The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy

The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy (QCC) is an initiative begun in 2015 as a network of forest conservation programmes throughout the 54 countries of the Commonwealth of Nations. By 2016, 16 countries had become involved and, by 2023, the number was 54.

The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy
Official logo
Location
Also known asQCC
CauseForest conservation campaign
Launched27 November 2015
by Queen Elizabeth II
Websitequeenscommonwealthcanopy.org

Origins

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The idea was conceived in the 2000s by Member of Parliament Frank Field, but, was met by apathy from the political establishment. When he raised the idea at a Buckingham Palace meeting, the concept found support from Queen Elizabeth II.[1] It is the first environmental enterprise the Queen gave her name to.[2] After approval and endorsement by the QCC, the projects are added to the network and "placed under the protection of the Queen herself."[3]

Launch

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The initiative was officially launched at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta in 2015.[4] The Queen said, "this, and other initiatives, are a practical demonstration of the power of the Commonwealth, working as a group, to effect real change for generations to come."[5] At that time, seven countries were involved,[2] with Singapore being the first, which was acknowledged by Princess Anne, Princess Royal, during a visit there.[5]

The three organisations behind the project are The Royal Commonwealth Society (RCS), the Commonwealth Forestry Association, and Cool Earth and its aim is to establish a global network of protected indigenous forests,[1][2] through "raising awareness within the Commonwealth of the value of indigenous forests and to saving them for future generations"; generating "a unique network of forest conservation projects that brings collective credibility and integrity to individual Commonwealth countries"; raising "the profile of the Commonwealth, demonstrating the capacity of its 56 member countries to act together as one to ensure forest conservation"; using "the Commonwealth network to facilitate knowledge exchange, share best practice, and create new collaborative initiatives for forest conservation"; and creating "a physical and lasting legacy of The Queen's leadership of the Commonwealth".[2]

Progress

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ITV broadcast The Queen's Green Planet in April 2018, highlighting many of the initiatives around the world interspersed with footage of the Queen and Sir David Attenborough discussing trees in the gardens of Buckingham Palace;[6] By this time, more than 40 countries had committed to taking part in the initiative.[1] it showcased the "personal stake the royal family and other prominent ambassadors have in conservation efforts."[3] By mid-2019, the number had reached 46 countries.[7] The RCS stated in 2023 that 54 countries were committed to the QCC, bringing 115 sites and projects, totalling some 12 million hectares (29,652,646 acres) of forest, under its umbrella.[2]

In addition to its three sites within the QCC, Australia contributes via the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, which is part of the country's foreign aid program.[8]

