WWF GAMES & PUZZLES MEDIA KIT

Transcription

1 WWF GAMES & PUZZLES MEDIA KIT

2 MEDIA RELEASE: November 2013 Conserving Classical Games Fun the Eco Way WWF GAMES & PUZZLES This range of wooden games and cardboard puzzles promote the World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) cause and provide an educational range for early learning. They are beautifully presented and eco-packaged to provide a great gift. A percentage of the proceeds from every purchase goes to WWF s conservation work and to date the range has generated over USD500,000 in donations for WWF globally. The range includes: - Three specially shape-cut puzzles which are designed to help develop matching skills and also provide interesting facts about the habitats and species on the reverse. These being Sea Life, Wild Cats, Madagascar and the Polar Regions; - Five wooden classic games of two differently themed tumble towers with a dice to decide the destiny of the next picked block, a memory/matching game, bingo and dominoes all using FSC certified pine wood (plywood and beechwood) to make these games special; and - Animal-themed playing cards which are broken down into four different regions/ecosystems: the arctic (clubs), rainforest/jungle (spades), marine (hearts), and savannah (diamonds). The whole range is made using a multi-tiered eco-friendly approach. All the wood and paper materials used for the range, including the packaging, come from FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) certified forests, including the plywood, pine wood, and beechwood. The toys are packed inside a durable tube, made from recycled card, which has been built to provide safe storage no matter how rough the play is! Materials are further minimised by including the instruction manual and educational content on the tube.

3 WWF GAMES & PUZZLES The range has been developed with the following objectives in mind: 1. By working closely with WWF it means that each habitat, such as the Amazon and Arctic, and species such as Tigers and Dolphins, are depicted accurately and can be used as a fun tool to expose children to the world around them and the importance of conservation. 2. Showing Green Toys are fun! The range captures the values of WWF in each game design by using real life imagery and offering inspirational stories about WWF and their conservation work. 3. Providing an educational environment aimed at connecting youngsters to wildlife and demonstrating what can be achieved using sustainable raw materials. 4. Providing information on the species and facts about them within the puzzles allows children to have a more interesting play experience. For more information please contact: Name: Paula Axis Toys Phone: paulaopfer@axistoys.com Website:

4 Backgrounder The Range in Detail For every product sold, a contribution is made to support WWF's conservation work. The range is primarily targeted at children aged 3+: WWF GAMES & PUZZLES Wildlife Memo Kids can learn about wildlife while they play with this educational take on an all-time classic. Wildlife Memo features Pandas, Elephants, Tigers, Polar Bears and many others. WILD STORIES Did you know? SPECIES Endangered Species Today, about 1 of 4 mammals and 1 of 8 birds are considered as threatened. Global biodiversity is being lost much faster than natural extinction due to changes in land use, unsustainable use of natural resources, invasive alien species, climate change and pollution among others. WWF is focusing efforts on a select group of priority species that are especially important, either for their ecosystem or for people. Learn more about endangered species and WWF's work on FRESHWATER MARINE FOREST CLIMATE SPECIES

5 WWF GAMES & PUZZLES Animal Matching Bingo Use your sense of touch to match the animal tokens to the places on your Bingo Card. Bingo cards feature animal themes from the Air, Land and Water while pieces Conveniently fit within inset bingo card. WILD STORIES Did you know? SPECIES Endangered Species Biologists estimate there are between 5 and 15 million species of plants, animals and micro-organisms on earth today, of which only about 1.5 million have been described and named. WWF has set a goal that by 2020 populations of the most ecologically, economically and culturally important species are restored and thriving in the wild. WWF is focusing on a select group of priority species that are especially important either for their ecosystem or for people. Learn more about endangered species and WWF's work on FRESHWATER MARINE FOREST CLIMATE SPECIES

