Seoul initiates 'Adopt-a-Tree' campaign

By Kim Bo-eun

Seoul City said Thursday that it will start an "Adopt-a-Tree" campaign offering citizens opportunities to take care of trees in the city.

The campaign is a form of volunteer work in which individuals, schools, companies and organizations look after designated trees. An identical scheme was first initiated in the U.S. in 1985.

Officials said some 284,000 trees planted along 1,190 kilometers of roads in the city will be up for adoption. Citizens can submit applications to become an adoptee starting Monday. This year, 10 to 15 sections will be set as a pilot project, and the full-fledged project will start next year, they said.

Citizens can take care of their designated trees for one year. They should pick up trash, get rid of weeds and give water to the trees. City officials will take care of pest control and pruning.

Although the management of the trees will be left to those in charge, if the trees are found to be neglected, the city will revoke the adoption. The city will set a minimum number of times per month that care-givers should visit their trees to prevent this from happening.

The campaign will also create jobs for the elderly as taking care of the trees at 15 major roads in the city will be open to 200 elderly citizens. They will be paid 200,000 won per month.

Students are also encouraged to participate in the campaign as a form of community service. The city hopes, through the campaign, it will reduce spending on taking care of the trees.

Sixth graders at Sunsa Elementary School in eastern Seoul have taken care of some 4,478 trees as a pilot project since last month. They will continue to look after the trees until February next year.

"The project will provide the opportunity for citizens to take responsibility for the trees in front of their homes and workplaces because the trees are a public asset", said a city official.

For more information, call the Parks and Landscape Bureau at the City Hall at 02-2115-7614.

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