The Society for Historic Architectural Preservation and Enhancement (S.H.A.P.E) embarked on a tree planting initiative at the Lindo Park in Goodwill. The project called ‘Plant It up Roseau’ Green Cities Initiatives Project is a collaboration between the Forestry Division, the Ministry of Environment and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Project Manager, Ms. Vanessa Prevost spoke of the components of the project.
“S.H.A.P.E, that is the Society for Historic Architectural Preservation and Enhancement, teamed up with the Forestry, Parks and Wildlife Division to design this project. This project then allows us to participate in the green cities initiative of the FAO. There are several components to this project and we expect that our project will be finished by December 20022. Firstly, the project will be facilitating multi stakeholder meetings with municipality officials. Another key stakeholder is to develop a vision and identify priority areas for interventions in the city including the drafting of a location plan. So far we have identified quite a number of places for tress to be planted in the city,” Ms. Prevost explained.
Another component of the project is organizing focus group meetings with Government officials and the business communities.
“We didn’t just want to say we need a tree here, but the community around has to decide what tree would be best suited for this area. Do we want a fruit tree, do we want a forest tree do we want a riparian tree. What kind of tree do we want in the area? So we will be having various stakeholder meetings to discuss with the community members, with business persons and other persons involved as to what trees we want to plant and where,” Ms. Prevost stated.
The Forestry, Parks and Wildlife Division is playing a major role in this project. Representative of the Division, Ms. Jaqueline Andre, says they are pleased to collaborate with shape to encourage Dominica’s reforestation efforts.
“We are proud to collaborate with S.H.A.P.E as it supports our ongoing reforestation project and our mission to increase green spaces post Hurricane Maria. With the developments taking place in our city and other areas on the island. The need for green spaces is necessary to create a more balanced system. Green spaces are not only beneficial for recreational aesthetics but also to improve air quality, help fight climate change, provide shade and improve the quality of life. It is timely that our planners and developers become creative and integrate green spaces in their project,” Ms. Andre noted.
This initiative goes hand in hand with Government’s reforestation efforts following the passage of Hurricane Maria in 2017 and also forms part of Government’s vision to become the first climate resilient nation in the world.