Augmented Reality experience launches at London Zoo where planting virtual trees supports real-life tree planting campaign for conservation
An interactive, Augmented Reality app where users “plant” a virtual tree that translates to a real tree being planted is being launched in the UK on Earth Day (22 April 2022), with a unique AR marker tile unveiled exclusively at ZSL London Zoo.
ZSL, the international conservation charity behind the world-famous zoo, has teamed up with the EIWAZ TREE OF LIFE creator Martine Jarlgaard to plant 140,000 mangrove trees in the Philippines – a feat made possible simply by users planting a virtual tree as part of the augmented reality art experience.
App users “plant” a striking-looking tree, a reference to the mythological Nordic Tree of Life ‘Eiwaz’, which then “catches fire” and needs saving before a new virtual seed can emerge and be cultivated to grow up from the ground. Once the process is completed, a real tree is planted – made possible by the Bestseller Foundation.
ZSL Director of Conservation and Policy, Dr Andrew Terry said: “As the world becomes increasingly alive to the interconnected threats of biodiversity loss and climate change, the world must adopt nature-based solutions to help tackle these twin crises – an approach ZSL is embracing. These solutions, which restore, protect or sustainably manage ecosystems are low risk and low cost but deliver huge impact. ZSL is working with local partners on one such project in the Philippines to restore mangrove forests. True ecosystem heroes, mangroves provide vital services to coastal communities such as flood defence; they are essential for wildlife, acting as nursery grounds for many fish species and, they are extremely efficient at locking carbon into the ground – but in recent history we have lost many mangrove forests. “Every player of the EIWAZ TREE OF LIFE will help ZSL to restore 140,000 more mangrove trees in the Philippines.”
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Posted On: 22/04/2022