KINGSTON, Jamaica— Six Thousand trees will be planted island-wide in commemoration of Jamaica’s 60th Anniversary of Independence.

The project will contribute to food security as well as the conservation of Jamaica’s forest resources.

The Agro-Investment Corporation – the Agribusiness investment facilitation arm of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries – has partnered with the Forestry Department, an Agency of the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, to complete the task aimed at supporting the National Tree Planting Initiative.

The official launch and symbolic tree planting activity is scheduled for Wednesday, August 31, 2022, at 2:30 pm at the Amity Hall Agro Park in St Catherine and will include the signing of a memorandum of understanding between both entities.

Pearnel Charles Jr, Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, as well as Senator Matthew Samuda, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, are expected to be in attendance.

Initially, 60 trees will be planted in honour of Jamaica 60 and will be provided by the Forestry Department. The seedlings for the symbolic planting will include ackee, Lignum Vitae and Blue Mahoe.

The 6,000 trees to be planted will include fruit, ornamental and timber trees.

Scheduled planting of trees will be distributed across the Agro Parks and Production Zones commencing with the Amity Hall Agro Park in St Catherine. Additional trees will be planted at the Ebony Park and Spring Plain Agro Parks in Clarendon, New Forest/Duff House Agro Park in St Elizabeth, Yallahs and Plantain Garden River Agro Parks (PGR) in St Thomas, Holland Estate in St Elizabeth, and New Pen Production Zone in St Mary.

The National Tree Planting Initiative is part of a wider global effort to increase forest areas as a response to global warming and climate change. The National Tree Planting Initiative was officially launched on National Tree Planting Day in 2019, with completion targeted within three years.