The Football Association of Wales (FAW) teamed up with Size of Wales, to launch a collaboration to support Indigenous women working to defend tropical forests and become a deforestation free champion organisation.
The collaboration was launched at a joint session at the Cymru Women’s team camp ahead of their game against Czechia. During the session, players and staff learned more about the vital role tropical forests play in tackling the global climate and nature crisis, the leadership of Indigenous Peoples working on the frontline to protect some of the world’s most biodiverse and threatened ecosystems, and what action they can take as an organisation to become deforestation free champions.
Size of Wales works in long-term partnership with Indigenous Peoples and local communities to protect tropical forests the size of Wales. It also raises awareness within Wales about how purchasing and consumption in Wales can drive tropical deforestation thousands of miles away, and highlights the actions people can take to reduce this impact.
Tropical forests are essential in efforts to limit global warming to 1.5°C. Deforestation accounts for around 20% of global emissions, significantly more than aviation, which accounts for approximately 2%. In 2024 alone, 67 million hectares of tropical forests were lost; three times the size of Wales. That equates to around 18 football pitches of forest being lost during a single 90-minute Cymru football match.
Through this collaboration, the FAW and Size of Wales will explore opportunities to raise awareness of the impacts of tropical deforestation and support action to reduce Wales’ global environmental footprint, in line with FAW’s sustainability commitments of promoting a Global Local Cymru and Wales’ Well-being of Future Generations Act.
Barbara Davies-Quy, Deputy Director of Size of Wales, said:
“It was fantastic to join the Cymru Women’s National Team at their Spring Camp this week to share more about the importance of tropical forests in tackling the climate and nature emergencies. We’re excited to be collaborating with FAW to explore how Welsh football can play a role in supporting Indigenous women working to protect forests around the world and how the game can use its platform, voice and reach to inspire action across the nation.”
Helen Antoniazzi, Head of External Affairs and Sustainability at the Football Association of Wales, added:
“As an association, we are committed to understanding and reducing our environmental impact. Working with Size of Wales offers a meaningful opportunity to learn from and support those protecting some of the world’s most important ecosystems and take action and contribute to efforts to end tropical deforestation far away.”
Cymru midfielder Hayley Ladd said:
“It was really interesting to learn more about how tropical deforestation is connected to everyday products and the global impact it has. As players, we want to better understand the role we can play in supporting positive change, both on and off the pitch.”
Since 2021, Size of Wales has led its #DeforestationFreeNation campaign, working with Welsh Government, public bodies, businesses, schools, farmers and community groups to reduce Wales’ overseas deforestation footprint. This collaboration with FAW offers an opportunity to engage staff, players and the wider football community in Wales inunderstanding the importance of tropical forests and taking action to support their protection.
