The Environmental Management Authority (EMA) is pleased to celebrate its anniversary every year on June 5, World Environment Day, as it increases our profile as a regulatory body charged with the responsibility of protecting our environment.
World Environment Day is the United Nations’ principal vehicle for encouraging worldwide awareness and action for the environment. Over the years, it has grown to be a broad, global platform for public outreach that is widely celebrated by stakeholders in over 100 countries. It also serves as the ‘people’s day’ for doing something positive for the environment, galvanising individual actions into a collective power that generates an exponential positive impact on the planet.
World Environment Day is the opportunity for everyone to realise the responsibility to care for the earth and to become agents of change. This year, the EMA celebrates its 20th anniversary and will be reaching out to schools, particularly those where the EMA has established environmental clubs, and will be encouraging them to plant a ceremonial tree in commemoration of World Environment Day, in its 'Plant, Snap and Win' club activity.
This activity will take place on June 5, where 35 schools, both primary and secondary, will be participating. The EMA will be visiting three of these schools where the EMA will give a short lecture about World Environment Day and its significance, conduct a question and answer session with eco-friendly giveaways, and then culminate with the tree planting ceremony.
Tree planting exercises have been viewed as a long-standing commitment to our planet’s future well-being and provide a host of benefits to our surroundings. Trees are our best natural defence against climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide whilst releasing oxygen back into the atmosphere.
Trees also absorb odours and pollutant gases, provide a cooling effect on our streets and cities, help prevent water pollution by reducing storm water from transporting pollutants into the sea, help prevent soil erosion, provide a canopy and habitat for our wildlife, and add an invaluable aesthetic value to any natural setting. Besides, most of our childhood memories are spent playing in and around trees!
In the past, the EMA has incorporated reforestation as part of its World Environment Day activities by distributing plants at public exhibitions in collaboration with the Forestry Division, much to the appreciation of the public. This activity is also repeated for events such as the International Day of Forests as trees were made available to staff and members of the public visiting our offices.
For this year’s World Environment Day challenge, planting the tree is only the first step. Each club must document the life of the tree in a scrap book and pass to the new members for record keeping. The clubs must provide annual updates, inclusive of photos of the tree's survival. The clubs actions of sustainability in ensuring the tree's survival will contribute towards the EMA's Biennial Green Leaf Awards where their special environmental projects may be eligible for entry.
The EMA is always seeking innovative ways to reach out to the youth who will eventually inherit this earth. Managing director (Ag) of the EMA, Ms Gayatri Badri Maharaj anticipates the active participation of several schools in this project and urges students to understand the valuable contribution of plants to our ecosystems.
“T&T has unfortunately suffered from rampant deforestation over the years which have led to the degradation of several of our esteemed natural environments. This small gesture is a significant step in culturing environmental responsibility among our youth and nurturing environmental consciousness in their everyday lives.”
Now is the time to shape a positive mindset and instil environmental action among our youth so that their children, and their children's children can enjoy a safe, clean and flourishing environment.
To learn more about this ‘Plant. Snap and Win' initiative, visit www.ema.co.tt