Dear Editor,

Hello, my name is Kai Hooper. I am nine years old and attend Alvernia Preparatory School. I want to talk about Jamaica’s flora.

Jamaica has a lot of plants that cannot be found anywhere else in the world, and that makes them a part of our national heritage. Our plants are very important to us and it’s serious trouble to our natural habitat when many of our plants and trees are becoming endangered. This is because plants are losing their homes to the building of houses.

Plants are essential for life. They provide medicine, fresh oxygen and reduce pollution levels by taking in carbon dioxide. Without them humans and animals would have less fresh air to breathe.

Our plants and trees provide habitat and food for animals and humans. Trees provide shelter for birds so they can make their nests. Trees also protect birds from predators. The roots of plants provide soil stability to prevent soil erosion.

It is important that we protect our plant life. We can do this by refusing to cut down trees. We can also encourage afforestation by planting new trees as much as we can. Additionally, we can follow the principles of ‘use, reuse and recycle’ to ensure we get the most use of products made from trees.

Kai Hooper

Greater Portmore

St Catherine