The Tree of Life Foundation opened the SPIEF by planting trees in memory of the defenders of Leningrad

The St. Petersburg International Economic Forum began with the planting of trees in memory of the defenders of Leningrad. In total, the participants of the ceremony, which became the informal opening of the SPIEF, planted 80 trees in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. The symbolic action "Memory Alley" took place in the morning on the territory of the Expoforum— the main venue of the SPIEF.

The action was attended by the heads of the largest domestic companies, governors, as well as well-known political and public figures, Olympic champions and representatives of the journalistic community.

"We are actually launching the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. This is very symbolic, because the forum is taking place in the year of the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Great Patriotic War. An obelisk in memory of those who died during the blockade will be built nearby. And here, most likely, there will be a bridge and a pedestrian zone. Therefore, this alley will be the property of many guests of the city and residents of St. Petersburg," said Sergey Voronkov, CEO of Expoforum.

The planting of apple trees and lilacs symbolized the steadfastness and unwavering spirit of the inhabitants of besieged Leningrad, and also emphasized the inextinguishable desire for revival and prosperity. Each planted plant will become not just an element of the landscape, but also a tangible monument, embodying the inextricable link between generations and commitment to the principles of sustainable development.

"Today we planted trees in memory of the defenders of Leningrad! They accomplished a feat that serves as an example of courage and resilience for all generations. Planting trees has become a post-war tradition. Our ancestors planted entire forests at the site of fires. They put a lot of effort and emotions into this work. Trees have become a symbol of hope and rebirth. The next generations felt the energy of life that their fathers and mothers put into the forests. Trees live a long time — this is a wonderful memory of the people who preserved the independence of our country," said Konstantin Mayor, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Tree of Life Foundation. He added that the foundation intends to plant millions of trees across the country every year.

The planting of seedlings was organized by the Tree of Life Foundation, an autonomous non—profit organization dedicated to the development of environmental and climate projects. Among the key goals of the fund are to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, preserve and restore forests, increase the level of environmental literacy of the population, and implement innovative environmental and climate programs.