Twenty-five fruit trees donated and planted for International Day of Forests
Six schools in Manchester, Jamaica received donations of 25 fruit trees from FAO to mark International Day of Forests.
Each year March 21 marks International Day of Forests and is earmarked as a day to raise awareness on the importance of forests for sustaining livelihoods, as a source of food, clean water and for stabilizing our soils.
Six schools in Manchester received donations of fruit trees in recognition of International Day of Forests celebrated under the 2019 theme: Forests and Education. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) donated 25 fruit trees to the Mile Gully Primary, Mile Gully High, Craighead Primary, Pike Primary and Infant School, Holmwood High and Christiana High Schools to support the provision of fruits as a part of school meals and to educate students of the value of planting and protecting trees inside and outside of forests.
The activity was an extension of a recently completed pilot project on School Feeding within all six schools which was carried out by FAO and the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. The School Feeding Programme pilot project aimed to promote lifelong healthy eating habits among school children. The project assisted the six schools with the development of nutrition plans, establishment of school gardens, infrastructural improvements, training sessions for canteen operators, a reduction in sugary drinks sold at schools, and established systems for purchasing locally grown produce thereby supporting rural community livelihoods.
The donation of fruit trees was an action to further the impact made during the School Feeding Programme pilot project and promotes the sustainability of efforts made during the pilot. The trees, which were planted on the schools’ premises, are expected to support the sustainable provision of healthy meals to the students, as well as to assist the schools to nurture school gardens which serve as a pedagogical tool for the teachers and students. In the coming years, the trees are expected to provide the schools with fruits to supplement school meals.
International Day of Forests falls on the eve of World Water Day, March 22 and is a timely reminder of the connection between trees and their importance in providing clean water. All 25 trees planted have been registered as a part of Jamaica’s Million Tree Challenge being executed by the National Environment and Planning Agency.