FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

4 October 2024

Kingston, Jamaica

The Forestry Department is leading the charge in environmental restoration through tree planting initiatives island wide with its 22nd annual National Tree Planting Day (NTPD) celebration, dedicated to restoring our landscapes. 

Following the devastation left behind by Hurricane Beryl, the Agency coined this year’s NTPD theme, “Restore our Roots… Replant a Tree Today,” to reflect the focus on trees’ ability to improve the island’s resilience to natural disasters, including hurricanes. The passage of the July hurricane left many vulnerable, wrecking infrastructure, homes, and crops. The Agency, through this year’s NTPD celebration, draws attention to the remarkable value of trees in fostering environmental resilience. 

Ainsley A. Henry, CEO & Conservator of Forests at the Forestry Department, states, “…the recent hurricane, illegal timber harvesting and other ongoing deforestation pressures continue to pose a threat to our forests and the environment. Therefore, we cannot relax and reduce our efforts, so it remains crucial that we continue to plant trees now, not just for immediate recovery but for the future.” Trees are exemplary recovery machines and protectors of the environment, supporting the nutrition of other damaged trees, preventing flooding and soil erosion and buffering against the heavy winds that accompany hurricanes. Beyond mitigating hurricane damage, they supply food, sequester carbon, which affects planetary heating, purify air and water and provide oxygen. Trees thoroughly support a resilient and sustainable environment.

Today, the Agency collaborated with several entities to plant over six hundred (600) trees through various NTPD projects. The main tree planting project was executed in partnership with the PAC Kingston Airport Limited (PACKAL) at the Norman Manley International Airport (NMIA), where ornamental seedlings including yellow poui—the Parish Tree of Kingston—were planted along the thoroughfare between the two roundabouts. Sitara English-Byfield, Chief Executive Officer of PACKAL at NMIA was happy about the partnership. “We are ISO:40001 certified, and so we are big on environmental sustainability and operating in a way that protects and improves the environment,” she said. “We consider this the beginning of a partnership with the Forestry Department to do more projects together to continue to beautify Kingston and to improve the community and environment at large,” she added. 

The Agency planted trees at several locations, including Edwin Allen High in Clarendon, where sixty (60) trees were planted for the school’s sixtieth anniversary, Albert Town High School in Trelawny, Brae’s River Primary in St. Elizabeth, Roxborough Museum Heritage Site in Manchester, the Moneague Teacher’s College, and lands in Beulah Park managed by Jamaica Bauxite Mining Ltd. (JBM), both in St. Ann. 

National Tree Planting Day is celebrated on the first Friday in October annually. Through the seedling distribution component, the Agency makes tree planting an accessible activity in which anyone can participate. The seedling distribution, which started on September 23 and ends on October 11, offers free seedlings, including okra and sorrel (in limited quantities), to the public to plant trees on National Tree Planting Day or during the rainy season. Individuals can visit any of the Agency’s nurseries in Constant Spring, Moneague and Williamsfield to collect up to five (5) free ornamental and timber seedlings. Coordinators of larger projects who require more than five (5) seedlings, can email fdinfo@forestry.gov.jm to make their request.

Photo caption: Ainsley A. Henry (right), CEO & Conservator of Forests at the Forestry Department and Sitara English-Byfield, Chief Executive Officer of PAC Kingston Airport Limited at the Norman Manley International Airport, plant a yellow poui, the Parish Tree for Kingston, along the airport's driveway on National Tree Planting Day, Friday, October 4, 2024.