Ministry Of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Supports Tree Planting Initiative

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill has committed his Ministry’s support to the SCJ Holdings (SCJH) Limited’s ‘Navel String’ tree planting initiative. Speaking at the launch of the project, on February 17 at the National Water Commission’s (NWC) Artificial Ground Water Aquifer Recharge Facility at Innswood St. Catherine, Mr. Pickersgill said he welcomed any tree planting initiative which will help increase the country’s forest cover.

“We must continue to protect our watersheds, reduce the country’s carbon footprint and provide eco systems services which support the national climate change program,” he told the gathering.

The project, to be implemented at a cost of over $25 million, is being undertaken in partnership with several Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

It aims to, among other things, increase local food production; provide a source of fruits to boost agro-processing; provide employment and culture change in schools and communities; reduce the country’s carbon foot print; increase the country’s stock of lumber trees; protect water sheds; and support the national climate change initiative.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the SCJH, Mr. John Gayle explained that the purpose of the initiative is to support and promote interventions that encourage the engagement of youth clubs, civic organizations and communities to plant one million trees including fruit trees over four years. “We will expand the project activities to the whole country, place special focus on youth groups and school participation and employ a sustained media campaign to advocate and rally all of Jamaica to participate ” Mr. Gayle said.

The ‘Navel String’ programme is supported by the Forestry Department; the National Environment and Planning Agency; the Jamaica 4-H Clubs; the Rural Agricultural Development Authority; the Jamaica Agricultural Society; the Social Development Commission; and other stakeholders.

The SCJ Holdings is a wholly owned agency of the Government of Jamaica and is mandated to provide efficient land management services that will foster sustainable, economic and social development in sugar-dependent communities.