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February 8, 2005– The V. I. Resource Conservation and Development Council, Inc. (VI RC&D) is pleased to announce the grand opening of the Estate Adventure Nature Trail. The official Nature Trail Grand Opening will be held at 10:00 a.m., Friday, February 11th at the Estate Adventure Nature Trail trailhead off Queen Mary Highway across from the VI Department of Agriculture. All interested teachers, students, tour operators, government and non-governmental organization representatives, as well as members of the general public, are encouraged to participate in the ribbon-cutting ceremony and/or hike a portion of the trail.
One of VI RC&D's priority areas is natural & cultural resource conservation. The Estate Adventure Nature Trail was developed to provide an environmental education resource for Virgin Islands' youth & adults, as well as visitors. The goals of the project are to increase the general public's knowledge of native plants, animals and habitats and to illustrate human interaction with nature and various components of St. Croix's native ecosystems.
"Having a nature trail in the Virgin Islands protects the landscape," said Olasee Davis, project manager for the nature trail. "Also it connects people with nature and the history of the island." "The project successfully brought together a diverse partnership of organizations, students and individuals who volunteered their time, equipment and expertise to create a unique educational experience," said Sharon Prudoff, RC&D Council member.
The trail was built with a grant from the V.I. Department of Agriculture Urban & Community Forestry Program, and with volunteer assistance from VI RC&D Council members, UVI-CES, the Golden Grove Correctional Facility, St. Croix Central High School, the VI Department of Agriculture, The Nature Conservancy, the St. Croix Hiking Association, the VI Urban & Community Forestry Council, the UVI Agricultural Experiment Station, the St. Croix Educational Complex, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service.
For more information about the VI RC&D Estate Adventure Nature Trail, or about the Council itself, please contact the VI RC&D office at (340) 692-6932 x5 or visit us on the web at www.usvircd.org .