| The Queen's Commonwealth Canopy | |
| Also Known As: | QCC |
| Blank Label: | Launched |
| Blank Data: | 27 November 2015 by Queen Elizabeth II |
| Cause: | Forest conservation campaign |
| Blank1 Data: | --> |
| Blank2 Data: | --> |
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 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. After approval and endorsement by the QCC, the projects are added to the network and "placed under the protection of the Queen herself."
The initiative was officially launched at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Malta in 2015.[2] 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." At that time, seven countries were involved, with Singapore being the first, which was acknowledged by Princess Anne, Princess Royal, during a visit there.
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] 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".
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;[3] 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." By mid-2019, the number had reached 46 countries.[4] 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.
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.
| Country | Location | Approx. area | QCC link | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luengue-Luiana National Park[5] | ||||
| Victoria Park Botanical Gardens | 2.4ha | [6] | ||
| Bulburin National Park | [7] | |||
| Cleland National Park | [8] | |||
| Forests of K'gari (Fraser Island) | [9] | |||
| 20 Million Trees Programme | 13825ha | [10] | ||
| Blue Hole Conservation Forest | 32774acres | [11] | ||
| Pirgonj Reserve Forest | 500acres | [12] | ||
| 50acres | [13] | |||
| Chiquibul Forest | 423000acres | [14] | ||
| Walsingham Nature Reserve | 23acres | [15] | ||
| Thotayamarula Forest Conservation Area | 192ha | [16] | ||
| Berakas Forest Reserve | 348ha | [17] | ||
| Pulau Selirong Forest Reserve | 2566ha | [18] | ||
| [19] | ||||
| Sangmelima Training and Research Forest | 13500ha | [20] | ||
| 64000km2 | [21] | |||
| Troodos National Forest Park | 9000ha | [22] | ||
| Dominican forests | [23] | |||
| 92ha | [24] | |||
| Emalu | 7400ha | [25] | ||
| Cape Three Points Forest Reserve | [26] | |||
| Levera Wetland[27] [28] | ||||
| Kanashen Amerindian Protected Area | 7000km2 | [29] | ||
| Tillari Conservation Reserve | 29.53km2 | [30] | ||
| Dolphin Head Forest Reserve | 1167ha | [31] | ||
| Mau Forest Complex | 455000ha | [32] | ||
| Aranuka Mangrove Preservation Project | [33] | |||
| Chimaliro Forest Reserve | [34] | |||
| 54800ha | [35] | |||
| 37600ha | [36] | |||
| Raja Musa Forest Reserve | 230km2 | [37] | ||
| Keylakunu | 110ha | [38] | ||
| Neykurendhoo Mangrove | 169.3ha | [39] | ||
| Verdala Palace rehabilitation project | 6.8ha | [40] | ||
| 71km2 | [41] | |||
| Ilot Gabriel Nature Reserve | [42] | |||
| N/a'an ku sê Forest Conservation Revegetation Project | [43] | |||
| Nauru Project | ||||
| 190276.8ha | [44] | |||
| IITA Tree Heritage Park | [45] | |||
| Kawari Forest Reserve | 76.7km2 | [46] | ||
| Sustainable Forest Management | 7 areas | [47] | ||
| Orangerie Bay | 16.2km2 | [48] | ||
| Papua New Guinea—North | 1500km2 | [49] | ||
| Arboretum of Ruhande | 500acres | [50] | ||
| The Central Forest Reserve | 40.3km2 | [51] | ||
| The Castries Water Works Reserve | 14km2 | [52] | ||
| The Vermont Nature Trail[53] [54] | ||||
| O le Pūpū Puē National Park | 12000acres | [55] | ||
| Seychelles | [56] | |||
| Tacugama Reserve | 170.75km2 | [57] | ||
| 6ha | [58] | |||
| 163ha | [59] | |||
| 360km2 | [60] | |||
| Restoration of Trincomalee forest land | 10ha | [61] | ||
| [62] | ||||
| The Arena Forest Reserve | 15.4km2 | [63] | ||
| The Queen Elizabeth II Park | [64] | |||
| Mount Elgon | [65] | |||
| [66] | ||||
| Epping Forest | 24.76km2 | [67] | ||
| Hawcombe Woods National Nature Reserve | 100ha | [68] | ||
| 15799ha | [69] | |||
| 200mi2 | [70] | |||