Launched in April 2020, the One Million Trees Movement is a commitment to plant a million trees across Singapore by 2030. It is also symbolic of one generation laying the foundations of the future for the next.
Singapore is one of the greenest cities in the world. NParks currently plants around 50,000 trees annually and this movement aims to increase the number to over 8 million, including streetscapes, gardens, parks & park connectors, nature reserves, nature parks and more.
WHY ?
Trees are natural air filters. Denser tree canopies reflect radiant heat and cool surfaces and ambient temperatures through shade and evapo-transpiration, helping mitigate the Urban Heat Island (UHI) effect and climate change. Healthier forests also play a role in regulating the water cycle, slowing down floodwaters and cleaning the water that flows into waterways. Urban forests help reduce a city’s carbon footprint. Photosynthesis. A protected habitat for native species of flora and fauna. The reasons are many, and obvious.
Community is key to the success of this movement, hence this post.
Beyond physically planting trees, members of the community can be involved in designing planting plans, propagating native tree saplings, forest restoration works, outreach & education efforts, as well as initiating or facilitating events around the movement.
What can any individual do ?
- Suggest, and champion any initiative. Share your idea.
- Contribute pictures, ideas, funds.
- Volunteer time – help out in outreach programmes, nature education, citizen science and habitat enhancement efforts
- Participate in Tree Planting Programs.
- Sign up for the mailing list to stay updated on the latest happenings and upcoming.
Educate yourself with NParks video resources – from How to Plant a Tree and Seed Cleaning & Counting to Plant Propagation and more …
Update : The Movement, in a year, has planted 200,552 trees.
Information and photographs from the NParks website.
