Tobago is often described as clean, green, and serene, untouched and beyond ordinary – words that will otherwise fall flat without community involvement.
In a time when efforts are critical in the mitigation of the effects of climate change, the Tobago Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme used Friday, World Environment Day, as a way to get the community involved in these efforts through a Hike and Plant initiative along the river in Les Coteaux.
Chairman of the Tobago Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation Programme, Sean McCoon, explained that planting trees is the simplest form of climate action, especially in areas such as Les Coteaux, which has experienced significant tree loss.
“Planting trees is one of the activities that contributes to carbon sequestration. This is a riparian zone, when you look around you, you see lots of forests and bush fires would have taken a lot and a significant amount of the vegetation with it so we are rehabilitating a green space”
Trees are also critical to the health of rivers like Les Couteaux, which is a crucial water source for southwest Tobago.
This is why Mr McCoon chose this area for the Hike and Plant initiative.
“Tobago would not be Tobago beyond ordinary and the greatest little island on the planet, and all of the wonderful buzzwords and slogans that we love to use in the space – we would not be that if it is our natural environment is destroyed.”
This is the second year that a tree-planting exercise has been executed in the area.
Les Coteaux resident and foreman of the BIOREACH Project, Harvey Craig, said his appreciation for trees has increased.
“I know trees was important, I would have cut trees but now it is more for me to see that the trees prosper and grow and mature and so forth you know, so it actually would have changed my whole perspective about the trees.”
Similarly, Secretary of Environment, Climate Resilience and Energy, Darren Henry, wants residents to consider engaging in small efforts that will have long-term results.
“We are encouraging everyone to plant a tree in terms of assisting with the resilience against climate change.”