanda-Girnus, Ambassador of Namibia, graced the event with her presence and lended her voice to the critical cause of reforestation and sustainability.
Ambassador Kaapanda-Girnus delivered a moving speech, drawing attention to the challenges Namibia faces due to climate change and land degradation. She lauded Lignaverda’s efforts in reforestation and empowering local communities with sustainable income sources, urging for increased international cooperation to protect Namibia’s delicate ecosystems.
Hostess Tineke Van Hooland warmly welcomed renowned guests from various sectors, including politics, business, and sports, highlighting the universality of environmental concerns.
From Vision to Impact: Lignaverda Leaders Shared Their Story
The evening also featured inspiring talks from several key figures within Lignaverda. Our founder, Werner Sels, shared the organization’s humble beginnings and its unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability.
Chairman Steven Buyse provided insights into Lignaverda’s strategic vision and its ambitious goals for the future. Prof. Dr. ir. P. Van Damme and Dr. ir. Wouter Vanhove, both esteemed experts in the field of forestry, highlighted the scientific foundation of Lignaverda’s reforestation projects and their positive impact on local ecosystems.
From CO₂ Certificates to Healthy Forests: The Multifaceted Impact of Lignaverda
Andy Martinez Lopez emphasized the significance of CO₂-certificates generated through reforestation projects. These certificates represent the volume of carbon dioxide sequestered by newly planted trees and can be traded in compliance markets.
Companies can acquire these certificates to offset their carbon emissions (rest fractions) and contribute to a more sustainable future. This ties in perfectly with the growing importance of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) reporting. Investors and stakeholders increasingly demand transparency regarding a company’s environmental impact. By investing in CO₂ certificates from Lignaverda’s projects, companies can demonstrate their commitment to sustainability and improve their ESG scores.
Technology, Transparency, and Trees: Redefining Sustainable Reforestation
Prof. Dr. ir. P. Van Damme highlighted the crucial role of technology in monitoring the success of reforestation projects. Drones and AI are used to collect high-resolution data on tree growth, health, and overall forest conditions. These data allow for precise impact assessment and ensure the long-term success of the projects.
The gala also highlighted Lignaverda’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
The organization is guided by Dieter Engelen, CEO of @Finvision, who ensures that Lignaverda operates as a transparent, audited organization with meaningful KPI (Key Performance Indicator) goals. These goals focus on real impact and ensure that the organization remains accountable to its donors and supporters.
Walk, Run, Cycle, Plant!: Joining Forces for a Greener Future with Lignaverda
Finally, Kristof De Smet, CEO of @Energylab, explained the Lignaverda Keep Moving Challenge, an initiative which helps professionals get active and exercise more. For every kilometer walked, ran, cycled, swam and even for volunteering hours completed, a tree is planted to reforest Africa.
Generosity Blooms: Gala Auction Funds New Forests and Sustainable Futures in Namibia
The evening culminated in a thrilling auction, generating a record-breaking €200,000! Every cent of this remarkable sum will go directly towards planting new forests in Namibia and supporting local communities’ transition to sustainable agricultural practices.
This incredible achievement would not have been possible without the generous contributions of our esteemed guests. A number of letters of intent were also shared with us and will be put towards our first forests in Namibia, ending the evening with a total budget of €500,000!
As a non-profit organisation, we guarantee that the entirety of this evening’s funds will be directly and efficiently dedicated to our forest building projects. Indeed, the total overhead of our projects is 17%. Lignaverda therefore has no expensive marketing and consultancy costs, aims for low transport costs (we only travel by plane when strictly necessary and we compensate this travel by planting additional trees), we also do not aim for profit, but for a circular economy that benefits us all.
Ready to roll up your sleeves? Join our mission and be the change you want to see!
Five hundred thousand thanks!
Lignaverda extends its deepest gratitude to Ambassador Kaapanda-Girnus for her inspirational presence and insightful words. To all our guests, we express our heartfelt appreciation for your unwavering support. Together, we can create a lasting impact on the future of Namibia and our precious planet.
Thank you to our keystone donors and to our sponsors for their unwavering support of Lignaverda’s efforts!
