Where Will Belize Plant One Million Trees?

Students and environmental activists rolled up their sleeves in Belmopan today, planting fifty trees as part of a nationwide push to restore green spaces and combat climate change. The tree-planting exercise, led by the United Nations Development Program, in partnership with the Forest Department and other stakeholders, forms part of the Greening Belize Initiative, a national campaign aimed at planting one million trees across the country. The effort brings together community members to build public participation in Belize’s long-term reforestation goals while strengthening resilience to climate change. News Five’s Britney Gordon has the story.

 

Britney Gordon, Reporting

Belize’s goal of planting one million trees is taking root, and university students are now helping to lead the charge. Today, they joined government officials and environmental groups in Belmopan to plant fifty trees across the capital as part of the Greening Belize Initiative. Launched in January, the campaign aims to restore damaged land and protect vital watersheds. But where will the trees go? Sustainable Development Minister Orlando Habet explains how officials select the planting sites.

 

Orlando Habet, Minister of Sustainable Development

“There was a study done very technical, and they decided that they look at degraded areas especially, look at deforested areas which are agricultural areas. We’re looking at coastal areas especially for mangrove restoration, and we are looking at degraded areas inside and outside protected areas. And so it is going to be distributed amongst those areas.”

 

Habet further explained that urban development is contributing to rising temperatures in towns and cities, as more paved roads and concrete surfaces absorb and retain heat. By planting more trees in towns and cities, officials hope to cool communities and make them more comfortable for residents. UNDP Resident Representative Michael Lund says students planted various tree species such as Shower of Gold, Guanacaste and Bukut.

 

Michael Lund, Deputy Resident Representative, UNDP Belize

“We need to know which trees fits in which environment. You can’t just plant any tree anywhere, and I’m glad to know that there is that study, so it can guide us to have a more sustainable planting of trees. We’re trying to help plant the million trees. And what we wanted to do here during the September celebration, because of the importance of the tree in Belize’s history and I think the identity of being Belizean, is to use this opportunity to plant fifty trees in five different locations in the city of Belmopan.”

 

Today’s tree-planting effort was led by young people determined to make a difference. Through UNDP’s Student Ambassadors Program, ten University of Belize students have spent the past six months exploring key development issues and turning what they learned into action. Among them is seventeen-year-old Sabrina Landaverde, who helped organize today’s event.

 

Sabrina Landaverde, UNDP Student Ambassador

“I believe it’s so important and when I applied to be student ambassador, I wanted to click into some of the STG’s that we have, sustainable development goals. And one of those is climate change and what this project does is putting a foot forward into the on million trees project.”

 

Habet says officials are choosing trees that fit each location, with priority given to native species that provide shade and need less water and maintenance. While the current rains should help the young trees take root, government agencies are also preparing a joint plan to keep them alive during the upcoming dry season. Britney Gordon for News Five.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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