JOINT MEDIA RELEASE WITH HON MALCOLM TURNBULL MP, FEDERAL MEMBER FOR WENTWORTH, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
As part of World Environment Day celebrations, the Australian Government is proud to throw its support behind a community-based campaign to have all two million primary school children in Australia plant a tree by 2020.
The ‘One Tree Per Child’ initiative was launched today in Bondi by the Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt, Minister for Communications Malcolm Turnbull and DoSomething founder Jon Dee.
“Today on World Environment Day, I am absolutely delighted to announce that the Federal Government is providing $300,000 funding through the 20 Million Trees Programme for the ‘One Tree Per Child’ initiative,” Minister Hunt said.
“This will deliver 100,000 trees and give Australian primary school children the opportunity to plant a tree for their future and their children’s future.
“This is a fantastic initiative and I congratulate Jon Dee and Olivia Newton John for championing such a worthy cause that the Government is proud to partner with. This endeavour contributes to our mission to plant 20 million trees by 2020.”
Minister for Communications and Federal Member for Wentworth, Malcolm Turnbull, welcomed the announcement of the One Tree Per Child project which will start in the Bourke Shire and Waverley council areas. Other councils will be engaged as the project progresses.
“Planting millions of trees re-establishes green corridors across our landscapes, provides habitat for threatened species and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. This is a great programme that encourages young people all over Australia to learn the value of their local environment and which encourages them to improve their communities. I’m very proud that these first trees are being planted at Bondi, right in the electorate of Wentworth,” Minister Turnbull said.
DoSomething will work with local councils to identify appropriate planting sites and species, and with local schools to get primary school children involved.
Co-founder of One Tree Per Child, Olivia Newton-John, said society benefits when young children get out, get their hands in the earth, and plant trees. Planting trees and shrubs is a great way for kids to connect to the environment and their community.
“Here at ‘One Tree Per Child’, we will be working with local councils to try and make it easier for primary schools and tree planting organisations to come together and plant trees. In years to come, the children who plant a tree will be able to look back and say “that is my tree – I really made a difference!”
“That’s why it’s so exciting for us that councils will be rolling out the ‘One Tree Per Child’ project.”
Co-founder of One Tree Per Child, Jon Dee, said today’s announcement gives the ‘One Tree Per Child’ project a really strong start in Australia.
“This $300,000 funding from the Federal Government will enable 100,000 children to plant 100,000 trees.”
“Having the funding for 100,000 seedlings will make it far easier for councils to get on board and help their local primary schools to plant one tree per child.”
“Having a ‘One Tree Per Child’ policy in primary schools and councils has a number of benefits. As a child grows so does the tree that they plant. Our experience shows that as their tree grows, so does the child’s commitment to looking after the environment and the community around them.”
“That’s why this funding is so important. It will make a real difference to our communities and it will make a measurable difference to our wildlife and the environment.”
The 20 Million Trees Programme is part of the Australian Government’s National Landcare Programme and is investing $50 million over the next four years to re-establish Australia’s green corridors and urban forests.
Further information is available at: www.nrm.gov.au/national/20-million-trees
(ENDS)