Introduction

With the tremendous success of the 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West Programme, the programme was expanded to the 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West. Officially launched in November 2008, the 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West is a ten-year long community gardening initiative by South West Community Development Council (CDC), in partnership with community and corporate partners, to reinstate the natural heritage of Singapore by planting 100,000 native plants in the South West District and reduce the effects of global warming and climate change.

Objectives

2 The objectives of the 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West are to:

a) Engage and connect the community for bonding;
b) Re-instate natural heritage and create a conducive environment and Eco-system; and
c) Enhance efforts to mitigate climate change.

Target Group for the 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West

4 For the 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West Programme, every effort by the community will go towards the count for the one million plants. Spanning over a 10-year period, it will include efforts by the Grassroot Organisations (GROs) schools, corporate partners and the residents in the district.

Programme under the 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West

5 Existing initiatives currently in place under the 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West will be enhanced, and new initiatives will be rolled out in order to meet the one million target. The initiatives are as follow:

I) Pledging Website of 1,000,000 Native Plants @ South West

6 A pledging website, comprising three key components, will rope in the involvement of residents and corporates in the district. The key components of the website include the Plant-for-Tree Programme, Corporate Planting Progamme and Plant for a Good Cause Programme.


a) Plant-for-Tree Programme

7 For individuals who wish to support the cause, they can pledge their domestic potted plants or own gardens towards the programme. This will be in line with CDC’s plans of encouraging greener homes. This will also allow for greater participation amongst residents. For a multiplier effect, for every 50 plants pledged by individuals, a corporate partner will be planting one tree in the community. This may motivate individuals to contribute actively, within their means, given the tangible results. It is proposed that a tree-planting event be held upon achieving 40-50 trees. The planting could be carried out by corporations or volunteers. For check and balance purposes, residents may be contacted, as well as profiled for their contributions.

b) Corporate Planting Programme

8 This is an existing programme made easy. Corporate partners can simply register their interest to plant 200 plants/trees and shrubs and commit their staff and $22,000. The online registration will be routed to NParks and CDC will follow-up with a planting event.

c) Plant for a Good Cause

9 Individuals and organisations alike can choose to pledge funds to support the greening of a beneficiary home ie Jamiyah Halfway House and Bukit Batok Home for the Aged. The minimum pledging sum is about $200 per plant/tree, which will go to the CDC to fund gardening or planting at the beneficiary. As part of 3P, the beneficiary could be adopted by a school or commercial nursery. An online e-Nets payment will be made available for easy participation. An online e-Nets payment will be made available for easy participation.

II) Seed Funding For Community Garden

10 CDC will continue to fund the set up of community gardens by schools and Grassroot Organisations (GROs). An annual target of 25 gardens is projected in the district, ie 15 gardens by the GROs and 10 gardens by the schools.

III) ShowGarden @ South West Competition

11 A district-wide showgarden competition involving all registered community will be carried out bi-annually, as a prelude to the Community In Bloom (CIB) Awards by the National Parks Board (NParks). The ShowGarden @ South West Competition will award the community gardens based on the following categories, a) Model ShowGarden @ South West, b) Greenest Garden @ South West, and c) Most Active Garden @ South West.

IV) South West Fun Walkers Nature Trails

12 The South West Fun Walkers Nature Trails comprising of 32 community gardens, 6 nature parks and 16 Fun Walkers Trail, allows residents in the district to enjoy the lushness and scents from flowers, fruit trees and plants, creating a ‘total experience’ for everyone in the district

Contact Details

13 For more information, please contact the officer-in-charge, Mr Mohd Ridzuan
(DID: 6551 9277; Email: Mohd_Ridzuan@pa.gov.sg).