Pune — The folks at Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) are proving that going green isn’t just a marketing line — it’s a full-scale operation with roots, leaves, and a whole lot of CO₂ absorption. The CSR arm of Hyundai Motor India Ltd. proudly announced that its Ioniq Forest in Pune has officially hit the halfway mark — 5 lakh trees planted out of a planned 10 lakh across 90.5 acres at Dange Chowk. If Mother Nature had a LinkedIn, Hyundai would definitely be endorsed for “Photosynthesis Support.”
🌱 A Forest with Horsepower
The Ioniq Forest, launched on World Environment Day 2025, began modestly with just 1,000 saplings. Fast forward a few months, and Pune’s Dange Chowk is on track to look less like a traffic landmark and more like an Amazonian outpost — minus the mosquitoes. Using the Miyawaki method (for the uninitiated, that’s basically speed-growing forests on espresso), Hyundai has curated 41 native species, ensuring not just greenery but also biodiversity — giving birds, insects, and eco-enthusiasts new real estate to chirp about.
🌍 Sustainability with a Human Touch
Beyond planting trees, HMIF is cultivating livelihoods. Over 100 tribal community members are now employed in maintaining the Ioniq Forest, because what’s greener than giving people green jobs to grow green things? Over the next five years, the forest is expected to absorb a whopping 63,000 tons of CO₂ — or roughly the emissions from every late-night drive to Lonavala in a petrol SUV.
🗣 Words of Wisdom and Chlorophyll
Sunil Shelke, MLA, Maval Constituency, was all praise:
“This initiative is a powerful demonstration of corporate responsibility aligned with environmental stewardship. I congratulate the team behind this effort and encourage more such partnerships for a sustainable tomorrow.”
Puneet Anand, AVP & Vertical Head – Corporate Affairs, Communication & Social at HMIL, added with pride (and probably a few muddy boots):
“The Ioniq Forest is Hyundai’s way of giving back — not just to the environment, but to the communities we serve. With the Miyawaki method, we’re growing a dense, biodiverse forest that will breathe life into Maharashtra’s urban spaces.”
🏫 Future Generations Welcome
Once the forest is fully grown, it will open its leafy gates to schools and community groups for educational tours — because who says biology lessons can’t come with fresh air and a selfie spot?
💚 CSR with Serious Commitment
The project forms part of Hyundai Motor India Foundation’s larger ₹56 crore CSR investment in Maharashtra, spanning environment, healthcare, road safety, and community welfare. The Ioniq Forest is just one more example of how Hyundai continues to “drive progress for humanity” — this time, quite literally, by planting it.