6 WWF GAMES & PUZZLES Amazon Dominoes These colourful dominoes feature photographs of rainforest species. The tiles can be flipped over to make an Amazon-style river. WILD STORIES FOREST The Amazon Did you know? The Amazon spans the borders of eight countries and one overseas territory and is the world's largest river basin and the source of one-fifth of all free-flowing fresh water on Earth. Its rain forests are the planet's largest and most luxuriant, and home to - amazingly - one in ten known species on Earth. These species include at least 427 mammals (e.g. jaguar and golden lion tamarin), 1,300 birds (e.g. toucan), 378 reptiles (e.g. coral snake) more than 400 amphibians (e.g. red eyed tree frog) and more than 100,000 invertebrate species (e.g. monarch butterfly). For more than 40 years, WWF has been at the forefront in protecting the Amazon. Building on this experience, WWF is working with governments, local communities and others to ensure conservation and sustainable development throughout the world's largest rainforest and river system. Learn more about the Amazon and WWF's work on FRESHWATER MARINE FOREST CLIMATE SPECIES

7 WWF GAMES & PUZZLES Tumble Tower These tumble towers feature funky animal prints and patterns. The stakes can be raised by using a dice to select each block that has to be removed. WILD STORIES Miombo Covering much of central and southern Africa, the Miombo woodlands are a vast region of tropical grasslands, savannas and shrublands. The word miombo is Swahili for the oak-like trees that characterize these central and eastern African woodlands. They provide food and cover for a diverse range of wildlife, including antelopes, giraffes, rhinos, lions and some of the largest populations of elephants in Africa. The Selous Game reserve in south-eastern Tanzania is one of Africa s largest protected areas. WWF has been working closely with Tanzania s wildlife services since 1996 in an effort to prevent poaching and the illegal killing of elephants and rhinos. Initiatives such as increased surveillance of the area, the use of hot chillies to keep elephants away from crops and the education of local people concerning the benefits wildlife has to the local economy have led to an increase in both the elephant and rhino populations following decades of declining numbers. Learn more about Miombo Forests and WWF s work on FRESHWATER MARINE FOREST CLIMATE SPECIES

8 WWF GAMES & PUZZLES Tropical Tumble Tower These tumble towers feature funky animal prints and patterns. The stakes can be raised by using a dice to select each block that has to be removed. WILD STORIES Choco-Darien The Chocó-Darién is made up of 4 terrestrial ecoregions: Chocó-Darién moist forests; Eastern Panamanian montane forests; Magdalena-Urabá moist forests; and Western Ecuador moist forests. Featuring some of the highest rainfall on the planet (16,000 mm annually in some places), the Chocó-Darién ecoregion has one of the world's most diverse assemblages of lowland plants and animals, with exceptional richness, uniqueness and endemism in plants, birds, reptiles and amphibians, and butterflies. To combat the threats against the biological wealth and cultural diversity of the forests, WWF Colombia, together with other partners, designed the Conservation and Sustainable Development for the Chocó Ecoregion project whose main objective is to support the strengthening of civil society and local communities for conservation and sustainable development processes. Learn more about Chocó-Darién ecoregion and WWF s work on FRESHWATER MARINE FOREST CLIMATE SPECIES

9 Floor Puzzles Sea Life, Polar Regions and Wild Cats WWF GAMES & PUZZLES These puzzles allow children to discover interesting facts about each puzzle s region/species/theme. They are loaded with colourful and beautiful wildlife. The puzzles include fun-shaped pieces in the form of key animals such as sharks or polar bears. Information on the species is featured on the reverse size of the puzzle pieces for an added learning opportunity. WILD STORIES MARINE Sea Life Life began in the oceans, and continues to thrive in its diverse habitats. With as many as 100 million species - from the largest animal that has ever lived on Earth, the blue whale, to the tiniest bacteria - marine biodiversity far outweighs that on land. And new species are being discovered all the time. Covering over half 70% the Earth s surface and making up 95% of its living space, or biosphere, these open ocean and deep sea environments are some of the least-explored areas on the planet. WWF's Global Marine Programme develops, advocates, and implements solutions for the protection of marine ecosystems and the sustainable use of marine resources. Learn wore about Polar Regions and WWF s work on FRESHWATER MARINE FOREST CLIMATE SPECIES