Projects

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Country Location Approx. area QCC link
  Angola Luengue-Luiana National Park[9]
  Antigua and Barbuda Victoria Park Botanical Gardens 2.4 ha (5.9 acres) [10]
  Australia Bulburin National Park [11]
Cleland National Park [12]
Forests of K'gari (Fraser Island) [13]
20 Million Trees Programme 13,825 ha (34,160 acres) [14]
  The Bahamas Blue Hole Conservation Forest 32,774 acres (13,263 ha) [15]
  Bangladesh Pirgonj Reserve Forest 500 acres (200 ha) [16]
  Barbados Turner's Hall Wood 50 acres (20 ha) [17]
  Belize Chiquibul Forest 423,000 acres (171,000 ha) [18]
  Bermuda Walsingham Nature Reserve 23 acres (9.3 ha) [19]
  Botswana Thotayamarula Forest Conservation Area 192 ha (470 acres) [20]
  Brunei Berakas Forest Reserve 348 ha (860 acres) [21]
Pulau Selirong Forest Reserve 2,566 ha (6,340 acres) [22]
Ulu Temburong National Park [23]
  Cameroon Sangmelima Training and Research Forest 13,500 ha (33,000 acres) [24]
  Canada Great Bear Rainforest 64,000 km2 (25,000 sq mi) [25]
  Cyprus Troodos National Forest Park 9,000 ha (22,000 acres) [26]
  Dominica Dominican forests [27]
  Fiji Colo-i-Suva Forest Park 92 ha (230 acres) [28]
Emalu 7,400 ha (18,000 acres) [29]
  Ghana Cape Three Points Forest Reserve [30]
  Grenada Levera Wetland[31][32]
  Guyana Kanashen Amerindian Protected Area 7,000 km2 (2,700 sq mi) [33]
  India Tillari Conservation Reserve 29.53 km2 (11.40 sq mi) [34]
  Jamaica Dolphin Head Forest Reserve 1,167 ha (2,880 acres) [35]
  Kenya Mau Forest Complex 455,000 ha (1,120,000 acres) [36]
  Kiribati Aranuka Mangrove Preservation Project [37]
  Malawi Chimaliro Forest Reserve [38]
Liwonde National Park 54,800 ha (135,000 acres) [39]
Mangochi Forest Reserve 37,600 ha (93,000 acres) [40]
  Malaysia Raja Musa Forest Reserve 230 km2 (89 sq mi) [41]
  Maldives Keylakunu 110 ha (270 acres) [42]
Neykurendhoo Mangrove 169.3 ha (418 acres) [43]
  Malta Verdala Palace rehabilitation project 6.8 ha (17 acres) [44]
  Mauritius Black River Gorges National Park 71 km2 (27 sq mi) [45]
Ilot Gabriel Nature Reserve [46]
  Namibia N/a'an ku sê Forest Conservation Revegetation Project [47]
  Nauru Nauru Project [48]
  New Zealand The Queen Elizabeth II National Trust 190,276.8 ha (470,184 acres) [49]
  Nigeria IITA Tree Heritage Park [50]
Kawari Forest Reserve 76.7 km2 (29.6 sq mi) [51]
  Pakistan Sustainable Forest Management 7 areas [52]
  Papua New Guinea Orangerie Bay 16.2 km2 (6.3 sq mi) [53]
Papua New Guinea—North 1,500 km2 (580 sq mi) [54]
  Rwanda Arboretum of Ruhande 500 acres (200 ha) [55]
  Saint Kitts and Nevis The Central Forest Reserve 40.3 km2 (15.6 sq mi) [56]
  Saint Lucia The Castries Water Works Reserve 14 km2 (5.4 sq mi) [57]
  Saint Vincent and the Grenadines The Vermont Nature Trail[58][59]
  Samoa O le Pūpū Puē National Park 12,000 acres (4,900 ha) [60]
  Seychelles Seychelles [61]
  Sierra Leone Tacugama Reserve 170.75 km2 (65.93 sq mi) [62]
  Singapore Singapore Botanic Gardens 6 ha (15 acres) [63]
Bukit Timah 163 ha (400 acres) [64]
  South Africa The Knysna and Tsitsikamma Forests of the Garden Route National Park 360 km2 (140 sq mi) [65]
  Sri Lanka Restoration of Trincomalee forest land 10 ha (25 acres) [66]
  Tonga 'Eua National Park [67]
  Trinidad and Tobago The Arena Forest Reserve 15.4 km2 (5.9 sq mi) [68]
  Tuvalu The Queen Elizabeth II Park [69]
  Uganda Mount Elgon [70]
  United Kingdom Coed Gwent (Wentwood) [71]
Epping Forest 24.76 km2 (9.56 sq mi) [72]
Hawcombe Woods National Nature Reserve 100 ha (250 acres) [73]
Forest of Marston Vale 15,799 ha (39,040 acres) [74]
The National Forest 200 sq mi (520 km2) [75]
  Vanuatu
  Zambia

