A Speech by The Duke of Sussex at The Queen’s Commonwealth Canopy Dedication, Tupou College Forestry, Tonga

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Tonga is leading by example and understands deeply the impact of environmental changes

Your Royal Highness, Minister, ladies and gentlemen and boys.



My wife and I are so pleased to be here today to mark the dedication of  not one but two forest areas to The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy initiative, which started in 2015 in honour of my grandmother's lifetime of service to the Commonwealth.



There are now 42 countries out of the 53 Commonwealth countries signed up to the QCC and we hope that the other countries will join as soon as possible.  

Tonga is leading by example and understands deeply the impact of environmental changes because they directly affect these islands.  



Planting trees and conserving forests helps us in so many ways.  It is a simple but effective way to restore and repair our environment, clean the air, protect habitat and enhance our health and wellbeing.

We are so very grateful to you for this contribution of the Toloa Forest Reserve and the Eua National Park Forest Reserve.  

Thank you.

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