The Footy Forest
By Sarah Chaplin 15 July 2022
Toyota Australia is planting a tree for every point scored in rounds 17-19 of the Australian Football League (AFL).
In huge news for fans of the AFL, Planet Ark and National Tree Day Major Sponsor Toyota Australia are teaming up with the AFL during the AFL’s sustainability rounds.
A native Australian seedling will be planted for every point scored across all games in rounds 17-19. Based off the scores from past years, this is expected to accumulate up to a huge 4,500 trees!
This initiative, aptly named the ‘Footy Forest’, aims to raise awareness of the importance of planting more native trees across Australia. Toyota Australia and the AFL also aim to help connect players and fans with their local environment, highlighting the positive impacts planting trees has on our communities and our landscapes.
Toyota Australia Chief Marketing Officer Vin Naidoo said The Footy Forest would create positive environmental outcomes for communities.
“Through its partnership with the AFL and the Good for Footy initiative, Toyota Australia aims to give back to local communities in meaningful ways,” Mr Naidoo said.
“The Footy Forest will support the revegetation of communities across the country, showing Toyota’s wide-ranging commitment to sustainability.”
Funds raised will be donated through The Seedling Bank and awarded as grants to community groups and schools across the country undertaking revegetation projects. Past projects have included planting habitat for endangered wildlife, cleaning water sources flowing out to the Great Barrier Reef, and creating sensory garden spaces for healing and learning, among others.
If you’re an AFL fan, make sure to cheer even louder as more points means more trees! Keep an eye out for the National Tree Day logo taking centre stage on the ground at all games from rounds 17-19.
To get involved in National Tree Day this year or donate to The Seedling Bank visit: treeday.planetark.org
Sarah joined the Planet Ark team in early 2019 to work in the Information Centre and on the National Tree Day Seedling Bank special project. She is passionate about environmental science and has an academic background in biology and conservation science. Since graduating, she has worked with small not-for-profit environmental organisations and is delighted to be able to put her range of skills and experience to use at Planet Ark.
