Record number of overseas participants for Asia Pacific Tree Climbing Championship 2015

60 arborists to vie for tree climbing accolades

A record number of 60 competitors from seven Asia Pacific countries took part in the Asia Pacific Tree Climbing Championship (APTCC) and Singapore Tree Climbing Championship held at Cathay Green on 25 - 26 Jul 2015.  

This is more than the 45 competitors in 2011, when Singapore hosted the previous championship. This is also the first time that the competition welcomed representatives from as many as seven countries, namely Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand.
 
Organised by the National Parks Board’s Centre for Urban Greenery and Ecology (CUGE) and the Singapore Arboriculture Society (SAS), the event was graced by Guest of Honour Mr Desmond Lee, Minister of State for National Development, who joined the public in witnessing top arborists showcase their amazing agility and skills in the trees as they vied to represent the region at the World Championship in Dallas, Texas next year. Mr Lee also congratulated and presented the awards to all the winners of various competition categories.  

Hosted by Singapore for the second time, the APTCC provides a competitive yet educational opportunity for working arborists to demonstrate and exchange knowledge on new climbing techniques and equipment, as well as safe work practices.
 
Youths between 3 to 16 years old also had the opportunity to try their hand at tree-climbing at the Young Arborist workshops. Besides learning about the mechanics involved in tree-climbing and basic skills such as tying knots, the young participants also gained a better appreciation of tree-climbing as a skill essential for the arboriculture profession.
 
The event also provided a platform for knowledge-sharing within the arboriculture and landscape community, with industry vendors showcasing the latest innovative equipment, machinery and materials used in the field to boost efficiency and increase productivity.
 
In celebration of Singapore’s natural heritage on its 50th birthday, some 60 participants also embarked on a guided walk to Fort Canning Park, the site of Singapore’s first botanic gardens, to learn about Singapore’s greening journey. The event also featured family-friendly carnival activities, such as a children’s crafts workshop, wood-crafted playground and bazaar featuring young, local entrepreneurs and eco-friendly products.
 
For more information on the APTCC and Carnival 2015, please visit www.cuge.com.sg/aptcc2015.