As part of the 41st anniversary of independence celebrations, the Ministry of Environment, Climate Resilience, Disaster Management and Urban Renewal will hosted a series of tree planting activities across the island on Thursday, October 17th 2019.
The National Tree Planting Day is a new initiative of the Independence Committee and was included on the independence calendar from the 40th reunion year celebrations.
This year, in light of the ongoing National Reforestation and Beautification Programme, the Ministry of Environment is partnering with the Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Ministry of Education, and Local
Government Department, the National Employment Programme, Community Organizations and other groups to undertake this activity.
Technical support was provided by the Forestry, Wildlife, and Parks Division and the Division of Agriculture to facilitate planting at all primary and secondary schools.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Climate Resilience, Disaster Management and Urban Renewal, Careen Prevost, engaged in the tree planting activities in Peebles Park on Thursday.
“We are here planting trees and wrapping up the Peebles Park Project, which is a project that has been ongoing over the last few months to upgrade the existing Peebles Park and to create a new green space, a larger green space in the city of Roseau. You will soon see a well landscaped park that is close to the Bayfront that is close to the cruise ship port that both visitors and locals alike can enjoy,” Prevost stated.
Thousands of trees were distributed by the Forestry Division in the tree planting efforts.
“We are moving across the island with thousands of trees. We also have the Forestry Division engaged in plating in four ranges around the island. We have the Southern Range and they will be planting from Soufriere all the way down to Coulibistrie. We have the Northern Range doing some planting at the Indian River and in the town of Portsmouth. Also in the Central Range, we are doing some planting at Hearts and Garden area, Hibiscus Valley and Castle Bruce beach. And in the Eastern Range we are doing some planting at the Bout Sable Beach and at the Rosalie River,” she noted.
She went on thank all the partners who assisted with the activity all of the island.
“And so we are all over the island and we want to thank the staff at the Forestry Division for mobilizing and being able to coordinate this project and also for the Division of Agriculture for supporting. The National Employment Programme is also providing support with labour for the activity and we want to thank all of the partners for helping us,” PS Prevost added.