CYEN continues active stewardship of local environment
Members of CYEN posing in a freshly weeded flower bed in Sea Cow's Bay (Photo credit – Joel Dore, CYEN-BVI)
Today (June 14) the Caribbean Youth Environment Network, BVI Chapter (CYEN-BVI) will be participating in the annual Conservation and Fisheries Department’s Parade for the Planet under the theme Forests: Nature at Your Service Members of CYEN will be costumed to showcase the diversity and value of seagrass beds, our underwater forests.
Speaking to the group’s selection, CYEN-BVI National Coordinator, Lenette Lewis, a marine biologist by training said, “we really want to highlight a less seen and thought of, but extremely important part of our “forests” and coastal environment. Sea grass beds are critical habitat for conch, lobster and many other fishery species that we enjoy. In addition, by reducing wave energy they help to protect our beaches and shoreline and provide a number of other “silent” services that we don’t directly see but that are important for maintaining the balance of our marine ecosystem.”
Throughout May, CYEN-BVI was engaged in a number of activities to enhance the environment and
educate the public.
Early on 22 May, 2011 members of CYEN – BVI could be seen in Sea Cow’s Bay maintaining the Ixora flower garden planted by the group in their celebration of Climate Change Global Work Party in October 2010.
Sea Cow’s Bay is one of three locations where flower gardens were planted, the others being along the West End Basketball Court and at the entrance to Parham Town. CYEN regularly maintains all the flower gardens and plans to further enhance these and other areas throughout the Territory.
Class four students of Willard Wheatley Primary School posing for a photo after CYEN's biodiversity presentation. (Photo credit – Lenette Lewis, CYEN-BVI)
President of the BVI Chapter of the regional organization, Theodore James, stressed the importance of tree and flower planting on small and large scales. “It’s amazing how much a few flowers or trees can really change the look of a place for the better.” An agriculturist himself, President James highlighted the other services provided by trees and flowers that we tend to take for granted, including shade, soil stabilization and water conservation.
The following week, 23-27 May, 2011 CYEN presented their public exhibit on Forest Biodiversity at the East Atrium of the Central Administration Complex in partnership with the Conservation and Fisheries Department and National Parks Trust. The exhibit was in celebration of the International Day of Biodiversity and sought to educate the public about the diversity of forest types in The Virgin Islands and the impressive collection of plants and animals that can be found there.
Through colourful posters, the exhibit highlighted the Territory’s National Parks, mangrove forests and the less visible seagrass beds.
Plant and animals species that can only be found in The Virgin Islands (endemics) were also showcased, such as the Virgin Islands Bo-peep (a frog) and the Poke Me Boy (a tree species only found on Anegada).
The Forest Biodiversity exhibit was supported by a series of presentations by CYEN members to 4 primary schools on forest biodiversity.
The Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) is a regional non-profit, non-governmental youth organisation dedicated to improving the quality of life of Caribbean youth. It aims to promote youth to take positive action on issues related to environment and sustainable development.
CYEN has members and affiliates in seventeen Caribbean territories. Since its creation in 1992, the Network has coordinated or participated in a number of activities and projects at the national, regional and international levels.
With a current membership of twenty plus, CYEN-BVI looks forward to protecting the Territory’s environment for this generation and those to come.
For more information on CYEN and membership in the BVI chapter please visit our website at www.cyen.org, contact the CYEN-BVI Chapter by email: britishvirginislands@cyen.org or cyen.bvi@gmail.com or send us a message on facebook at
www.facebook.com/CYEN.BVI.
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on Jun 14 2011. Filed under British Virgin Isl. News.
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