It is a day which serves to remind us as individuals, countries and global citizens of the crucial need for awareness and action to prevent the on-going loss of the world’s natural environment and conserve our savannahs, pastures, forests, deserts, river, lakes and seas.
This year’s theme Forests: Nature at Your Service in particular reminds us that biological and genetic resources are a capital asset and that urgent action is required to conserve them.
Very often we take for granted what we constantly have around us, not appreciating its value until it’s gone from our lives. We make this unfortunate mistake with people and perhaps more so with our environment. Forests embody much of what is good and strong in our lives.
Indeed, 2011 is designated by the United Nations as International Year of Forests.
The ecological, economic, social and health benefits of forests are priceless. Forests provide jobs, security, and shelter and represent a way of life for indigenous forest-dependent populations. Forests are the green lungs of the earth and are vital to the survival of people everywhere –all seven billion of us!
In addition:
- Almost 80% of people in developing countries rely on traditional medicines – up to half of these medicinal substances originate from plants found mainly in tropical forests.
- Two thirds of all major cities in developing countries depend on surrounding forests for their supply of clean water.
- Natural forests are among the best stores of carbon.
- Over three quarters of the world’s accessible fresh water comes from forested watersheds.
- More than six million hectares of primary tropical forests, which are especially rich in biodiversity, are lost each year.
- Tropical, temperate and boreal forests are home to the vast majority of the world’s terrestrial species.
With regard to our forests, most of us understand that forests harbour a diverse range of life – trees, plants, birds, animals and other micro-organisms which actually provide many vital services to human beings. In addition, forests offer many recreational opportunities that contribute to our health and well-being.
Yet many countries find themselves in a situation where forests are converted to agricultural land, there is the need for infrastructure development, there is the challenge of man-made fires, there is mining and oil exploitation and unsustainable management, as well as the effects of pollution and climate change, all of which have a negative impact on forest biodiversity.
In Trinidad and Tobago we face some of these problems to varying degrees and we are ever mindful of the need to protect and manage our forests.
In this regard the Forestry Division of the Ministry of Housing and the Environment is responsible for managing and protecting all government owned forests as well as monitoring the timber removal from all private lands.
As a responsible and responsive Government, we understand that timber production generates employment through sawmills and furniture production, but there is still the need to regulate the harvesting of our forests.
If we are to ensure our water supply we must preserve the catchment areas in our forests.
Our Forestry Division is therefore actively engaged in the Forest Regeneration Programme, the Forest Protection Programme and we are now embarking on a Forest Inventory Programme, through which we will gauge the composition of our forests. As well Fire Protection, Carbon Sequestration and National Reforestation and Watershed Rehabilitation continue to occupy the attention of the Division.
So too, our wetlands, parks and protected areas such as the San Fernando Hill, Lopinot, Caura and Matura are all of grave concern to my government as these areas provide opportunities for recreation and eco-tourism.
To this end Cabinet has approved the National Forest Policy and the National Protected Areas Policy which will soon be laid in Parliament for information. As well our National Climate Change Policy is now before Cabinet for consideration.
As you would also be aware, we have recently amended the regulations governing the Green Fund to allow wider access to and participation by community groups and organizations which are engaged in activities related to remediation, reforestation or conservation of the environment.
In Trinidad and Tobago we are fortunate to enjoy a tropical climate. We have the opportunity, every day if we wish, to walk through natural green spaces for relaxation and rejuvenation.
Many of us would even recall the home-made remedies prepared your grandparents and parents for minor ailments, all derived from plants in the back yard.
It is this natural diversity that must be preserved and we all have a part to play to ensure the protection of our ecosystems both locally and internationally, for, to quote a Native American proverb: “We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.”
If as the Native Americans believe, we do indeed borrow the Earth from our children, then we need to seriously ask ourselves what will we be returning to them?
You would recall my own Clean Up and Beautify initiative which is an on-going thrust to keep our waterways and environment in pristine condition.
At the Governmental level we will continue to promote broader international and regional co-operation in furthering scientific and economic understanding of the importance of biodiversity in general and our forests in particular.
But it is the support, care and commitment of every citizen of Trinidad and Tobago which will be needed to preserve and protect our forests and the environment as a whole.
I therefore challenge every citizen and every community to work together to manage our biological resources, so we may return to our children a land rich in bounty with the capacity to sustain future generations.
On this day, I also wish to take the opportunity, on behalf of the Government and citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, to express congratulations to the Republic of India for its selection by the United National Environmental Programme (UNEP) as the global host of World Environmental Day 2011.
In conferring this honour on India, UNEP recognized the country’s tremendous conservation efforts despite the socio-economic pressures on their forests, highlighting a successful tree-planting system to combat land degradation and desertification, including windbreaks and shelterbelts to protect agricultural land.
Indian cities and communities were also acknowledged as being the most active supporters of World Environmental Day over the 40 year history of the commemoration, regularly hosting myriad events and celebrations.
I hope that we can be inspired by that nation’s efforts to preserve their national treasures for posterity, and thus do the same.
No comments:
Post a Comment