National Speaking 4 the Planet 2024 

Trees, the Guardians of Life

Join the 2024 national online S4P competition. The topic is Trees, the Guardians of Life. 

UPDATED: Deadline for submission is changed to 26 July 2024.

This change is as necessary because of the interest.

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Trees, the Guardians of Life

• Support package: click on HERE.

• Submission link: SUBMIT HERE

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Trees sustain life. Trees sustain civilizations!   

From the blue beaches to its red centre, Australia is blessed with diverse and unique woodlands, rainforests and bushland. It has 130 million hectares of forests – about 17% of its land area.  

Australia has some of the worst rates of deforestation in the world – comparable to Indonesia and Brazil.

• Over 73% of deforestation is for beef production. Trees are bulldozed, invasive grasses are planted and cattle are brought in. 
  
• From 2016-2021, over 2.2 million hectares of forest and bushland was bulldozed in Queensland alone.
  
• The majority of beef sold in Australia ends up sold at Woolworths, Coles, McDonalds and Hungry Jacks. 
  
• Today, just 50% of Australia’s original forests and bushland remain intact.

From GreenPeace.org.au

Wherever we live in this country – near the coast, along rivers, in mountains or on plains – we have valuable trees and bushland. Trees are a part of our lives. And they matter. From the northern tropical regions down through sub-tropical regions to temperate zones, we have trees everywhere. They are a part of our lives. And they matter. Trees sustain life. Trees sustain civilizations. 

This year, the S4P competition asks participants to focus on the importance of their local bushland – for themselves and their communities and their regions. 

This topic is linked to Sustainable Development Goal 15 – Life on Land. 

All councils in Australia are invited to participate. And there are two ways you can take part in this competition.

One – register to support the online competition. In this way, all youth aged 12 – 18 in your LGA can participate.  Note that teachers are also invited to participate in this online competition!

…or…

Two – hold a live event in your LGA for your schools. 

Please read this flier.

To register or discuss the possibility of a live event, please contact Phil at phil@speaking4theplanet.org.au

Prizes 

Once again, Paddy Pallin, a competition partner, will provide very practical items for first place in each category.

This year, we have decided to add a monetary element to the prizes.  In addition to the item from Paddy Pallin, first place winners will receive $100. Second place winners will receive $100.

Submission Link

Submit your work here: SUBMISSION FORM

Closing date 

The closing date will be Friday, 26 JULY, 2024.

Winners will be announced on the S4P website on National Tree Day, Sunday, 31 August 2024. 

Here’s Support Package 

You can read the Trees, the Guardians of Life package HERE.

It contains information on the topic, links to resources, and explanation and judging criteria for each category. Be sure to contact your local council and visit its website for information on such things as bushland management, canopy cover, tree replacement policies… 

Here’s what one student said about the 2023 competition

List of registered Councils

Council
1. Ku-ring-gai Council
2. Liverpool City Council
3. Sutherland Shire (courtesy of Sutherland Shire Environment Centre)
4. Byron Shire Council
5. Frankston City Council
6. Tweed Shire Council