Sustainability: It's in Our Roots

SUSTAINABILITY

September 4th, 2023

Back in 2006, when our CEO Rajeev Shrivastava founded VisitorsCoverage he had one simple goal: helping people. 17 years later, we’re proud to say that’s still our number one priority. Whether we’re helping immigrants settle in America, retirees live out their travel dreams, or students explore and learn about their world, helping and doing good is at the forefront of everything we do. But we’re not only committed to protecting travelers with travel insurance coverage , we’re also doing our part to protect the world we all love to explore.

The damaging effects of climate change are caused, in large part, by the over-abundance of carbon dioxide. The single best way to resolve this is through planting trees. Trees take carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen, and ultimately create a healthier environment for everyone. This is why we’re excited to extend our partnership with One Tree Planted to include reforesting areas in Quebec, Appalachia and The Philippines. Here’s a quick look at why we chose these regions.?

Why Quebec Needs Trees

Quebec is home to amazing forests threaded with beautiful lakes and streams and teeming with spruces, firs, and pines. Black bears, caribou, moose, and great gray owls call these forests home. But Quebec’s forestry isn’t just wonderful to look at, it also plays a big role in keeping Canada’s environment healthy.

Unfortunately, wildfires have been destroying forests for months. Since the wildfires began in 2023, around 3.2 million hectares of the forest have burned down. To compare, usually, the whole country of Canada sees about 2.5 million hectares burned in an entire year. Even before these wildfires, the forest in Quebec needed some help to grow back, but now it’s even more important to plant new trees and take care of the land.

Why The Philippines Needs Trees

The Philippines used to be home to 16 million hectares of virgin hardwood forests. This number has been reduced to only 700,000 hectares. While illegal logging and limited government oversight have created an environment where deforestation was inevitable, individuals and communities within the country are stepping up with grassroots reforestation projects and initiatives. But they need our help.??

In what could be a wildlife wonderland teeming with water buffalo, peacocks, doves, and the most awe-inspiring flora and fauna Mother Nature has to offer, trees are disappearing, species are being pushed to extinction and indigenous communities are paying the price.???

Why Appalachia Needs Trees

The Appalachian woodlands are one of the world’s richest temperate forests. You can think of them as the lungs of the region. As deforestation continues to ravage the area, it becomes harder for communities and wildlife to stay alive.?

What makes Appalachia’s deforestation crisis uniquely devastating is that it has such a harmful impact on families. Appalachia is already home to some of the poorest communities in the country. Much of the forestry in the region is owned by small businesses, families and individuals who depend on it for their livelihoods. As deforestation bears down on these communities, many are losing their homes and land that has been in their families for generations.?

VisitorsCoverage: Empowering Change for a Greener Tomorrow

There is so much about protecting the planet that seems beyond our control. But the team at VisitorsCoverage believes that if companies and individuals do their part to protect Mother Nature, we may not only be able to conserve her natural beauty, we might just revitalize it.