Edinburgh is currently home to more trees than people. The city has an ambitious goal to reach a million trees by 2030 as part of its national commitment to net zero. This mission can be more easily achieved if all groups from the Edinburgh community are aware of practical forms of contributing to it. Young people are key actors, but opportunities for them to engage seem to be lacking.

 

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In this context, the Global Shapers Edinburgh Hub, in partnership with Lauriston Farm, organized a pop-up tree plantation event in February 2023, at Lauriston Farm, where young individuals (between 17-30 years) were mobilized and volunteered to plant trees and further their knowledge of tree plantation in the city. For this first pop-up tree plantation event, we planned to have at least 10 to 15 young individuals participate; 15 to 25 trees planted; and receive constructive feedback through surveys. We have achieved these objectives, with 25 young individuals participating; 37 trees being planted; and constructive feedback duly received.

In parallel to this pop-up event, we are currently developing a ready-to-use guide for youth involvement in tree plantation activities. The guide will be published in our hub's website.

 

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Our short-term outcomes (for 2022) include this first pop-up tree plantation event and the ready-to-use guide for youth involvement in tree plantation activities. 

 

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In the mid-term (2023), we plan to partner with youth climate action groups, sustainability groups, university societies and students’ association in Edinburgh to facilitate uptake of the guide. In addition, we will use the feedback received from the first pop-up reforestation event to conduct 2 more events, and work with schools, universities and youth centers so that they can eventually replicate the project model by holding their own pop-up reforestation events in line with the guide we will have produced.

 

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Finally, in the long-term (2024), we plan to have a replicable tree plantation guide that can be employed by other hubs in their respective cities; and have 300 trees planted, helping absorb around 12000 pounds of carbon dioxide in 3 years, thereby advancing the city’s net zero commitment.