The College of Science, Technology and Applied Arts of Trinidad and Tobago (COSTAATT) is literally planting seeds of change.
This, as its School of Environmental, Circular Economy, and Sustainability Studies is transforming the green areas of its campus into pollinator gardens, converting all lawn areas into pollinator-friendly zones filled with native plants and flowering shrubs.
Senior Lecturer at the campus, Abeni Charles-Harris, said these spaces are designed to attract pollinators such as bees, birds, and butterflies which play a critical role in food security and ecosystem health.
“So imagine having a tomato field, and within that tomato field, if you have flowers, and each one of those little flowers you require to take pollen from one part, from the male part, and give it to the female part and you had to take a Q-tip and go to each flower to do that. That is what would be required without pollinators in order to be able to get that fruit. So pollinators do the job of going to flower to flower, and every time they do so, they are actually encouraging the production of fruit.”
It is for this reason she is condemning the killing of these insects and animals.
“So if you see a bee going from flower to flower, it’s actually doing its job. Now, some people might be allergic, then that’s another story by itself. But I would advise that you leave them well alone. And if you’re aware that that’s the point of a hive and you would know it’s a hive because you see a high concentration of bees going in and out, in and out, then you leave that bee and you call the relevant authorities to move it safely away. But I wouldn’t advise that you go and you try to kill off every bee and butterfly that you see.”
Mrs. Charles-Harris is encouraging everyone to start their own pollinator garden.
“I would like persons to rethink their green spaces. Taking care of a well-manicured lawn, it costs, but in establishing your own little pollinator garden, it would lower your maintenance cost, it could beautify your area as well as contribute to biodiversity.”
The campus will be offering a course on pollinator gardens on September 6th.