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Second
Regional Sandwatch Project Workshop, 7-9th July 2003
Caribbean
students plant trees on the beach in Dominica
by Arlington James, Dominica
This is my
first contribution to the Small Islands Voice, and the matter
that I am reporting on is not an issue per se, but an example
of pooling of efforts aimed at improving the conditions on a beach
near a community, and in the long-term, reducing the level of
beach erosion, and providing habitat for wildlife.
Some readers
may be aware that from Monday 7th to Wednesday 9th July, the regional
Sandwatch Project workshop - sponsored by UNESCO - was held in
Portsmouth, Dominica. This workshop involved students and teachers
of primary and secondary schools from several Caribbean islands/territories,
including Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, St.
Vincent & The Grenadines, St. Lucia, St. Kitts and Nevis, British
Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Netherlands
Antilles (Curaçao) and the host country Dominica. Also, there
were teachers from the Seychelles (who, like Dominica, are a Kweyol-speaking
country), Cook Islands and Palau.
Two of the
activities on the packed programme were a field visit to the Cabrits
National Park, immediately followed by a tree-planting exercise
on the Glanvillia Beach, which is adjacent to the village of Glanvillia
- one of the communities in the greater Portsmouth area.
Under the
supervision of officers from the Forestry, Wildlife & Parks Division
- who also provided the planting materials and stakes - the students
planted eight Indian Almond (Terminalia catappa) trees
on the beach, a short distance from the edge of the Michael Douglas
Boulevard and the Indian River. In a few years, these trees will
enhance the aesthetics of the beach, provide shade for residents
of the area, provide habitat for wildlife (bats, birds, lizards,
insects etc). The trees' roots will also help reduce beach erosion
that occurs during storms.
The activity
drew the attention of many curious passers-by, as well as the
Indian River Tour Guides who have pledged to assist with the maintenance
and care of the trees, which will enhance the appearance of the
general area from which the guides operate.
Jeanette
Laruefrom Seychelles and Michael Penniston from St. Vincent and
the Grenadines planting a tree at Glanvillia Beach, 7th July 2003
Students
from Dominica and the British Virgin Islands assisted by staff
member from the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division, planting
a tree at Glanvillia Beach, 7th July 2003
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