"One person one Tree" campaign in PNG capital aims for one million trees annually to save environment

To mark the World Environment Day anniversary, #AmazingPortMoresby aims to plant one million trees each year as part of its ‘One Person, One Tree’ campaign, NCD Governor Powes Parkop revealed.

To continue the campaign, Indian High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency Vijai Kumar, United National Resident Coordinator Gianluca Rampolla, Moresby South MP Justin Tkatchenko, Motu Koita Chairman Dadi Toka Jnr and representatives from the business community and city residents joined Governor Parkop who led the city to take actions and to recommit to save the environment.

    To mark the World Environment Day, Governor Powes Parkop and his deputy Dadi Toka Jnr with Indian High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency, Vijai Kumar (second from left), UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Gianluca Rampolla (eighth from left) and others posing for a photograph in front of one of the kwila trees planted this morning at shorefront of Idubada to Kanudi as part of Governor Parkop’s initiative ‘One person One tree’ campaign which was launched on Sunday. Image Credit: NCD Media Unit

They took turns in planting 20 kwila trees this morning at the foreshore of Idubada to Kanudi.

The campaign was launched on Sunday, June 02, 2019 with other two initiatives.  

The two initiatives include Eco club program at various schools in the city and the greenest, safe, clean and beautiful street or community.

“Let’s make a greater commitment to protecting the only planet we have. Mother Earth is very sick and unwell. The signs are already obvious. Climatic changes, unusual weather patterns, sea level rising, extreme weather, poor air quality and the list goes on. If we do not act now, we will jeopardize our own future and that of our children, and the many generations to come!” warned Governor Parkop who is a strong environment advocate.

He made reference to the Bible that Garden of Eden was a beautiful, pristine, clean and safe environment.

 “Today we not only made a moving appeal, announcements and pledges, but we took action to do our part to contribute to improve the health of our unwell struggling planet and environment.

 Parkop planting a tree as part of eco club program for schools and ‘One Person, One Tree’ campaign to mark the International Environment Day at Seseve Morea Elementary school. Image Credit: NCD Media Unit

“We have launched the initiative to plant a million trees in Port Moresby. If one person can plant one tree in Port Moresby, we can have a million trees in Port Moresby soon as our population is almost a million,” he said.

Calling on the National Government to declare June 5 as a Public Holiday- a day of Action for the Environment-in PNG, he said they might consider implementing ‘the plastic use ban’ when the National Government makes a decision on investing in recycling, reuse and reduce of non-degradable materials.

“ACTION is WHAT IS NEEDED! Not words, proclamations, pledges and more Conventions on Climatic Change! Local and Global Action. Be a Force for Nature in Amazing Port Moresby,” he said.

Governor Powes Parkop, the Indian High Commissioner to PNG, His Excellency, Vijai Kumar (left) and UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Gianluca Rampolla planting a tree as part of Governor Parkop’s initiative ‘One person One tree’ campaign which was launched on Sunday. Image Credit: NCD Media Unit

His Excellency Vijai Kumar said his country is fully supporting this initiative taken by the Governor Parkop and pledged to support him in the campaign to realise it.

He said volunteers in India planted 66 million trees in one day in 2017.

Sharing similar sentiments, UN Resident Coordinator Mr. Gianluca Rampolla described Governor Parkop’s initiative as important.

“We will try and compete with India, China and Singapore. PNG’s richness is its natural endowment. It has the highest level of biodiversity in the world. The third biggest tropical forest in the world. Its wealth in terms of breathe and ocean is incapable to anywhere else in the world. So, we all need to cherish it, protect it and sustain it to a standard that is God has given us,” said Rampolla.