Deforestation is significantly shaping the climate and contributing to global warming. However, the issue often is perceived as abstract or geographically distant and thus hard to relate to. Forest SaVR is a virtual reality (VR) serious game project responding to the growing disconnect between environmental awareness and proactive behavioral changes. By immersing users in realistic forest environments, Forest SaVR engages them in witnessing the progressive deterioration of a forest, from pristine conditions to deforested and degraded states, while offering interactive opportunities to mitigate these outcomes. Central research questions include the following: How can VR enhance environmental awareness through immersive and interactive experiences? Can challenge-based serious games influence user behavior and foster greater environmental responsibility? Forest SaVR integrates these inquiries by combining task-based and experiential learning. Players are guided through objective-driven activities, enhanced by techniques like flash-forwards and points of interest (POIs) that visualize the impact of human action. Users transition from observers to active participants, undertaking tasks such as extinguishing fires, planting trees, stopping illegal logging, or addressing forest pests. These tasks symbolize real-world conservation efforts and help raise awareness of deforestation and its broader environmental impacts, including climate change.