3,000 Trees to be Planted Along Lady Musgrave and East King’s House Roads

A major urban tree planting thrust will kick off with the planting of 3,000 saplings along Lady Musgrave and East King’s House Roads in St. Andrew.

This undertaking forms part of the National Tree Planting Initiative (NTPI) to replenish Jamaica’s forest cover.

Under the initiative, which was announced by Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Andrew Holness, in November 2019, three million trees are to be planted as part of reforestation efforts in areas that have been degraded over time due to development and other activities.

The targeted corridors under the urban engagement are slated for major road expansion works in the coming months, with similar activities programmed for Arthur Wint Drive.

The trees to be planted are intended to offset the anticipated damage to or loss of those in these areas due to roadworks.

The initiative was launched at Jamaica House on Saturday (January 28) where a tree planting exercise conducted, was led by Minister Without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda.

Speaking with journalists, Senator Samuda informed that in light of the anticipated impact on trees in the vicinity of the road works, the 3,000 saplings will be planted within a kilometre of each other on government and private properties ahead of the project’s commencement.

Senator Samuda said this undertaking is expected to yield a net gain of significant tree cover in the targeted areas.

Chief Executive Officer and Conservator of Forests, Forestry Department, Ainsley Henry, who participated in the launch, said increasing the number of trees within the urban space is essential, while encouraging all Jamaicans to participate in the initiative.

“We believe that in planting a lot of these trees, we will be able to reduce the heat effect within Kingston, we will improve the air quality, and also improve [the] aesthetics [of the area],” he said.

As part of the drive, public support is being encouraged through the distribution of seedlings in support of the National Tree Planting Initiative (NTPI) to persons.

This was done at two locations in Kingston – Barbican Beach and Barbican Shopping Complex, spearheaded by a team from the Forestry Department.

The sites were visited on Saturday by Mayor of Kingston, Senator Councillor Delroy Williams; Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Kingston and St. Andrew Municipal Corporation (KSAMC), Robert Hill; and Councillors Venesha Phillips, Papine Division, and Joy Cottrel, Barbican Division.