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Terry Payne (16 April 2018). "How the Queen is putting politicians to shame with her Commonwealth Canopy project". Radio Times. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, Royal Commonwealth Society, retrieved 15 August 2023
  3. ^ a b Davison, Amber=Dawn (24 April 2018), "Protecting Forests, in the name of the Queen", Canadian Geographic, Royal Canadian Geographical Society, retrieved 15 August 2023
  4. ^ "Commonwealth Heads of Government Gather at MCC for Opening Ceremony". November 27, 2015. Retrieved September 28, 2016.
  5. ^ a b The Royal Household, What is The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy?, The Crown, retrieved 15 August 2023
  6. ^ "The Queen's Green Planet, review–it was a joy to eavesdrop on the Queen and David Attenborough". The Telegraph. 17 April 2018. Retrieved 19 April 2018.
  7. ^ "Inside Prince Harry's efforts to preserve African parks". National Geographic. 2019-09-30. Archived from the original on October 1, 2019. Retrieved 2019-10-27.
  8. ^ Goldrick, Chrissie (18 October 2018), "The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy project: explained", Australian Geographic, Australian Geographic Society, retrieved 15 August 2023
  9. ^ "Prince Harry Unveils New Conservation Project in Angola". Harper's BAZAAR. 28 September 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  10. ^ "Antigua and Barbuda: Victoria Park Botanical Gardens". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  11. ^ "Bulburin National Park". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Cleland Conservation Park". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Forests of K'gari (Fraser Island)". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Australia: Twenty million trees". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  15. ^ "Blue Hole Conservation Forest". Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  16. ^ "Bangladesh: Pirgonj Reserve Forest". Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  17. ^ "Barbados: Turner's Hall Wood". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  18. ^ "Belize: Chiquibul Forest". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Walsingham Nature Reserve". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Thotayamarula Forest Conservation Area". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  21. ^ "Berakas Forest Reserve". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Pulau Selirong Forest Reserve". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Ulu Temburong National Park". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Cameroon: Sangmelima Training and Research Forest". Retrieved 9 July 2018.
  25. ^ "Canada: Great Bear Rainforest". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  26. ^ "Troodos National Forest Park". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  27. ^ "Dominica". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  28. ^ "Fiji: Colo-i-Suva Forest Park". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  29. ^ "Fiji: Emalu". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  30. ^ "Ghana: Cape Three Points Forest Reserve". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  31. ^ "Queen's Commonwealth Canopy on Facebook". 12 February 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2021 – via Facebook.
  32. ^ "Protecting the Levera wetland". The Grenadian Voice. 11 September 2020. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  33. ^ "Guyana: Kanashen Amerindian". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  34. ^ "Tillari Conservation Reserve". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  35. ^ "Jamaica: Dolphin Head Forest Reserve". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  36. ^ "Mau Forest Complex". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  37. ^ "Aranuka Mangrove Preservation Project". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  38. ^ "Malawi: Chimaliro Forest Reserve". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  39. ^ "Liwonde National Park". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  40. ^ "Mangochi Forest Reserve". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  41. ^ "Malaysia: Raja Musa Forest Reserve". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  42. ^ "Keylakunu". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  43. ^ "Neykurendhoo Mangrove". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  44. ^ "Malta: Verdala Palace rehabilitation project". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  45. ^ "Mauritius: Black River Gorges National Park". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  46. ^ "Mauritius: Ilot Gabriel Nature Reserve". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  47. ^ "Namibia: N/a'an ku sê Forest Conservation Revegetation Project". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  48. ^ Nauru Project, The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy, retrieved 15 August 2023
  49. ^ "New Zealand: The Queen Elizabeth II National Trust". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  50. ^ "Nigeria: IITA Tree Heritage Park". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  51. ^ "Nigeria: Kawari Forest Reserve". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  52. ^ "Pakistan: Sustainable Forest Management". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  53. ^ "Papua New Guinea: Orangerie Bay". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  54. ^ "Papua New Guinea – North". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  55. ^ "Rwanda: Arboretum of Ruhande". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  56. ^ "St Kitts and Nevis: Central Forest Reserve". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  57. ^ "Saint Lucia: Castries Water Works Reserve". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  58. ^ "HOW TO JOIN THE QCC". Royal Commonwealth Society. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  59. ^ "Prince Harry visits St Vincent and the Grenadines". The Royal Family. Retrieved 18 June 2021.
  60. ^ "O le Pūpū Puē National Park". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  61. ^ "Seychelles". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  62. ^ "Sierra Leone: Tacugama Reserve". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  63. ^ "Singapore: Botanic Gardens". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  64. ^ "Singapore: Bukit Timah". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  65. ^ "The Knysna and Tsitsikamma Forests of the Garden Route National Park". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  66. ^ "Restoration of Trincomalee forest land". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  67. ^ "Tonga: 'Eua National Park Reserve". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  68. ^ "Trinidad and Tobago: Arena Forest Reserve". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  69. ^ "Tuvalu: The Queen Elizabeth II Park". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  70. ^ "Uganda: Mount Elgon". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  71. ^ "UK: Coed Gwent / Wentwood". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  72. ^ "UK: Epping forest". Retrieved 16 May 2018.
  73. ^ "Hawcombe Woods National Nature Reserve". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  74. ^ "Forest of Marston Vale". Retrieved 17 June 2021.
  75. ^ "UK: National Forest". Retrieved 17 May 2018.
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