Hon. Minister Roland Bhola and Permanent Secretary Marilyn Austin-Cadore from the Ministry of Forestry and Fisheries, plus several environmental stakeholders, attended a short ceremony at the Department of Forestry, to mark International World Forestry Day on 21 March, under the theme “My Forest, Our Future — Celebrating Forests for Sustainable Development.”
Chief Forestry Officer Aiden Forteu expressed thanks to the Sandals Foundation — the philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International — which is partnered with the Grenada Dove Conservation Programme towards protecting the environment of the Grenada Dove. The Sandals Foundation is committed to investments that create a positive and sustainable impact on people’s lives and the environment.
Founder and director of the programme, Ms Bonnie Rusk, also commended the Foundation for their vision of the future expressed in their commitment to protect the dry forest ecosystem. The Foundation’s involvement in this initial stage will provide indoor and outdoor interpretation materials at the Mt Hartman Visitor Center; Trails and viewing tower at the Mt Hartman National Park; Island-wide billboards at parish boundaries and school education programmes targeting primary schools.
Minister Bhola commended the partnership saying, “It would raise national levels of environmental consciousness and eventually contribute to environmental sustainability, species conservation and enhancement of the tourist product.”
