World Forestry Day 2011
&
Launch of International Year of Forests

On Wednesday 21st March, 2011, the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Housing and Environment joined the international community in observing World Forestry Day, 2011 and locally launched the ‘International Year of Forests’. This year’s celebrations took on special significance as the United Nations have designated 2011, “International Year of Forests”.

Each year, people the world over celebrate World Forestry Day on March 21st. It is a reminder that our forested areas can and do provide invaluable resources and considerable benefits once managed sustainably – such as stable global climate and environment that provides catchment area protection and reduces carbon dioxide, provides habitats for our indigenous flora and fauna species, adds an aesthetic quality to our recreational areas, contributes to educational and scientific study, and supply products for food, shelter and medicine.

The total forested area of Trinidad and Tobago has been substantially reduced due to slash and burn practices, quarrying, oil and gas exploration, squatting and forest fires.  As Dr. Roodal Moonilal, Honourable Minister with responsibility for the Environment mentioned in his address, ‘we each have the power to make a difference’, in ensuring that we adopt best practices with our forested areas so that they continue to provide us with the things we need to survive.

The Honourable Minister also made mention of the various initiatives of the Forestry Division namely, the Forest Fire Protection Programme and the Forest Incentive Programme, that assist communities better manage their forested areas. Further, he elaborated on the status of the Protected Areas and  revised Forest Policies, advising that the goals of these is to guide how we treat with our forest resources so as to make meaningful contributions to the overall development of Trinidad and Tobago
In keeping with the main theme for International Year of Forests - ‘Forests for People’ - the Forestry Division combined the launch of three (3) projects to highlight the dynamism between forests and the people who depend on them. The first of these projects was a community initiative known as the “Community Greenspace Challenge”. This challenge was aimed at engaging the national community through civil societies to transform neglected and abandoned spaces within their neighbourhoods into greenspaces for the entire community to enjoy. Secondly, in conjunction with the Environmental Management Authority, the Primary Schools Competition was launched targeting schools in County Victoria. And thirdly, representatives from the Food and Agricultural Organization and the University of the West Indies introduced a Forest Reserve Project, made possible only through the financial and technical support of the FAO.

There were cultural presentations made by schoolchildren of the County Victoria area followed by a presentation of framed photos by the Forestry Division to the Minister and other special guests. A symbolic tree planting ceremony on the San Fernando Hill by the Honourable Minister, Permanent Secretary, Deputy Permanent Secretary and the Conservator of Forests among other specially invited guests brought the function to a close.