As Jamaica continues its push toward planting three million trees under the National Tree Planting Initiative (NTPI), The Forestry Department today launched its National School Tree Planting Competition, to encourage more youth participation in the national mission. The competition is open to early childhood, primary and secondaryinstitutions as well as students of tertiary institutions.

“Engaging with the youths of Jamaica has always been a key mandate under the NTPI and this competition is yet another opportunity to encourage practical learning about trees while contributing to an impactful initiative to improve the local environment,” said Ainsley Henry, Conservator of Forests and CEO of the Forestry Department.

Henry continued: “To ensure that the tree planting activities are effective, each school must have a teacher in charge however we are encouraging schools to ensure that their students are actively engaged in the activities as this is how they will learn. Though this is a competition with very attractive prizes for students and institutions alike, we cannot lose sight of the main objective of this activity which is to engage our nation’s youths in this critical initiative.”

INSTITUTIONS, STUDENTS ENCOURAGED TO REGISTER FOR COMPETITION

Institutions and students at each level are encouraged to register for the competition by completing the entry form hosted on the Forestry Department website. The school at each level that propagates and plants the most fruit and ornamental seedlings on their school grounds or in the surrounding community by February 28, 2023, will win cash and other prizes.

The Forestry Department will provide the first 50 seedlings to each registered institution to begin planting.

FORESTRY DEPARTMENT TO PROVIDE REGULAR TECHNICAL SEEDLING GERMINATION

First, second and third place winners at each level will receive $300,000, $150,000 and $75,000 respectively with sectional prizes for most outstanding teachers and students. The competition is being sponsored in part by the Jamaica Public Service, VM Wealth Management Limited, Xsomo International Limited and Fraser Fontaine & Kong Limited.

“The NTPI has benefitted significantly from the support of several public and private sector companies and this competition is no different. It is with that in mind that I extend my immense gratitude to our partners and sponsors on this activity who saw the value of this competition and lent their support,” Henry said.

The Forestry Department will provide regular technical seedling germination, tree planting and maintenance advice to participating schools to ensure that the seedlings planted are properly
maintained.