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| From left: Minister of Planning The Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning and Development Mrs. Joanne Deoraj and City Engineer of the Port-of-Spain City Corporation Mr. Jason Lalla plant one of six black poui trees at the POS Central Market |
The Ministry of Planning
and Development celebrated World Forestry Day, on March 21st 2016,
with an internal plant distribution to staff and the planting of six (6) black
poui trees at the Port of Spain Central Market this morning (March 22, 2016).
The trees were donated by the Cumuto Forestry Division Nursery of the Ministry of Agriculture and were planted at the southern entrance of the market as part
of a joint effort between the Planning Ministry and the Port of Spain City
Corporation.
Present at the event was
the Minister of Planning and Development, the Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis
who spearheaded the planting of the young trees. Also in attendance were
the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning and Development, Mrs.
Joanne Deoraj and City Engineer Mr. Jason Lalla of the Port of Spain City
Corporation.
The event which took
place this morning at 9:30am, was the first step in a greening initiative
currently underway by the Port of Spain City Corporation. The Ministry was
first off the bat with the planting of the six black poui trees.
The entire event was the
culmination of an internal initiative put on by the Ministry of Planning and
Development that also recognised winners of a ‘Win -A- Tree’ competition
launched internally for World Forestry Day. The competition saw the
distribution of fifty special “carbon sink” plants to Ministry staff,
encouraging them to plant within their communities.
The term “Carbon sink” describes how
trees store carbon in the form of cellulose. “Carbon Sink” plants are those
that greatly aid in the reduction of one’s carbon footprint. Trees absorb
carbon dioxide and use it to sustain themselves, creating oxygen as a
by-product. Currently, trees are critical to sustainable development by
reducing our carbon footprints, as about 18 percent of carbon emissions are
absorbed by existing forests every year. The Honourable Minster congratulated
the Port of Spain City Corporation on their initiative and also commented that
she looked forward to seeing the trees cared for and grow.
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| Some of the winners of the 'Win-A-Tree' Competition |
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