Thursday is Arbour Day and Senior Environment Officer invites public to take part in ‘fruit-security’ distribution of plants
Arbour Day is being celebrated on Thursday, November 24, and the Department of the Environment is inviting the public to participate in the annual event, now in its 17th year.
Daryl George, the Department’s Senior Environment Officer, says the day is an opportunity for residents to access a wide variety of plants. And he adds that the initiative has met one of its goals – to ensure food security in relation to certain fruits.
George reports that a tree-planting drive has been undertaken with a number of schools, and these have also established nurseries.
Meanwhile, George notes that the Arbour Day event has been an avenue for entrepreneurship. He says that some persons purchase plants – which requires only the provision of two 8” x 8” biodegradable plant bags, rather than cash for a fruit tree. And, reportedly, they then resell them.
The Officer says it has been a practice of the Department to work with small businesses; therefore, many take part in the activity by selling plants that are not on offer by the Department, including flowering plants, palms, and succulents.
According to George, plants on offer on Thursday will include golden, sugar and custard apples; lemon and tangerine; guava, papaya, mango, sweet tamarind, pomegranate, soursop, raspberry, and Surinamese and Bajan cherries.
The event, he says, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Department of the Environment, and seminars on various topics will be held throughout the day.