10 WILD STORIES SPECIES Tiger Learn more about tigers and WWFs work on WWF GAMES & PUZZLES As a large predator, the tiger plays a key role in maintaining the health of ecosystems. An ecosystem is only balanced when the animals and plants and non-living components are in harmony. The removal of top-level predators such as the tiger, can radically cause catastrophic cascades thereby having an impact on all the other species in an ecosystem. We have lost 97% of our wild tigers in just over a century. With as few as 3,200 remaining, action is needed to increase and strengthen their habitat and protect them from major threats such as poaching in order to keep ecosystems in balance, which is also crucial for the survival of other species including human beings. WWF works with the 13 tiger countries to create a future for wild tigers and other species. FRESHWATER MARINE FOREST CLIMATE SPECIES

11 WWF GAMES & PUZZLES WILD STORIES CLIMATE Polar Regions The Antarctic is the region around the Earth's South Pole and is opposite the Arctic region which is around the North Pole. The Arctic is the only place where polar bears live whereas penguins only live in the southern hemisphere of the earth, including Antarctica. The single greatest threat to the Arctic and the Antarctic region and its species is global warming. Even a slight shift in temperature could potentially result in the melting of snow and sea ice, threatening communities and animals that are depending on it, as well as the entire planet. WWF is working with its many partners governments, business and communities across the Arctic and Antarctic to combat these threats and preserve the region s rich biodiversity. Learn wore about Polar Regions and WWF s work on FRESHWATER MARINE FOREST CLIMATE SPECIES

12 WWF GAMES & PUZZLES Endangered Species Playing Cards This card pack features 53 species and features in beautiful photography the species and its name. The suits cover the arctic, rainforest, marine and savannah regions/ecosystems. WILD STORIES Did you know? SPECIES Endangered Species Today, about 1 of 4 mammals and 1 of 8 birds are considered as threatened. WWF is focusing efforts on protecting a selected group of priority species that are especially important, either for their ecosystem or for people. Steve Morello / WWF-Canon Learn more about endangered species and WWF's work on For more information please contact: Name: Paula Axis Toys Phone: paulaopfer@axistoys.com Website:

13 Backgrounder About WWF World Wildlife Fund for Nature WWF GAMES & PUZZLES WWF is one of the world s largest and most respected independent nature conservation organisations, with close to 5 million supporters and a network active in more than 100 countries on five continents. Since its creation in 1961, it has maintained a constant record of success. Today, WWF runs about 1300 projects at any one time and employs more than 5400 people worldwide. WWF s mission is to stop the degradation of the planet s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. For more information, please visit: In addition to on-ground conservation projects, WWF also enters into licensing partnerships with companies to help communicate WWF s message to as wide an audience as possible and to provide people with smart product choices. Under a new partnership with Terra Toys an exciting line of educational and ecological games and puzzles has been developed.

14 About Terra Toys WWF GAMES & PUZZLES Terra Toys was established by toy company Merchant Ambassador (Holdings) Ltd. in Hong Kong to become a brand synonymous with environmental responsibility, education, and fun. Terra Toys goal is to introduce children to environmental issues in an enjoyable, energizing manner, using toys with broad appeal and familiarity. Merchant Ambassador produces a wide range of educational toys and games, outdoor games, Garry Kasparov chess products, and games tables. Terra Toys mission is to prove that toys can be made in a better way and to be a force for positive change by re-inventing how a toy company operates in the factory epicentre of the world China. So in short Terra Toys want to make products that have as little impact as possible on our environment continuously working to improve our processes. We want to give back to causes we believe in and educate children about our planet and what they can do to help. For more information visit: Screen shots of

