June 12, 2002 – Environmentalists and forestry professionals from throughout the Caribbean and beyond are spending this week on St. Thomas talking about the future of trees in the region.
The occasion is a combining of two annual gatherings — the 7th Caribbean Urban Forestry Conference and the 11th Caribbean Foresters Meeting. It's the first time they have been held jointly.
Event co-chair Louis Petersen of the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service called the five-day event at the Marriot Frenchman's Reef Beach Resort a "historic moment" for the Caribbean.
"We are looking at the future of trees in the Caribbean as a team," Petersen said of the 168 participants who have come from as far away as Louisiana and Guyana to learn more about forestry in the Caribbean.
Presentations during the week have included sessions on urban and community forestry in the Virgin Islands, utilizing volunteers in urban forestry programs, and native trees and their growth and development.
Although the conference program is intended primarily for forestry service personnel and educators, Petersen said, one of its aims is to help inform the public about the importance of trees to the environment. "We want people to realize that trees are living things," Petersen said. "Tree life impacts our life."
Petersen said getting that message out is a continuing effort. The Cooperative Extension Service has contributed to that outreach, he said, by offering scholarships for students from the Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico and the U.S. mainland to attend the forestry conference.
CES personnel spend a lot of time visiting local schools in an effort to educate young people about the environment, he said. He has found that students are concerned and tend to gravitate toward environmental issues — and that it is the youngest children who are the most interested.
"It is up to us to sustain that interest," Petersen said. He suggests that parents and teachers nourish children's interest in the environment by working with them from an early age. "Help them to nurture a garden," he suggested. "Teach them to climb trees without breaking limbs. Show them how to landscape around the house, and teach them not to litter."
Conference organizer Clarice Clarke said the educational process is not just for children. One problem she sees throughout the community is the "discriminate" clearing of trees from property.
Clarke said CES will gladly answer questions from builders and homeowners who are contemplating removing trees from property. "We wish they would call us every hour," she said, laughing.
Further, she said, UVI will send forestry and plant experts out to make site visits and advise residents about the trees and plants growing on their property. "They will come out and give ideas," Clarke said, and the service is free. She said the experts will make recommendations on ornamental plants, vegetables and fruits, and what to plant where on a given site. Anyone want to arrange such a visit or ask questions of a tree or plant expert can call CES at 692-4080 on St. Croix or 693-1080 on St. Thomas.
One passion and focus of the conference is the protection of native species of trees in the Caribbean. "We need to be aware that we have local trees that are really beautiful," Clarke said. "We could use them in our landscaping."
Native trees include the sturdy pink cedar and black olive or gris-gris — trees so strong that Petersen said they are invariably left standing after a hurricane. Also found throughout much of the Caribbean are the West Indian mahogany and the lignum vitae trees. Native species are easier to maintain than non-native, introduced trees, Petersen noted.
Tree growth is vital to the health of the territory and to the planet, Petersen said, pointing out that plants in general represent the first step in the food chain. Also critical in the islands, trees influence the amount of rainfall an area will receive. Without trees, Petersen said, "the Earth goes barren."
At an awards luncheon on Tuesday three entities were recognized for having taken the time to work toward maintaining a tree-filled island. The UVI Physical Plant on the St. Thomas campus and Levitt Homes Corp. of Puerto Rico received project awards recognizing their efforts. And the St. Thomas-St. John Anti-Litter and Beautification Commission, which helped with the conference, was honored for its work as a supportive entity.
The conference attracted what Clarke called "extremely high" attendance, drawing environmentalists from many countries.
"More and more countries are showing up every year," Petersen said, pointing to increased awareness of the vital role of trees in the environment. He said natural disasters such as the volcanic eruptions on Montserrat several years ago help to focus people's attention on problems in the environment.
But the key to increasing awareness is education, Petersen said. He stressed the importance of involving children in the protection of trees in the Caribbean. "We teach them best by setting an example," he said.

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