Students help clear Cascade cemetery from invasive creepers |01 April 2022

The clearing activity in full swing (Photos: Joena Meme)

Thirty (30) students from Plaisance, English River and Pointe Larue secondary schools came together recently to remove invasive creepers at the Cascade cemetery.

The voluntary activity was organised by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Family together with the Ministry of Agriculture, Climate Change and Environment.

It was part of activities celebrating World Forestry Day on March 21, 2022.

According to John Quilindo, principal forestry officer, the organisers of the Forestry Day activities wanted to involve the youths in the protection and preservation of the forest.

He noted that apart from cleaning the area for use by the community, the voluntary exercise was also to control the creepers and to keep them from spreading.

Mr Quilindo added that apart from removal of creepers and clearing of forest areas, other activities to celebrate Forestry Day included planting of trees to sustain the forests.

He noted that the ministry is developing a framework for a national invasive creeper management programme.

The students, assisted by staff from the two ministries, used their bare hands and machetes to remove the different types of invasive creepers in the designated area given.

Invasive creepers are notorious for being a threat to native plants, animals and habitats.

It is to be noted that the surrounding forest near the cemetery is covered with a mixture of different types of creepers.

Among the students were some who were doing their voluntary service for the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award. Shelly Lucas, from the Youth and Sports department, said that, among the skills and physical aspects to win an award in the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award programme, the voluntary service component is also a must.

She added that it was the reason why the students participating in the bronze award programme have been mobilised to conduct the removal of creepers at the cemetery, so that they will be able enter their hours of voluntary service which would help them to be awarded with their pins and bronze certificates on the 6-month long programme.

Patrick Joubert