More than half a million trees planted with the community - NParks expects to hit target of planting one million more trees by 2027, three years ahead of 2030 target

- In commemoration of 60 years of greening Singapore in 2023, the community will have more tree-planting opportunities island-wide

Since the launch of the OneMillionTrees movement in March 2020, the National Parks Board (NParks) has planted over 500,000 trees together with more than 75,000 members of the community and expects to reach the target of one million trees by end 2027, three years ahead of the original 2030 target. This was only possible due to the strong support of the community for the OneMillionTrees movement – a key initiative in the transformation of Singapore into a City in Nature. To continue to inspire and bring Singaporeans together to be stewards of our City in Nature, and to commemorate 60 years of greening Singapore since our greening movement began in 1963, NParks will continue to provide tree-planting opportunities island-wide for the community throughout 2023. There will also be events and activities organised throughout the year that will share more about Singapore’s greening and nature conservation efforts, and to celebrate our natural heritage.

To kick-off the commemoration of 60 years of greening Singapore, Minister for National Development and Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee, representatives from the Community Development Councils of Singapore’s five districts, their residents, and other members of the community planted 60 native trees in the Singapore Botanic Gardens this morning.  

Commemorating 60 years of greening and conservation efforts with the community

From the onset of Singapore’s independence, founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew had envisioned Singapore to be a highly liveable tropical Garden City. On 16 June 1963, he planted a Mempat tree at Farrer Circus to kickstart Singapore’s nationwide greening campaign. The decades that followed saw concerted efforts by the government to green up Singapore as quickly as possible, with the involvement of the community very early on through community tree planting events. Guided by Mr Lee’s vision, Singapore evolved from a Garden City in the 1960s, to a biophilic City in a Garden in the 2010s. We integrated greenery into our urban landscape, safeguarded our nature reserves, enhanced ecological connectivity, and created a network of parks and park connectors to provide recreational opportunities.

The past 60 years of greening and conservation efforts with the community have helped create the high-quality living environment that Singaporeans enjoy today. Now, we aim to transform Singapore into a City in Nature for Singaporeans to reap the physical and mental well-being benefits of being close to nature.  

More opportunities in 2023 to be part of Singapore’s transformation into a City in Nature

Key to our transformation into a City in Nature is the OneMillionTrees movement, where NParks aims to plant one million more trees with the community between 2020 and 2030. This initiative is in support of the Singapore Green Plan 2030. Corporations and other organisations have also made commitments to contribute to the movement via the Plant-a-Tree programme through NParks’ registered charity and IPC, the Garden City Fund (GCF).

The trees planted will help to mitigate the effects of climate change. Through habitat restoration and the strengthening of ecological connectivity through tree planting, we will be able to enhance ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, temperature regulation and reduction of air pollution. The OneMillionTrees movement will also enhance health and community well-being by increasing Singaporeans’ access to nature.

In working closely with the community to intensify our greening efforts, NParks will continue to inspire Singaporeans to become stewards of nature and contribute towards transforming Singapore into a City in Nature.

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