OUTDOOR CLASSROOM COEXISTING WITH NATURE

TREEmendous Project

[New Zealand] Mazda Motors of New Zealand Ltd. (MMNZ), Mazda Foundation New Zealand

TREEmendous Project

Hands-on experiences make learning memorable

Since 2004, MMNZ has been supporting the activities of Project Crimson Trust, one of New Zealand's leading conservation organizations. In cooperation with the trust, the Mazda Foundation New Zealand has been participating in the "TREEmendous" project by working with schools to assist in the development of hands-on learning that incorporates outdoor areas into the curriculum.
This project was introduced in 2008 to provide students with opportunities to learn in natural surroundings about the importance of caring for the environment and preserving New Zealand's unique flora and fauna.
In FY2020, a total of about 500 people including teachers, students, parents and local residents from four schools took part in the activities. Incorporating the ideas of each school, they made improvements to school grounds, planted native plants and created dedicated outdoor study spaces.

A representative of one of the schools commented, "We want to use this place as an outdoor classroom where students can study about indigenous trees and animals," and expressing hopes for its future use, also added, "Being in nature is said to reduce stress and anxiety. In the future, students will be able to use this as a place for relaxing."


By the numbers

Duration of project: 13 years
Total number of schools: 53
Total number of participants: 7,115

 

Helping reduce the carbon footprint in New Zealand

MMNZ is supporting the "Trees that Count" initiative launched by Project Crimson Trust, which contributes to improving the environment by calculating New Zealand's carbon footprint* and making efforts to reduce it.
People can donate and gift trees to be planted in public spaces, and also volunteer to help with the planting.
In 2020, MMNZ purchased and donated 25,000 trees on behalf of its customers as a Christmas gift. In a letter to customers, MMNZ informed customers that they had contributed to the reduction of CO2 emissions from Mazda vehicles.
In addition, two vehicles previously provided to Project Crimson Trust, which sport illustrations of the organization's activities, support activities that are held nationwide.

Helping reduce the carbon footprint in New Zealand

* Carbon footprint: The amount of greenhouse gasses, calculated as CO2, released throughout the entire lifecycle of a product (from materials to disposal), service, or activity.


By the numbers

Duration of project: 3 years
Total number of trees: 75,000
Number of planting areas supported: 220