Nature got a helping hand Saturday from the St. Croix Environmental Association (SEA) with the reintroduction of native trees in the upland area of South Gate Coastal Reserve.
More than 60 native species of trees and shrubs were planted that will bear seeds, fruit, and berries that attract birds, bees, bats, and butterflies. According to Carol Cramer-Burke, SEA program director, those creatures will in turn eat and carry seeds around and produce more trees.
“We have selected the types of trees to plant, but nature is the best selector for which ones survive,” Cramer-Burke says. “Within two years we will know the survival rate of the trees. The seeds that spread can take decades to grow.”
The trees and shrubs planted by volunteers included maubi, ink berry, fiddle wood, orange manjack, pink poui, cocoa plum, calabash, and Jamaica caper.
“These plants are all native species that are drought and salt resistant,” said Veronica Gordon, also known as the “bush lady,” from the Department of Agriculture. She added nothing native was growing presently in the area except the white manjack.
Cramer-Burke said in the 1800s the land was cleared for cotton and indigo production then later used for cattle grazing. Once that farming ceased high grass and acacia shrubs took over the dry area. The native flora did not make a come back.
Eighteen students from St. Croix Educational Complex and the University of the Virgin Islands helped to plant the trees Saturday.
The students, working in groups under the direction of adults, planted the hardy looking plants in rich dark brown soil. They then firmly tamped mulch around them to keep the grass from growing in the plot.
Holly Young and April Leonard, nursing students at UVI, both said they loved the environment of the island and planting trees was a way to get involved in the community as well as enrich the environment.
“I am happy to see young people come out with an interest in nature and assist with the preservation of our native species,” Gordon said.
Last year as an Eagle Scout project Noah Tobias, weed wacked and took out invasive plants in six plots in a 10 acre area. Then rich dark brown topsoil and mulch was put down in a six inch layer.
“The mulch worked great,” Cramer- Burke said. “Hardly any grass grew in the dense tightly packed mulch.”
Ferdi Abraham, of Ferdi’s Forrest, brought in water for the initial planting of the trees and shrubs.
The trees were planted in celebration of Arbor Day, which is held nationally the last weekend in April. It is held locally at this time of year because the trees have a better chance of survival during rainy season, Cramer-Burke said
The program was funded by the V.I. Department of Agriculture Urban Community Forestry Assistance Program.
