A tree-planting initiative observing World Environment Day on Tuesday brought together students of the St Luke’s School, members of the Forestry, Wildlife and Parks Division and sand miners Carib Sand and Stone Ltd.
With Minister for the Environment Kenneth Darroux in attendance, the students from the nearby Pointe Michel School got down to planting trees and flowers along the Pointe Michel to Loubiere Road.
Carib Sand and Stone General Manager Jean-Yves Bonnaire admitted during the ceremony that his quarry operations have a negative impact on the environment because vegetation has to be removed to get the raw materials.
But he insisted that the company was “not the anti-environment monsters that many think they are”.
He said those involved in that kind of activity were beginning to understand the need to mitigate the impact and better prepare restoration of sites.
“Developing awareness among employees and associating future generations is one of the objectives of this symbolic operation,” Bonnaire explained.
The company is also calling on the road uses to assist in keeping the area free or garbage.
Most of the trees planted have been tagged with the names of the individual who planted them.
Carib Sand & Stone (Dominica) Ltd was officially incorporated on December 7th, 2005 to handle the development of quarrying activities in Dominica.
It looks a bit double standard to plant a few trees as a public spectacle close to the city whilst hundreds of mature tree cover are being ruthlessly destroyed in the watershed area of the forest.
FLOWER CAN FULL THOSE CHILDREN STOMAC SHOW THEM HOW TO DO AGRICULTURE STUPS
That is a wonderfull idea, planting trees along the pte michel loubiere road, I am from that area, when i was home on vacation two years ago i saw some palm trees planted along the road, which was coming up nicely , but we need more so thank to all who particated.
There was a survey done in Haite, on deforestation, and they found out if they plant friut tress it is harder for them to cut them down for fuel,becouse the friut is used for food to feed the masses, so let”s start planting more mango trees along that area route also.
A native son.
Good job, but while they planting, others are destroying, our rivers, our biodiversity, deforestation, building in river beds, cutting the tries that line our rivers, over fishing, fishing out of season! Where are the polices, the laws and regulations, who is enforcing and who letting things slide by…lets stop talking and lets start walking and taking action…I an in…are U?
Good job St Luke School, matching together to help save our environment, Our front St Luke School building our motto will be ringing for God and Country We Will Stand Forever
Also the forestry division need to look into the many trees being put down/deforesting for charcoal etc
Is it not ironic that Darroux is keynote speaker at this function but his administration is sitting on its hands while the fella destroy our “protected” forest in Pond Casse with no regard? The nerve of some people! You can fool some people some time but you cant fool all the people all the time.
The St Martin Primary School was also part of the planting excercise. Students did a great job and must be commended for their active participation. Special thanks to the Forestry officers present for their precious technical support.