Forestry Department Encourages Participation in National School Tree-Planting Competition

The Forestry Department is encouraging schools and students at the early childhood, primary, secondary, and tertiary levels to participate in the National School Tree-Planting (NSTP) competition.

The competition will be officially launched on Wednesday (September 7) at the Department’s head office, 173 Constant Spring Road, Kingston 8, at 2:00 p.m.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, will be in attendance.

The competition, which opened at the start of the 2022/23 academic year on Monday (September 5), will run until February 28, 2023.

It forms part of the Department’s efforts to facilitate and encourage participation in the National Tree-Planting Initiative (NTPI).

The NTPI was launched in 2019 to mitigate the effects of climate change through the planting of three million trees.

As of September 1, 2022, a total of 1.4 million trees were planted under the programme.

The primary objective of the competition, being undertaken in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Youth, is to expand the reach and participation of Jamaicans, especially youth, in the NTPI.

This, by creating opportunities for greater involvement in tree-planting activities in schools and communities.

The competition also seeks to encourage practical learning about trees and their role in improving the environment.