South Reward, St. Maarten – In recognition of World Earth Day, the Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset partnered with the Interact Clubs of Milton Peters College and St. Dominic High School and planted two Manila Palm trees per school.
This initiative was spearheaded by Rotary Sunset’s Disaster Relief Chair Antoine Flanders, his committee, Milton Peters College Senior Interactor Adante Pitter and St. Dominic High School President Bishakha Khatri who expressed their excitement in partnering to carry out a much-needed initiative which advocates a green world. Along with the two Manila Palm trees planted, a sign highlighting the occasion was installed at both locations.
The Rotarians and Interactors believe that trees are engines for economic development, providing high nutrition foods for humans, animals, wildlife and insects, sustainable building materials and fuel, canopies in urban areas to cool, reduce energy use, absorb pollution and increase property values. Trees also protect our environment and increase ground water recharge, prevent runoff and loss of soil, create habitat for wildlife, produce oxygen, use carbon dioxide thus improving public health and slow global warming by storing carbon.
“Rotary shares an interest in protecting our common legacy: the environment. We are committed to supporting activities that strengthen the conservation and protection of natural resources, advance ecological sustainability, and foster harmony between communities and the environment. We empower communities to access grants and other resources, embrace local solutions, and spur innovation in an effort to address the causes and reduce the effects of climate change and environmental degradation,” Disaster Relief Chair, Antoine Flanders stated.
The clubs would like to thank Caribbean Palms for their guidance in selecting the Manila Palm Trees for this year’s planting initiative and delivering them to the schools. A special gratitude is extended to all Rotarians and Interactors who were present and to the management and staff of the Milton Peters College and St. Dominic High School for allowing the clubs to plant the trees. The clubs would like to encourage the public to join the movement of preserving theenvironment for a better and healthier world.
The Rotary Club of St. Martin Sunset meets every second and fourth Monday of the month at Carl N Sons Unique Inn and Conference Facilities in Colebay at 7:30pm. Due to COVID-19, the club currently meets via Zoom. The club can be contacted via email at rotarysxmsunset@gmail.com or via the official Facebook page at facebook.com/rotarysxmsunset.
