Afforestation: Planting trees for a greener future

Six years ago, Toyota Astra Motor (TAM) launched a groundbreaking project in Indonesia, created with the purpose of reshaping the country’s natural landscape, and changing its climate for the better. This project is the Car For Tree initiative, which was first established in 2010. With a promise from Toyota to plant one tree for every single car sold in Indonesia, the project was an affirmative step towards environmental conservation and eco education in Indonesia.

Reducing The Country’s Carbon Footprint

This initiative was built with the fundamental premise that trees can – and will – directly reduce Indonesia’s carbon footprint. A single tree can consume up to 22 kilograms of carbon dioxide in a year alone, and gives off enough life-giving oxygen to sustain a person for up to two years. By offsetting carbon emissions from cars, these trees also contribute to reducing Indonesia’s carbon footprint. Each tree planted thus has a big role to play in our drive towards a healthier climate.

Expanding Eco Efforts Throughout Indonesia

The first Car For Tree project in 2010 saw the establishment of the Toyota Eco Island in Jakarta, with the planting of 537 trees. Since then, this nature reserve has become one of the largest recreational parks in the area, with over 1 million visitors each year visiting its edutainment facility, botanical garden, and adventure park. In 2014, 14,700 trees were planted in Jakarta’s iconic Semanggi City Park.

Over the years, the Car For Tree project has seen tremendous support and growth, with successful expansion to multiple cities in Indonesia. The project has gone beyond the mere planting of trees, incorporating educational elements to further the message of conservation and protecting nature. Each expansion identifies local challenges, and plans are drawn out to create valuable change in the area’s environment. The Bandung Traffic Garden is one such example. The garden is an active educational park in the busy city of Bandung, catered towards teaching children basic traffic skills, and advocating the importance of green public spaces. In nature-rich Sulawesi, the Car For Tree project has branched out to include maritime preservation efforts – it is here that research is dedicated towards coral revitalisation and transplantation. There is also continual outreach to educate the public on the importance of preserving our marine ecosystems. The Toyota Organic Village was also founded in central Java, with a focus on aiding local agricultural communities towards improving soil fertility and reducing water pollution.

The Road Ahead

TAM’s Car For Tree project has come a long way since its conception in 2010, and has had the collaborative support of the local community, media, affiliates, dealers, and the government. The project falls under our overarching commitment towards conserving the environment, and also serves the greater scheme of environmental education. In the long run, the Car For Tree project aims to fortify a sustainable automobile industry within the country, and a healthier climate in Indonesia.