[Anglican Communion News Service] The Church of Ceylon’s Diocese of Colombo has launched a major environmental protection scheme which will see 20,000 trees planted on a single day in 2019. A “trial run” will see 2000 trees planted on 24 September 2018 ahead of the main Plant Trees, Plant Life event on 14 September 2019. A whole range of organizations are taking part in the event, including churches, the diocesan youth department, church schools, the Mothers’ Union and the government’s forestry department – the Ministry of Mahaweli Development and Environment.

“Why ‘Plant Trees?’”, the Diocese said on its Facebook page, “We plant trees as an act of obedience to God. This makes it a spiritual experience. Being concerned for our environment is being concerned for what God cares for.”

Already, some 100 trees were planted when the event was launched last month on World Environmental day – 5 June – at St Thomas’ College in Mount Lavinia. Churches across the diocese also planted trees on that day in preparation for the main event in 2019.

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