The Realtors Association of Jamaica (RAJ) rolled out a national tree-planting initiative at the Papine campus of the University of Technology (Utech) and across its chapters on Wednesday, aligning with Earth Month, and supporting the Forestry Department’s Reforestation, Ecological Enhancement and Landscape Framework (RE-LEAF) initiative to restore forests battered by Hurricane Melissa.

Through its participation in the RE-LEAF Initiative, which aims to plant 300,000 trees across Jamaica by June in response to the widespread environmental damage caused by the catastrophic Hurricane, the RAJ reinforces the role of collaborative leadership in national recovery and environmental responsibility. 

Six trees were planted across RAJ’s network, each representing a decade of the Association’s 60-year contribution to Jamaica’s real estate industry and symbolising sustainability and growth. 

Alongside the ceremonial planting at UTech, the South Coast Chapter carried out activities at Mizpah Early Childhood Institution in Christiana, Manchester, while the North Coast Chapter is set to undertake its planting at a later date.

The Plant a Tree Initiative was spearheaded in partnership with the Forestry Department, which donated the trees; Evergrow Garden Centre and H&L Rapid True Value, which sponsored gardening equipment; the Real Estate Board and Commission of Strata Corporations; and UTech. The event brought together key stakeholders across the real estate, regulatory, and environmental sectors.

Speaking at the UTech launch, RAJ President Gabrielle Gilpin-Hudson highlighted the significance of the tree planting, connecting environmental advocacy with the ethical foundation of the real estate profession. “We are proud to support the RE-LEAF Programme and contribute to national reforestation efforts following Hurricane Melissa,” she said. “The foundation our founders laid 60 years ago made RAJ what it is today. Planting these trees is our commitment to building the next layer with partners like UTech, who have shaped the very professionals that make our industry strong.”

Ainsley Henry of the Forestry Department welcomed the collaboration and issued a direct call to homeowners across Jamaica to plant trees, describing Hurricane Melissa as a stark reminder of the island’s environmental vulnerability. “We do think it is important that everyone who owns a home takes it as part of their responsibility to ensure sustainability and resilience through the planting of trees,” Henry noted. “Planting fruit trees, generally, is a part of how Jamaicans will ensure their personal resilience and food security.”

Chairman of the Real Estate Board and Commission of Strata Corporations, Andrew James, highlighted the broader responsibility of industry professionals to protect and sustain Jamaica’s natural environment. “As professionals who influence how and where Jamaicans live, work, and invest, our responsibility extends beyond development. We are custodians of the land. Initiatives like this contribute to carbon sequestration, support biodiversity, and improve quality of life,” said James. “This must be seen not as a one-time event, but as part of a sustained movement to embed environmental responsibility into the core of our work.”

UTech Jamaica, which hosted the event, also emphasised the importance of integrating environmental awareness into professional training and development. Professor Garfield Young, PhD, Vice President and Chief of the Operations and Project Division, expressed the University’s gratitude for hosting the initiative and reflected on the relationship between the built and natural environments.

“At UTech, sustainability is not an abstract concept. It is embedded in our teaching, in our research, and increasingly in the way we plan and develop our physical spaces,” he said. The Professor noted that the university offers a range of courses focused on the sustainable built environment, including studies on construction and urban planning, and the real estate management and valuation programme.

“A tree is only as strong as its root system, and for our realtor members, that root system is ethics. Our commitment to integrity must remain unshakeable. We must continue to serve as the industry’s moral compass, grounded in transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to our code of conduct,” said RAJ President Gilpin-Hudson. “It is only fitting, then, that we extend that commitment into our communities. We look forward to continuing our partnership with the Forestry Department to ensure more fruit trees find a home in properties across Jamaica.”