Dear Editor,

There is an old Jamaican proverb, “Cow neva know di use a him tail til fly tek it”. Given the recent furore over the renovation of Devon House, it is good to see that so many Jamaicans are interested in the environment. However, we should take it a step further by walking the talk when it comes to environmental preservation, namely tree planting, in this instance.

For one, commemorative days like Labour Day in May and National Tree Planting Day in October present opportunities for Jamaicans to come together and execute activities like tree planting to enrich the environment amidst anxiety over climate change. Instead, on the surface, it appears as though support for these initiatives has waned over the years, and they have been reduced to mere ceremonial acts and photo ops in some instances. Will we now take more of an interest in participating?

According to the Forestry Department, “The act of planting a tree, though a seemingly minor one at the individual level, will have a much more significant impact when thousands of Jamaicans engage in the activity. This will extend beyond enhancing the aesthetics of our immediate surroundings and contribute to the maintenance of the island’s physical and natural environment generally.”

Outside of commemorative days, our homes, whether we live in the country or the city, present opportunities to play our individual roles by planting flowers, fruit trees, etc, no matter how small. A visit to the Forestry Department is quite satisfying as they have a range of plants at affordable prices. Otherwise, they can be found at home and garden stores islandwide and vendors in other public spaces.

Aside from beautifying your home or community, trees increase property value, cool your space, save energy costs, buffer noise pollution, clean the air we breathe, and some provide medicinal value.

Recently I noticed several palm trees and flowers being planted in the vicinity of Seprod along Marcus Garvey Drive, and they have transformed the area. Kudos to whoever is responsible, and others should follow suit.

From personal experience I can declare that gardening is therapeutic. It cures a headache quicker than a tablet. We talk about mental health a lot these days, oftentimes not knowing that the cure may be found at our fingertips.

Jamaica is a beautiful country which can boast about its lush greenery, the preservation of which is an individual responsibility. Plant something today.

Suzette Campbell

suzette.campbell@outlook.com