On Tuesday, His Majesty King Charles III planted an Acer rubrum ‘October Glory’ tree in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, marking the completion of The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy (QCC) and honouring his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II’s, environmental legacy.
The tree planting ceremony took place as part of a commemoration of the achievements of the QCC, an initiative launched in 2015 at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Malta.
The project aimed to preserve indigenous forests across the Commonwealth, celebrate Queen Elizabeth II’s long service to the Commonwealth, and protect vital ecosystems for future generations.
The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy concluded in 2022 after all 54 Commonwealth countries participated. The project, led by the Royal Commonwealth Society in partnership with the Commonwealth Forestry Association and Cool Earth, saw the conservation of more than 12 million hectares of forests and botanical gardens.
The initiative included sites such as UNESCO World Heritage sites and forests personally visited by Queen Elizabeth II.
Dr. Linda Yueh CBE, Executive Chair of the Royal Commonwealth Society, praised the project’s collective success:
“The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy was a remarkable example of the Commonwealth’s united effort to create a sustainable future for its 2.7 billion citizens. It brought together governments and organisations to conserve diverse forests, including UNESCO World Heritage sites and those Queen Elizabeth II personally visited during her 70 years of service. We are deeply honoured that His Majesty The King, Patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society, commemorated this achievement by planting an Acer rubrum, ‘October Glory,’ in the grounds of Buckingham Palace, creating a lasting symbol of the Commonwealth’s commitment to environmental conservation and The Late Queen’s legacy.”
Alan Pottinger, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Forestry Association, expressed his appreciation for the initiative’s success:
“It has been an honour for the Commonwealth Forestry Association to play a role in The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy and thereby help raise awareness amongst the Commonwealth’s citizens of the value of trees and forests – for individuals, for our communities, and for the future of our planet. It is a fitting tribute to Queen Elizabeth II that her son and stalwart champion of the environment, King Charles III, should help to commemorate the successful completion of the project.”
Tony Juniper CBE, Chair of Cool Earth, reflected on the origins and impact of the initiative:
“When Frank Field proposed The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, it was first and foremost to recognise the scale of the then 54 nations’ forests and the work by local communities to keep them standing. He would have been delighted to see his vision come to fruition as proof of the Commonwealth’s commitment to the natural world and its fight against the climate crisis. Queen Elizabeth II’s legacy of tree planting and conservation has been justly celebrated by The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy, and Cool Earth is honoured that His Majesty The King should commemorate a truly community-led initiative.” (PR)
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