MINISTER of Agriculture and Fisheries Derrick Kellier last week launched a tree-planting project at the Orange Hill Primary School, in Stonehenge, South St James.

After launching the project, students and residents planted a number of fruit and lumber trees.

This initiative is being spearheaded by the Sugar Company of Jamaica Holdings (SCJH) Limited, through its National ‘Navel String’ Project, which is expected to support and promote interventions that encourage the engagement of youth clubs, civic organisations and communities in planting one million trees over the next four years across Jamaica.

In his address, the minister said the project is essential to support national development and to enhance the quality of life of the general population.

“The community of Orange Hill has been selected to participate in this very important project for national and economic development and will therefore benefit from the establishment of a nursery to produce seedlings for the tree-planting programme and the planting of trees all over the community,” Kellier said.

He explained that the burial of the umbilical cord or ‘navel string’ is one of the rituals in rural Jamaica, in which the ‘navel string’ is buried in a special location and a tree planted at that spot for the child.

“It is hoped, therefore, that the concept of belonging, attachment to a place, to a tree, will become instilled again through this ‘Navel String’ project and hopefully get Jamaica green again,” the minister said.

Chief Executive Officer of SCJH Limited, John Gayle, called on all residents to be active participants in the tree planting programme.

He said this could turn out to be financially rewarding for the entire community of Orange Hill and surrounding areas.