KINGSTON, Jamaica — More than $30 million will be spent to restore the island’s public gardens and scenic avenues that were severely impacted by Hurricane Beryl on July 3.

At least $17 million of the amount will be used to restore the historic Holland Bamboo in St Elizabeth, with plants to be taken from the nursery.

This was stated by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Mining, Floyd Green, in a recent statement in the House of Representatives where he provided an update on the Government’s recovery and relief efforts.

He noted that restoring these areas was not only important for tourism as they “also serve as vital ecological preserves”.

Green told the House that the Public Gardens & Zoo Branch of his ministry has reported extensive damage across several locations. The Holland Bamboo Scenic Avenue suffered the most severe impact, with 70-80 per cent of older bamboo stands affected.

The Castleton Botanical Gardens in St Mary, Cinchona, in St Andrew and Bath in St Thomas experienced fallen trees and damaged infrastructure.

“Even the Fern Gully Scenic Avenue, though least affected, lost a significant number of fern plants,” Green noted.

“The total estimated cost for the recovery of our public gardens and scenic avenues stands at J$31.13 million, a substantial investment needed to restore these national treasures to their former glory,” the minister said.