Parishioners of the Jesuit Church of St Ignatius in Singapore turned up bright and early, and with great enthusiasm at a nature stateland area of Adam Road on the morning of 28 September to plant trees.
The initiative, which was headed by the Green Movement of the parish in conjunction with the Season of Creation, is under the “OneMillionTrees Movement” of the National Parks Board (NParks) of Singapore. It is a nationwide effort to plant a million trees across Singapore over the next few years, bringing the number of trees in the island state to more than 8 million. The planting areas include streetscapes, gardens, parks and park connectors, nature reserves and nature parks, and more. To date about 400,000 trees have been planted. At the heart of the OneMillionTrees Movement is the engagement and involvement of the community. In this way, the parishioners of St Ignatius are one of many groups doing their part in this effort.
Trees play an important role in creating a livable environment in any city. They serve as natural air filters, provide oxygen and shade, cool down surfaces, and regulate the water cycle. In addition, trees help to enhance the physical, mental, and social aspects of community well-being.
That morning, which started off with a prayer by the parish priest Fr Colin Tan SJ, the parishioners planted 50 native species of small-size to medium-size trees. Once planted these trees provide undergrowth to the existing taller trees in the area. The trees planted were Derum Selunchor (Cratoxylum cochinchinense), Seashore Ardisia or Mata Pelandok (Ardisia elliptica), and Cempaka Tanjung (Gardenia tubifera).
Cangkuls, spades, gloves, and watering cans were provided by Nparks to the volunteers, many of whom showed up with hats and other coverings in anticipation of a hot day. Several NParks staff were on hand to brief the volunteers and to give aid when needed.
To plant the saplings, the volunteers dug holes as deep as the root of the tree, albeit the ground had already been loosened earlier by NParks staff. Then the trees were inserted upright into the holes, which were then covered with earth. The last step was to water the sapling with a watering can.
Members of Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Singapore also turned up to support the initiative in solidarity with JRS Asia Pacific. Planting trees in Singapore may be for decorative purposes, but JRS Asia Pacific has the Growing Canopies, Strengthening Communities Project or 40-4-40 Campaign, which plants trees to protect the livelihood of indigenous people in poorer areas of South East Asia as opposed to beautifying affluent Singapore with trees. As with the vision of NParks and the 40-4-40 Campaign, growing a forest is a community endeavour.
As a result of the morning’s activity, there was a common feeling of satisfaction among the parishioners that they had done their part to green a small part of urban Singapore and identified themselves with the care of our common home. [MAS Jesuits]
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