Minister Sweeting Touts Bahamas’ Climate Smart Efforts At Caribbean Tree Planting Week

Wed, Oct 5th 2022, 10:29 AM

Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family IslandAffairs Hon. Clay Sweeting said that The Bahamas plans to place “relentless pressure”on larger countries with high carbon emissions during COP-27 to seek cleaner energy alternatives.

His comments came as he addressed a session of the Caribbean PhilanthropicAlliance’s Caribbean Planting Project Week Forum entitled “Partnerships for ClimateAction, Mitigation and Adaption”.

The virtual event is held from October 3-9.

Minister Sweeting, who will also travel with Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and otherhigh-level delegates to COP-27 in Egypt next month, told Caribbean ministers that thenation’s leader highlighted ongoing challenges during his recent address at the 77thUnited Nations General Assembly.

He added that Bahamian delegates are going to continue to sound the alarm that “thetime for talk is over and it is now time for action”.

“Our efforts will be centered in encouraging larger countries to assist us in our fightagainst climate change. It is indeed a world war. The changing climate also affects ourability to produce food as it results in shrinking yields and the ability for our people to putfood on the table,” Minister Sweeting said.

The minister also touted the efforts of the government and NGOs that are seeking toincrease tree planting initiatives throughout The Bahamas to build climate resiliency.

Last year, the government along with the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance launched a100K tree planting initiative.

“I am happy to report that with the assistance of volunteers and a number of non-governmental agencies that we have surpassed this goal and planted over 126,000shrubs throughout our country. After Hurricane Dorian ravaged Abaco and GrandBahama in 2019, our government has been keen to restore our pine forests andmangroves,” Minister Sweeting said.

“Meanwhile, the Bahamas National Trust has also been doing a tremendous job inpromoting the planting and growing of trees. On earth day this past June, the BNTcollaborated with numerous private sector stakeholders to plant native fruit trees suchas soursop, avocado, mango, and guava along with other fruit bearing shrubs.

Volunteers from around the country have also sought to increase shrubs throughout ournation and have placed species of tree seedlings in the ground such as Mahogany,Buttonwood, Paradise, Brown Ebony, and Gumbo Limbo – all of which are native to theregion and adapted to local conditions.”

The Minister mentioned that his ministry continues to develop a cascarilla harvestingsite through the Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC).

He added that he hopes that other Caribbean countries will continue to voice theirconcerns about climate change and protecting the environment.

“We know the challenges, but we cannot face them alone. I am delighted that we arecoming together to discuss the facilitation of planting more trees, which will lead to therestoration of our environments. We look forward to participating in more programmesto secure an environmentally sustainable and secure future,” Minister Sweeting said.

 

Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resources and Family Island
Affairs Hon. Clay Sweeting said that The Bahamas plans to place “relentless pressure”
on larger countries with high carbon emissions during COP-27 to seek cleaner energy
alternatives.
His comments came as he addressed a session of the Caribbean Philanthropic
Alliance’s Caribbean Planting Project Week Forum entitled “Partnerships for Climate
Action, Mitigation and Adaption”.
The virtual event is held from October 3-9.
Minister Sweeting, who will also travel with Prime Minister Philip Brave Davis and other
high-level delegates to COP-27 in Egypt next month, told Caribbean ministers that the
nation’s leader highlighted ongoing challenges during his recent address at the 77th
United Nations General Assembly.
He added that Bahamian delegates are going to continue to sound the alarm that “the
time for talk is over and it is now time for action”.
“Our efforts will be centered in encouraging larger countries to assist us in our fight
against climate change. It is indeed a world war. The changing climate also affects our
ability to produce food as it results in shrinking yields and the ability for our people to put
food on the table,” Minister Sweeting said.
The minister also touted the efforts of the government and NGOs that are seeking to
increase tree planting initiatives throughout The Bahamas to build climate resiliency.
Last year, the government along with the Caribbean Philanthropic Alliance launched a
100K tree planting initiative.
“I am happy to report that with the assistance of volunteers and a number of non-
governmental agencies that we have surpassed this goal and planted over 126,000
shrubs throughout our country. After Hurricane Dorian ravaged Abaco and Grand
Bahama in 2019, our government has been keen to restore our pine forests and
mangroves,” Minister Sweeting said.
“Meanwhile, the Bahamas National Trust has also been doing a tremendous job in
promoting the planting and growing of trees. On earth day this past June, the BNT
collaborated with numerous private sector stakeholders to plant native fruit trees such
as soursop, avocado, mango, and guava along with other fruit bearing shrubs.
Volunteers from around the country have also sought to increase shrubs throughout our
nation and have placed species of tree seedlings in the ground such as Mahogany,
Buttonwood, Paradise, Brown Ebony, and Gumbo Limbo – all of which are native to the
region and adapted to local conditions.”
The Minister mentioned that his ministry continues to develop a cascarilla harvesting
site through the Bahamas Agricultural Industrial Corporation (BAIC).
He added that he hopes that other Caribbean countries will continue to voice their
concerns about climate change and protecting the environment.
“We know the challenges, but we cannot face them alone. I am delighted that we are
coming together to discuss the facilitation of planting more trees, which will lead to the
restoration of our environments. We look forward to participating in more programmes
to secure an environmentally sustainable and secure future,” Minister Sweeting said.
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