July 22, 2010 ....The Sustainable Island Resource Management Mechanism (sirmm) project has engaged the collaborative efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture, Lands, Housing, and the Environment as staff within the Environment Division and Forestry unit deliver its outcome in rehabilitating the Body Ponds Watershed.
It is through their tremendous hard work that much publicity has been generated with the assistance of the Ministry of Tourism, to gather much support in tree planting within the demo site.
While on holiday, celebrity actress, Vanessa Williams accompanied by Mrs. Joyce Henry, regional sales marketer within the Ministry of Tourism, took time out to plant a few fruit trees within Body Ponds demo site.
Ms Williams, an avid environmentalist, eagerly got her hands dirty to plant three fruit trees without assistance. With a love for Mango trees, the actress expressed much passion as she carefully maneuvered each tree into a muddy hole, then covered the roots with top soil, all with her bare hands.
Her efforts were so natural, that the actress was immediately nicknamed “Roots Gyal.” Mrs. Henry was also quite eager to join in the fun of preserving the environment as she also planted. Ms Williams, enthused about the projects work within the area, was later given a tour to the underlying watershed, Fishers Dam.
Body Ponds Watershed is the largest in Antigua. However, the watershed has been severely eroded by the invasive Lemon (Fever) grass species.
The Lemon Grass exaggerates the problem of soil erosion within the area as the soil becomes clumped together During rains, the eroded soil runs off into the underlying dams, the largest Dam being the Fishers Dam. The importance of rehabilitating the watershed is not only to assist the twin island state during droughts but to also create an ecotourism product that is both recreational for tourists and locals alike.
Work within the Body Ponds watershed is not only focused on tree planting but also entails the development and implementation of a co-management strategy for the watershed including satellite mapping to monitor and control the invasive Lemon Grass species. Tree planting within the watershed forms part of a bigger outcome for the SIRMM project, that being to promote sustainable use of nature’s resources for both economic and socio economic gain.
It is through the building of private and public sector partnerships that an efficient management system of the watershed can be established.
Members of the public interested in tree planting or in the maintenance of the trees are welcome to join the SIRMM Project in future tree planting and maintenance activities. Please contact the Environment Division at 562 2568 or 720 5510.
