February 2023 – The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW) has teamed up with renowned blockchain charity, Tokens for Humanity (TFH) and Australian cryptocurrency exchange, Independent Reserve, to offer the Ethereum community the ability to mint non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and plant real trees in flood-damaged areas.
The first generation of these NFTs, called Gen 1 Merge Trees, commemorate the Merge, Ethereum’s transition from proof-of-work, also known as crypto mining, to proof-of-stake. According to the Ethereum Foundation, the Merge decreased Ethereum’s carbon footprint by approximately 99.992 per cent (from 11,016,000 to 870 tonnes CO2e), making the network 99 per cent more energy efficient, and aligning the platform well to the values of both FNPW and TFH.
David Goldman, chief marketing and revenue officer, FNPW, said, “If we are going to achieve our ambitious goal of planting one million trees by 2025, we need to reach different communities. The Gen 1 Merge Trees offer the Ethereum community a chance to positively impact flood-affected areas across Australia.”
Each NFT sold represents a real tree that will be planted in flood-affected areas across Australia. The goal is to restore and regenerate damaged ecosystems while capturing carbon. Over a 25-year lifespan, a tree can sequester 2.75 tonnes of carbon on average. If the campaign reaches its target, 137,500 tonnes of carbon will be captured; 158 times greater than the estimated annual carbon consumption of the entire Ethereum network.
The campaign merges physical and digital realities in a force for good. Each NFT minted on Ethereum will correspond to a real-life tree planted in flood-damaged areas in Australia and be represented as a digital artwork donated by contemporary Australian landscape artist Sally Willbanks. Limited edition trees will also be available as Sandbox assets that can be used within The Sandbox.
David Goldman said, “FNPW believes we can plant an additional 50,000 trees through this campaign. These trees will serve as an everlasting commemoration of the Merge and how Ethereum has gone green. These are important milestones and achievements for the community and our planet.”
The planted trees are part of the Plant a Tree for Me initiative. Launched in 2015 by FNPW, Plant a Tree for Me’s conservation program of activities helps protect and grow natural habitat, which is key to the survival of Australia’s endangered species. Over the past 200 years, more than 75 per cent of Australia’s native vegetation has been destroyed or degraded, seriously impacting native animals.
Bryce Thomas, co-founder of Tokens for Humanity, said, “Tokens for Humanity believes in the power of collaboration to drive real change, and our partnership with FNPW is a perfect example of this. By leveraging the Ethereum network and the unique capabilities of NFTs, we have created a campaign that not only raises funds for conservation efforts, but also educates and engages the wider community on the importance of environmental preservation.”
Frederick Brien, co-founder of Tokens for Humanity, said, “Tokens for Humanity is proud to be a part of this innovative campaign that not only promotes environmental stewardship, but also engages the Ethereum community in a meaningful way. The ability to mint an NFT and directly see the positive impact of planting a real tree in flood-damaged areas is a powerful example of the potential of blockchain technology for social good.”
Adrian Przelozny, CEO, Independent Reserve, said, “Independent Reserve is proud to be the exchange partner of choice for this important initiative, which is strongly aligned with our approach to corporate social responsibility and existing green initiatives.
“The power of blockchain and the crypto community to make a meaningful difference and do good in the world should not be underestimated. This initiative gives the crypto community a significant opportunity to support the environment and represents the convergence of Web3 to real life.”
The focus on flood-damaged areas for this campaign address the parts of Australia that have seen the worst flood conditions in decades. Vast parts of Australia’s landscape have been destroyed, and replanting efforts in bushfire recovery programs have also been devastated. Replacing trees in these areas is critical to maintain biodiversity and protect the landscape from further erosion and damage.
About Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW)
The Foundation for National Parks & Wildlife (FNPW) is the charity partner of Australia’s national parks, committed to preserving the country’s natural beauty for future generations. With over 50 years of experience, FNPW partners with federal, state, and territory governments and Corporate Australia to rebuild parks and wildlife populations, and support environmental communities. The goal is to create a lasting impact and positive social change, ensuring that Australia’s natural wonders are protected and enjoyed for generations to come.
About Independent Reserve
Established in 2013, Independent Reserve is Australia’s trusted cryptocurrency exchange and OTC trading desk. Over 250,000 customers from Australia, New Zealand and Singapore trust Independent Reserve to easily buy and sell Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP and other major cryptocurrencies. Independent Reserve offers a range of innovative features, including AutoTrader, OTC trading desk, API integration, world-class security and mobile app.
About Tokens for Humanity
Established in 2018, Tokens for Humanity is a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission, specialising in the development of blockchain applications for charities. Tokens for Humanity provides fundraising and enterprise solutions to charitable organisations, enabling them to fundraise from the cryptoasset markets and manage raised cryptoassets.
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 invites you to mint an NFT and plant a (real) tree)