Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF) has achieved an environmental milestone by establishing one of Maharashtra’s largest urban forests through its IONIQ Forest initiative, completed within just one year. The project successfully planted one million trees across 90.5 acres of land near Talegaon, Pune
The forest was developed using the proven ‘Miyawaki’ method, a Japanese technique known for creating dense, self-sustaining woodlands that grow up to ten times faster than conventional methods. This approach has resulted in a highly biodiverse ecosystem incorporating 41 carefully selected native tree species, ensuring long-term ecological balance and adaptability to the local environment.
Over the next five years, the forest is projected to absorb approximately 63,000 tons of CO₂, while simultaneously improving air quality, enhancing local biodiversity and contributing to greater climate resilience in the region. A key aspect of the project is its strong focus on community inclusion. More than 150 members from local tribal communities were actively engaged in the planting process as well as ongoing maintenance tasks, thereby generating livelihood opportunities and fostering ownership of the forest.
The project followed a structured timeline – ground preparation commenced in May 2025 and the plantation drive was started on world environment day (June 5, 2025). Full completion, with 1 million trees established, was achieved by early 2026. Every individual tree has been geo-tagged with a unique QR code, allowing stakeholders, authorities, and the public to track the growth and health in real time. .
