NEPA pushes for enviro awareness among children
Published:Wednesday | September 22, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Laura Redpath, Senior Gleaner Writer
Clearing land without replanting trees increases the negative impact a drought has on the country, says David Reid, the National Environment and Planning Agency's (NEPA) environmental officer.
Reid told The Gleaner yesterday that it is difficult to manage land clearance by hillside farmers who are allowed to cut, clear and burn to facilitate their agricultural practices.
The soil erosion that results from land clearing causes an increase in the amount of silt in rivers which, during a drought, limits water accessibility.
"The cumulative impact is what is affecting us," Reid said. "Hillside farmers clear about one to five acres and that leads to uncontrolled fires too."
Lessening the impact of soil erosion, the leaves on trees act as a buffer during rainfall, while the roots keep the soil grounded.
Reid, along with Ava Tomlinson, NEPA's senior public education officer, visited the Glenhope Place of Safety in St Andrew yesterday to hand over tree seedlings to the Child Development Agency (CDA).
This will help to increase environmental awareness in children while maintaining sustainability.
As an added bonus to education, species of plants and trees, found locally, also allow native animals and other creatures to have access to food and homes.
Native flowering and non-flowering species have adapted to Jamaica's environment and can thrive among native pests within the local climate without much maintenance or pesticides.
According to Winston Bowen, director of programmes at the CDA, the children at the places of safety will take part in the tree-planting process.
"We are going to ensure that children are involved and will be planting," he said.
Tomlinson acknowledged the importance of children taking part in environmental activities.
"They will plant and appreciate the green environment around them. It will also give them the feeling of being at home," she said.
NEPA donated 140 seedlings of lignum vitae, Spanish elm and poui, to name a few, to the CDA, which is responsible for 61 childcare facilities across the country.