Fondation PSA and Duramen have signed a partnership agreement to promote workforce inclusion in the forestry industry.
The project covers a group of 25 hectares of tree plantings in France’s Centre-Val de Loire region.
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Employees accepted into the programme will acquire new jobs skills in fields related to environmental protection, including tree planting and sustainable forest management.
“Forests contribute to the common good,” said Fondation PSA MD, Karine Hillaireau. “They preserve biodiversity, regulate the water cycle, limit soil erosion, filter air pollution and generate jobs locally. We have made two observations:
- In France, individuals, who often lack the means and skills to maintain them sustainably, own 74% of forests
- Workforce inclusion programmes are still not represented enough in the forestry industry, which is highly technical and requires considerable worker mobility
“Fondation PSA has sought to give people trying to enter the workforce the chance to move into these meaningful jobs. The new partnership brings them a mobility solution while supporting cooperation between their workforce inclusion programs and Duramen, an environmental non-profit.
“The partnership is consistent with Groupe PSA’s strong commitment to the fight against climate change.”
For her part, Duramen chairwoman, Bernadette Vallée, added: “The forestry industry lacks entrepreneurs. Partnering inclusion programmes with the projects we support can sometimes help create vocations and always opens up practical training opportunities matching realities on the ground.
“Forests are facing cruel climate-related challenges. Planting, a sector dominated by manual labour and one-person businesses, provides one of the best outcomes. With the backing of Fondation PSA, we are able to support projects to maintain multi functional forests and preserve natural environments.”
The project involves supporting people wishing to move into jobs related to environment protection, with the assistance of local agencies (Structures d’Insertion par l’Activité Economique – SIAE). The various SIAEs are specialised in apprenticeship and building skills among people trying to enter the workforce.
The project will start with a trial run in the town of Saint Viâtre.
