The International Day of Peace (IDOP) which is held annually on the 21st of September by the United Nations (UN) to celebrate world peace. The theme for 2020 is ‘Shaping Peace Together’ which reminds us that what happens in one part of the planet can impact people everywhere, and it will take all of us doing our part to create a better world.
One such action would be to contribute actively to the Sustainable Development Goals and support initiatives that combat climate changes.
In Singapore, one of such key aspects is the One Million Tree Movement (OMT) initiated by the National Parks Board (NParks) as a national project. The key objective is to be able to restore the natural landscape of Singapore through planting young tree across the island; the end goal will be a million new trees around the country over the next 10 years with the community support. This will bring both beneficial advantages to the climate and environment such as bringing back old or lost wildlife to nest, reducing carbon dioxide and combat climate change itself. It also brings good to the people in the community with natural shades which helps to cool the high heated streets and urban areas over time.
On the 23rd of September, NParks held a sharing session on the One Million Tree Movement in East Coast Park with various area representatives from The Singapore Scout Association. The session was about getting the area leaders to familiarise themselves with the One Million Tree Movement and also the opportunities that the movement can present for Scouts who would be interested in being involved in the national project. The session also provided the area leaders with the necessary NParks contacts and knowledge required to plan and organise for Scouts who are keen on supporting the movement in future.
For more information on getting involved, you are welcome to look for your area leaders who will be able to coordinate with NParks. You can find out more about the movement at https://www.nparks.gov.sg/treessg/one-million-trees-movement
