‘Trees integral to sustainable development goals’

In order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals of affordable, clean energy, and clean water and sanitation by 2030, Barbadians are being encouraged to do all that they can to help foster a healthy and sustainable environment for trees and plant life on the island.

Minister of Environment and National Beautification Adrian Forde made the plea during Wednesday’s National Arbour Day ceremony at the National Botanical Gardens.

Forde explained that though the island was committed to achieving its goals of becoming carbon neutral by 2030, it was important for citizens to understand the integral role trees and natural vegetation play in reducing the carbon footprint and the way in which plant life leads to a healthier environment for all.

The environment minister said: “From a policy perspective, it does not only signify our commitment to the United Nations General Assembly’s call to have all the sustainable development goals achieved by 2030, but it does also speak to the fact that life on land and our commitment to the sustainable development goals as it relates to clean air, again the responsibility of trees, clean water again we can’t have clean water unless they are trees… the ability to have fresh air as part of our sustainable development goal, almost all of [these] goals can only be achieved if trees are involved.”

Though Forde acknowledged that COVID-19 continues to be on the minds of Barbadians as daily infections continue to steadily rise, he stressed that if natural spaces are not taken care of, and are allowed to be destroyed, diseases caused by mosquitoes will be allowed to prosper, as lizards and other wildlife who are the natural predators for mosquitoes, continue to experience the destruction of their natural habitats.

He declared: “Prior to COVID, the one threat that took more lives was the mosquito threat [via] mosquito borne illnesses around the world. Whether it is Dengue, Zika, Elephantiasis, it has always been a perennial problem, and mosquito deaths around the world have been around 2 million per year, and that is documented.

“We may be spraying with the fumigants from the Ministry of Health, but it is known that those fumigants and those sprays only kill the adult mosquitoes… that is why I have been speaking about our lizard population. The only way those lizards can live and survive is if they have trees, because that is their habitat.”

During the course of the ceremony,  Chairman of the National Conservation Commission, Senator Rudy Grant, joined other citizens, including students, in planting 25 trees in recognition of Arbour Day, with Forde encouraging more Barbadians to get on board and get involved in the National Tree Planting competition which will see a $7,000 cash prize going to the eventual winner.  (SB)