U-Pick Farm on the green and lush Chaguaramas Peninsula provided the perfect backdrop for #ForOurPlanet 2 – the second instalment of the EU Trinidad and Tobago Delegation’s 5K Run and Tree Planting event. The Delegation, with partners Ministry of Planning and Development, EarthMedic, CNIRD Regional, and event coordinators BAFA Sports, along with students from schools across the country, teachers, parents, other stakeholders and well-wishers, planted fruit trees and participated in a 5K relay fun race.  The event was to raise awareness about the importance of protecting our climate and nature and to contribute to the EU's #3BillionTrees pledge.

Speaking to the young people at start of the event, Ambassador Cavendish reminded them about the climate crisis and urged them to do all in their power to protect biodiversity, as it was key to protecting the planet and mitigating climate change.  He further challenged them to nurture the trees that they were given and share with the Delegation photos of their trees and gardens as they grow.

Founder of EarthMedic, Dr James Hospedales also shared his concern about the direction in which   the planet is headed due to climate change. Recounting how much hotter the days have become and how vulnerable Trinidad and Tobago is as a small island state, he urged the students to consider not just planting trees, but also planting ‘food trees’ as a way to contribute to the nation’s food security.

Feature speaker for the event, the Minister of Planning and Development, the Honourable Pennelope Beckles-Robinson, MP, emphasized the importance of trees as watersheds, for oxygen and even for the building of homes.

Ms Teresa Rosemond, Director of Extension Training Information Services, from the Ministry of Agriculture, Land and Fisheries (MALF) also spoke at the event.  Her Ministry generously donated pomerac trees and green bean and ochro seeds, as did event partner, the NGO EarthMedic, which donated peewah trees.

Following the tree planting there was a 5K relay and fun run.  The winners were Maple Leaf International School (male) and the Diego Martin North Secondary School (female) schools. Also running were students from St Anthony's College, Bishop Anstey High, St Joseph's Convent POS, and Woodbrook Secondary schools. The Minister of Planning and the Director of Extension Training Information Services (MALF) also joined in the fun, running laps with the students.

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This is the first, but not the last tree planting event that the Delegation will host in 2024.  Working with partners, plans are already afoot to host at least two additional events this year.