Kingston, Jamaica. Saturday, October 12, 2019 … In recognition of National Tree Plating Day, the Kiwanis Club of Young Professionals, Kingston partnered with August Town Primary School for a tree planting exercise as the first project for the new administrative year. This exercise was carried out as a means of creating awareness amongst members of the community and students about the importance of planting trees.
Co-Chairs Chantal Pinnock and Arthur Compass explained the reason for participating in the tree planting exercise, “The importance of this day cannot be overemphasized as trees are an important asset to the environment. They perform an important function of absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen into the atmosphere, thus aiding in the reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere which by extension combats global warming. Secondly, trees provide shade and have
the ability to decrease daily temperatures by absorbing heat. August Town Primary was an ideal location as the school has a relatively large playing field with no covered stands and students would have to stand in the open sun. The tree planting exercise was geared towards planting shade trees to alleviate this problem.”
October 4, 2019 was recognised as International Tree Planting Day. Planting trees not only provides a community and social value, but it also provides economic value, environmental value and spiritual value. Trees help to control climate by moderating the sun, rain and wind which helps to lower air temperature, reduce heat intensity and direct economic benefit is derived from savings from energy costs. For this year’s observance of National Tree Planting Day (NTPD), the Forestry Department urged organizations and individuals to plant more trees in urban centers across the island given the high levels of carbon dioxide emission in those areas.
The two and a half hour exercise saw children, teachers and parents helping to clear the field from weeds, clearing the planting area from debris, digging holes and planting the seedlings which were made available to the public by the NTPD. The Principal of August Town Primary Mr. Morlton Wilson welcomed the initiative as well as the further donation of seedlings from the Forestry Department for use in beautifying the school environs.
The initiative is in keeping with the Club’s mandate as a global volunteer organization with a mission to serve children and communities; through service and leadership with community based products; focused on educational development projects, beautification projects and programmes geared towards at-risk-youth and children.
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