Launching The Toyota Biodiversity and Sustainability Learning Center

22nd June 2016 marked the Grand Opening of the Toyota Biodiversity and Sustainability Learning Center, which is situated within Toyota Motor Thailand’s (TMT) Ban Pho Plant. The center is also dubbed “Cheewa Panavet”, which literally translates to ‘life forest habitat’ in Thai language. In conjunction with her 60th birthday anniversary, Her Royal Highness, Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn graciously presided over the launch ceremony. The Princess received an audience of special guests, including senior government officials from Thailand, Toyota executives, and local affiliates.

The launch of this center is another step towards Toyota’s commitment of environmental conservation and preservation. It also executes a significant part of Toyota’s 5h Asia Pacific Environmental Action Plan, specifically that of implementing biodiversity conservation.

Spreading Awareness To The Next Generation

The Toyota Biodiversity and Sustainability Learning Center was founded to facilitate environmental awareness through a variety of projects and exhibits, catered towards children and youth in particular. Toyota is working with the Foundation for Environmental Education for Sustainable Development (Thailand) and Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC), and Thailand’s Ministry of Education to develop a curriculum on environmental education. These lessons and activities will spread a cohesive message of appreciating and preserving the environment to our younger generations.

The Eco Forest and Biotope

The Toyota Biodiversity and Sustainability Center also houses the Eco Forest, a reforestation project initiated by Toyota that first bore roots in 2008. In the short span of less than a decade, the Eco Forest has been developed into a preserve that houses more 43 species of plant life. The terrain was developed with a scientific growth method that allows for a 90% success rate of tree survival, ensuring the longevity of the Eco Forest.

Surrounding the Eco Forest is the Toyota Biotope, which covers a whopping 48,000 square metres. The lush biotope runs around the Toyota Ban Pho Plant, and is the first of its kind in Thailand, carefully built with the concept of “from sky to mountain to river” in mind. Various types of ecosystems flourish here, such as evergreen trees, deciduous woodlands, mangrove swamps, and even dry dipterocarp tree clusters, to name a few. This thriving habitat has quickly become a home for over 200 species of flora and fauna.

A Two-Pronged Approach: Education And Conservation

The Toyota Biodiversity and Sustainability Center creates an added learning element to Toyota’s environmental efforts in Thailand, continually disseminating knowledge about protecting the earth’s green spaces. The Ban Pho Plant serves as one of Toyota’s five “Sustainable Plants” around the world, and its Eco Forest and Eco Learning Center work hand in hand to fulfill Toyota’s mission towards a sustainable automotive industry in Thailand – one that is fully integrated with its surrounding nature.