Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & The Environment Hilson Baptiste has issued a call for residents to take a more proactive approach in protecting the eco-system.

The minister was speaking at a tree planting ceremony held at the Mount St Johns Medical Centre, on the occasion of International Biodiversity Day, with a focus on Invasive Alien Species.

Twelve trees, ranging from white cedar, apple blossom and cordia were planted. Planting Trees were the Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & The Environment, Hilson Baptiste, His Junior Minister Chanlah Codrignton, Prime Minister’s Representative Finance Minister Harold Lovell, Chief Environment Officer Adelle Blair, The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Clarence Pilgrim and other staff members.

“We have to make a pledge to do our part to reduce the spread of invasive alien species,” the minister told the gathering while urging citizens to plant more trees.

Baptiste added, “We have to go to parliament to strengthen the laws to restrict the wanton cutting down of trees and the clearing of lands. In other countries, once you cut down a tree you could go to prison.”

Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Harold Lovell who spoke on the behalf of the Prime Minister said biological diversity is not only essential for human existence; they play a crucial role in sustainable development and the eradication of poverty.

“It is imperative that we limit the loss of our biological resources both terrestrial and marine, otherwise our efforts to reach the Millennium Development Goals by 2015 will be made more difficult, if not impossible,” Lovell said.

Lovell also encouraged residents to “partner in the work of preserving our endemic resources, thereby ensuring our continued use as well as utilization by future generations.”