The Environmental Management Department in the Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment celebrated Earth Day on Wednesday this week under the theme: “It’s our turn to lead” by launching the Sustainable Office Garden Pilot Project.
A release from the Ministry says the overall objective of the Project was to improve the quality of the natural environment and the wellness of the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines by encouraging sustainable food production.
The Ministry says a garden was established at the Public Health Building in Kingstown and at the headquarters of the Leo Club of SVG South at Enhams.
The release says an additional activity will be held at the Richmond Vale Academy tomorrow Saturday April 25, in commemoration of Earth Day. There will be a climate change exhibit, rainwater harvesting system demonstration, a tour of the organic vegetable garden, a recycling workshop and a panel discussion focusing on ways to become more climate ready.
There will also be videos highlighting the impact of climate change on the Caribbean region.
Tomorrow’s Earth Day celebration will be held at the Richmond Vale Academy from 10 am to 4pm.
The activity will be held from 10am to 4pm tomorrow
Environment Management Department will also be launching a number of other activities to commemorate the various international environmental days on the calendar. The SVG Environmental Competition 2015 which will encourage Vincentians to clean up their communities – clear drains, rivers and beaches of garbage, plant trees, etc. – and take ownership of their environment. There will be three prizes awarded – first, second and third – after the participating communities have been assessed. The winners will be announced on World Environment Day 2015 on June 5.
The Ministry, through the Environmental Management Department, will also lend its support to the Richmond Coastal Conservation Initiative which was launched in January 2015 by a group consisting of the Richmond Vale Academy, the Police Co-operative Credit Union, the Forestry Depart, and the National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority. The Ministry will provide trees, signage and other support to combat the erosion being experienced at the Richmond beach in effort to highlight the vulnerability of our coastline to the impacts of Climate Change – namely, sea level rise and increased storm surges and flooding.
The Environmental Management Department will be working in conjunction with the Richmond Vale Academy to implement these activities. An invitation is extended to the print and electronic media and the citizens of St Vincent and the Grenadines to attend the Earth Day celebration to be held at the Richmond Vale Academy from 10 am to 4pm
The United Nations has declared 2015 as the International Year of Soils
