Sumitomo Chemical Pledges $10,000 to the Garden City Fund to Plant 47 Trees in Celebration of Singapore's 47th Birthday

Tree-planting ceremony marks the planting of the 470,000th plant at South West district under the 1,000, 000 Native Plants @ South West programme

4 August 2012 - In celebration of Singapore’s 47th birthday, over 100 staff members from Sumitomo Chemical and Affiliates, will be planting 47 trees under the Garden City Fund (GCF)’s Plant-A-Tree Programme at Pang Sua Park Connector this morning.

The ceremony also marks the significant planting of the 470 000th native plant at South West district as part of the 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West programme. This tree will be planted by Dr Amy Khor, Mayor of South West District, Mr Vincent Lien, Garden City Fund Management Committee member, Mr Hiroki Sakasai, Managing Director, Sumitomo Chemical Singapore Pte Ltd and Mr Hiromichi Ishikawa, Managing Director, Sumitomo Chemical Asia Pte Ltd. The 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West is an initiative mooted by South West Community Development Council (CDC).

Dr Amy Khor, Mayor of South West District said, ”Launched in 2008, 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West has provided seed funding to 71 community gardens and engaged more than 15,000 residents. The 47 trees planted along the Pang Sua Park Connector are significant and denote our 47 years of nationhood.  The 47th tree also marks the 470,000th plant under the 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West programme.  Pledges received towards the 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West will be channeled towards the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)’s Billion Tree programme.  We are delighted to have found in Sumitomo Chemical and its affiliates a kindred spirit of environmental compassion.  Through the concerted efforts of the community and socially responsible corporations like Sumitomo, we will co-create a sustainable and liveable district here in South West.”

This tree-planting ceremony is made possible by a pledge of S$10,000 from Sumitomo Chemical. The donation will help fund the cost of the tree planting, as well as other conservation and education programmes under the GCF.

Mr Hiroki Sakasai, Managing Director of Sumitomo Chemical Singapore Pte Ltd, said, “Plant-A-Tree Programme provides an opportunity for employees and family members of Sumitomo Chemical & Affiliates to contribute towards the enhancement of green spaces in Singapore and also foster a culture of corporate social responsibility & environmental responsibility.”

On Sumitomo Chemical’s contribution, Prof Leo Tan, Chairman of the Garden City Fund Management Committee, said, “We are encouraged by Sumitomo Chemical’s contribution to support our native biodiversity. Planting trees not only provides us with immediate benefits, it also leaves behind a green legacy for our future generations to enjoy. The Garden City Fund, which has seen over 12,000 trees planted by some 16, 000 individuals to date, under its Plant-A-Tree programme, is most happy to support South West CDC’s 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West initiative.”

“NParks is encouraged that organisations are coming forward to take part in green initiatives such as the Plant-A-Tree programme. By being actively involved in greening Singapore, the community is taking ownership of our environment. These public-private partnerships help to realise the City in a Garden vision,” said Dr Leong Chee Chiew, Commissioner of Parks & Recreation, National Parks Board.

The tree-planting ceremony is jointly organised by Sumitomo Chemical, Garden City Fund, the National Parks Board, and South West CDC.