15 Backgrounder Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) WWF GAMES & PUZZLES What is the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)? The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is the most credible global forest certification system. It ensures environmentally and socially-responsible forest management. That s why WWF recommends FSC to consumers, businesses, policymakers and forest managers. For WWF to enter into a licensing agreement with Terra Toys, it was essential that their games and puzzles are developed using FSC certified wood only. How does the FSC work? The FSC is an independent, not for profit, non-government organisation that provides standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies and organisations committed to responsible forestry. Responsible forest managers can demonstrate their high standards by securing internationally-recognised FSC certification. How does WWF-Australia support FSC? Through the Love Your Forests campaign, WWF is working with leading businesses to actively promote the FSC trademark and help consumers make the right choice when it comes to reducing their forest footprint. Through the Global Forest and Trade Network (GFTN), WWF is working with leading companies to increase the volume of FSC-certified timber and paper products on the market. WWF encourages consumers to request that their timber and paper products be sourced from logging operations that are not causing environmental and social harm.

16 Backgrounder Some interesting facts about our Planet WWF GAMES & PUZZLES Living Forest Report % of the world s land surface is forest 47% of which are tropical. 1.6 billion people are supported by forests and 300 million live in forest. New trade regulations targeting illegal logging (p 28 ch 4). Governments in consumer countries are introducing prohibitions on trade in products containing illegally sourced wood and other policy measures linked to the Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT) initiatives72. The Australian Government is developing an Illegal Logging Prohibition Bill which would regulate due diligence requirements for importers and processors. Many other countries are not so progressive. Australia is in the top 10 countries with the largest annual net loss of forest area (p5 ch 1). Average paper product consumption is kg per person per year, but with more than 3 times as much in Western Europe and more than 4 times as much in Northern America. 10 per cent of the world s population consumes over 50 per cent of the paper. A 10 per cent reduction in paper and paperboard consumption in North America and Europe would match one year s consumption in Africa and South America combined. Reducing wasteful consumption, like overprinting or over-packaging, would also ease the pressure on forests and land use, as paper use grows in developing countries.

17 The 2050 Criteria Currently we would need 1.5 Earths in order to regenerate humanity s annual demand on nature (p 1) this is based on 9.1 billion population estimate (p 7 ch1 Living Forest Report). 70% of the world s salmon and 55% of the world s shrimp is now produced via aquaculture (fish farming) (p 16). Three billion people depend on fish as a primary protein source (p 69). WWF GAMES & PUZZLES WWF-Australia Annual & Sustainability Report 2010 Australia s ecological footprint is three times the global average (p 6). 6 out of 7 of the world s species of marine turtle occur in Australian waters (p 9). Of the 50 species of macropods in Australia, 21 are at risk of extinction (p 8). In some places in Australia, the loss of just 2 or 3 snubfin dolphins could lead to local extinction (p 13). WWF-Australia Annual & Sustainability Report 2011 The Coral Triangle contains more than half the world s coral reefs and over one-third of its coral reef fish species (p 10).

18 WWF GAMES & PUZZLES Living Planet Report 2012 It is estimated that there are only between 3,200 and 3,500 adult tigers remaining in the wild (p 27). In 2050, two out of every three people will live in a city (p 59). Ocean Acidity has increased by 30% since the industrial revolution (p84). Living Planet Autumn 2013 The Rowley Shoals have more than 230 species of coral and nearly 700 species of fish (p 4). 45 countries are experiencing moderate to severe water stress. 900 million people lack access to safe drinking water. roughly 40% of the world s population lives in river basins that experience severe water scarcity during at least one month of the year. WWF-Asia Ecological Footprint Report In the Heart of Borneo, an average of 850,000 hectares of forest is lost every year due to palm oil plantations, mining and timber production. 70% of all water is consumed by agriculture and 12 per cent by energy production. Circle hooks can reduce the hooking rate of marine turtles by as much as 80%.