In 2023 TREECK® planted tussock grass on Hummock Island in collaboration with Zurich Zoo. Our commitment focused on an island in the southwest Atlantic whose ecosystem is threatened by erosion. Instead of trees, Hummock Island is being planted with tussock grass, which is valuable for the native fauna: these tufts of grass are intended to restore the ecological balance.
Antarctica is known for its untouched nature and fascinating wildlife. Unfortunately, however, some of the region's islands have suffered from human use. One of these is the 300-hectare, uninhabited Hummock Island in the western part of the Falkland Islands. Decades of grazing by sheep and horses have upset the balance of the fragile sub-Antarctic ecosystem. As a result, a third of the area was eroded and the wind carried the peaty soil into the sea. This in turn damaged the sensitive coral reef that surrounds the island. The Antarctic Research Trust's renaturation project aims to restore the valuable habitats on Hummock Island.
Since January 2023, TREECK® has been working with the Zurich Zoo Nature Conservation Fund. Zurich Zoo is also the headquarters of the Swiss research organization Antarctic Research Trust (ART), which is committed to the long-term protection of penguins, albatrosses and their habitats in the Antarctic. The ART has also purchased four Falkland Islands and designated them as a strict nature reserve. On a fifth island, Hummock Island, Zurich Zoo has supported the establishment of a research station.
In 2023 we did not plant a tree for every TREECK® product sold, but a tussock grass tuft. This type of grass is particularly important for the ecosystem of Hummock Island, as it provides a habitat for numerous animal species and also counteracts erosion. The native tussock grass has the advantage that it grows quickly and is easy to propagate. Volunteers regularly cut off tufts of 10 cm in diameter from larger plants in order to replant them elsewhere. In this way, large parts of the eroded areas have already been successfully revegetated in recent years.
Hummock Island provides a habitat for numerous animal species. In addition to sea lions, petrels, short-eared owls and peregrine falcons, there are populations of endangered rockhopper and Magellanic penguins. The flora is also extremely diverse: some rare species are only found here.
In the long term, tussock grass can bind fifty tons of carbon per hectare. This is comparable to the storage capacity of a forest. The renaturalized areas thus contribute to offsetting our CO2 emissions.
The grasses protect the soil from wind and weather, preventing the peaty soil from being carried into the sea. The local coral reef and the underwater world are gradually recovering from the impact of the peat deposits.
The renaturation project shows how important it is that we take care of the environment. The reforestation of the eroded areas and the monitoring of the fauna contribute to the recovery of the sub-Antarctic ecosystem of Hummock Island. By purchasing a TREECK® product, you are helping to return the island to its original state and preserve its biodiversity for the future.