A target of 192,000 trees has been set for planting in Manchester, under the Prime Minister’s National Tree Planting Initiative (NTPI).
The number represents the current population in the parish.
Custos of Manchester, Garfield Green, who spoke at the launch of the initiative in the parish, at the Percy Junor Hospital in Manchester on June 10, said the number is a start.
“We hope to exceed that target. The Government is encouraging the planting of trees as a guarantee to their commitment to mitigate the effects of climate change and safeguard the environment,” Custos Green said.
“My office is committed to planting 3,000 trees across Manchester by the end of 2022, and this will involve our Justices of the Peace with support from the Forestry Department,” he added.
Meanwhile, Member of Parliament for North East Manchester and Minister of Industry, Investment and Commerce, Hon. Audley Shaw, said the launch is aligned to the Government’s initiative to plant 3,000,000 trees by 2022.
“Planting a tree or sowing a seed is not just symbolic of the hope that we invest in a better tomorrow, but helps us in a significant way to address issues of climate change, environmental protection and increases food production to aid food security,” Mr. Shaw said.
He reminded the audience that planting fruit trees would ensure not just fresh produce for the markets and supermarkets but also some for the export market, such as the recently restarted export of mangoes to North America as well as raw material for the agro-produce sector.
For his part, Chairman of the Southern Regional Health Authority (SRHA) and businessman, Wayne Chen, said trees contribute to a healthy environment, a healthy body and to mental health.
“Forty years ago, I saw lots of fruit trees all over the parish, but I don’t see them anymore, so it’s interesting that we are going back to where we came from,” he noted.
At the launch, both fruit and ornamental trees were planted at the hospital. They included Indian plum, otaheite apple, poui, willow, poor man’s orchid and others.
Proposed tree-planting sites in the parish include hospitals, churches, schools, police stations, health centres and open public spaces.
Also at the launch was Custos of Clarendon, Hon. William Shagoury.
Personnel from the Forestry Department assisted in planting the trees on the hospital grounds.
