Restoring Cayman’s Natural Beauty

Several government departments and agencies joined hands with the private sector this Earth Day, Saturday, 23 April, in a bid to restore some of Cayman’s natural beauty following the devastation of Hurricane Ivan.

The Department of Environment (DoE) spearheaded a large mangrove planting session in South Sound with more than 150 volunteers assembling at the South Sound launch ramp to achieve the target of re-planting 502 mangrove seedlings. The department chose this number to represent the effervescent spirit of Cayman, 502 years after first discovery. It is also intended to appeal to all residents to respond with hope and vigour to the challenges in the aftermath of hurricane Ivan. However, the figure gave way to enthusiasm. The army of Earth Day volunteers just kept going -- planting an estimated 650 mangrove seedlings in total, and several Sea Grape trees for good measure, said DoE’s Dr Mat Cottam.

“The Mangroves serve to stabilize the beach, while the Sea Grape will provide some much needed shade. Given the enormous popularity of today’s project, the DoE is already planning future projects. Before the storm, it was easy to take trees for granted – now, there is a greater awareness of their value,” Dr. Cottam said.

DoE staff have mapped the position of the newly planted mangrove seedlings, and intend to monitor their progress over the coming months, in order to assess which ones survive and grow the best. This will help fine-tune future replanting efforts, towards ensuring maximum long-term success.

The project received donations and support from the National Tree Planting Committee, the Department of Agriculture, private donors, Pedro St. James, South Sound landowners and Kirk’s supermarket.

In another successful tree planting drive the National Trust planted ten native trees on Friday 22 April at schools Island wide. The trees were selected for their historical and environmental importance, and each will feature an educational plaque listing its unique characteristics and uses. Most of the ten planted throughout the day were either Ironwood or Broadleaf, chosen because they give good shade, are native and mature attractively.

Frank Roulstone, of the National Trust, commented on the youthful participants: “I am very impressed at the level of enthusiasm the children displayed towards the day’s activities. Planting trees at the schools gave them something they can care for and watch grow,” he said. Together with other representatives from the Trust and the Department of Agriculture (DoA), Mr. Roulstone spent time with students explaining not only the values of trees, but also the benefits of preservation in general.

The project received support from the private sector with Deutsche Bank (Cayman) Ltd. providing funding since December last year, while CUC assisted by drilling holes for the trees at participating schools.

Chief Agriculture and Veterinarian Officer and chairman of the National Tree Planting and Preservation Committee Dr Alfred Benjamin congratulated the National Trust and DoE on their foresight in planning the tree planting events:

“The NTPPC is fervently working to assemble all necessary resources to bolster the planting of trees, not only in public areas but also in every backyard,” said Dr. Benjamin. “Trees have a profound impact on our lives. They protect the soil, provide us with oxygen, shade us from UV rays and help prevent flooding. Trees also serve to beautify our environment and their presence or lack thereof can even influence our emotional well being.”