Students of the Newtown Primary School now have a better understanding of the importance of trees after being part of a tree planting activity at that institution on Friday.
The event formed part of Earth Day 2016 which is being observed today.
It was organized by the Discover Dominica Authority (DDA) in collaboration with the Forestry Division and the Dominica Public Service Union (DPSU) Women’s Committee.
Twenty-four trees were planted at the school by students with the assistance of forestry officials. The trees include; palm trees, cactus, Bois Kwaib, among others.
“Trees are considered to be primary producers. Trees are important because they use carbon dioxide to make their foods, trees are also important because they are a source of food,” Acting Assistant Forest Officer in the Forestry Division, Cyril John said while addressing a ceremony to mark the occasion. “Trees provide shade.”
He also provided tips to the students for planting trees. He said first, a site needs to be selected.
“Too many times people plant trees and after two to three years, they have to cut it down because they are planting the tree at the wrong site,” he said.
“You also have to take into account the species of trees that you are planting, many times people don’t take into account the size of the tree when it gets to its maximum size and again they have to resort to cutting the trees.”
He stated that taking care of the tree after it has been planted is very important.
“Many times people plant trees and they just forget about it,” he stated. “Whenever you plant a tree you have to take care of it, you have to water it, you have to weed it; because if you do not weed it the weeds are going to compete with the tree for the water, for the sunlight and your tree will not be as vibrant as it should be.”
John stated further that after planting a tree, watering is very important.
“The first thing you should do after you plant a tree is water it…water is life and trees are living things so they require water just as we do,” he explained. “We take water through our mouths; they take water through their roots.”
Furthermore, he said all the efforts will be wasted if the trees are not taken care of.
Earth Day is an annual event, celebrated on April 22, on which day events worldwide are held to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is now coordinated globally by the Earth Day Network and celebrated in more than 193 countries each year.
Lovely age to teach the children about trees and how important they are for the environment.
This process should be carried out at all primary schools in Dominica.
You school children look cute and well-groomed in your uniform, as gentlemen and ladies.
I hope you are well-behaved and are diligent in your studies. Those years fly and before you know it, you will be graduating to a higher class/school.
I hope they receive discipline in school. During this time they are warned about bad company and ingesting drugs. It is my feeling that as they grow older and to a higher grade they should be taught about these matters.
This is left to the Government, Board of Education and the Principal. Teach the children well. Some of them, for whatever reason do not receive such discipline at home. This is your moment, you authorities, to ensure that the children/students receive relevant discipline.
When they leave school, i.e., graduate, they may not forget this discipline. As they grow older, get married, have children, they will pass it on to their children from one generation to another who will benefit from it.
I have planted flowers but never a tree. I learned something about planting it.
Today, the young ones learn what we older ones did not. You should be smarter than us. 
Some people have to cut down trees because some grow big, spread and crooked. They are also either leaning on their house, over a fence or on their neighbor’s property. This requires a permit from the City who will first, when a request/complaint is made, investigate it and then decide if they should be cut down or pruned. A permit is then issued.
Where I reside, the City is wary about cutting trees and issuing such permits. It pertains to the beauty of the area and the environment. If the tree poses a safety hazard, then, it will be cut down. There must be a very good reason to approve cutting down trees.
The City is extremely strict how residents take care of their property and littering. Generally, people are clean and neat. City inspection is conducted.
I’m all for the planting of trees but do they have a designated play area? it would be nice is some open space was left for play…. I am commenting based on the photo… if there is I stand corrected