Fishermen lead tree-planting drive to combat beach erosion

IN A bid to combat the growing threat of beach erosion, the Jamaica Fishermen’s Cooperative has embarked on a nationwide tree-planting initiative aimed at planting some 200 trees across beaches islandwide.

The exercise, which began at Treasure Beach in St Elizabeth, reached the shores of Hellshire Beach in St Catherine on Wednesday, where members of the group planted 12 species of trees, including seagrape, tulip, and coconut.

Shawn Taylor, chairman of the Jamaica Fishermen’s Cooperative, said Hellshire Beach was prioritised because of the rapid erosion taking place there.

“One of the best ways to prevent beach erosion is by planting trees, which has a multipurpose function from the roots preventing the removal of the sand at a faster rate, to providing shade and regulating the air intake,” Taylor stated.

He explained that the choice of species was deliberate. “The selection of the trees are strategic because they [are] resilient in terms of withstanding the sea frost,” he said.

Taylor also noted the launch of an ‘Adopt a Tree’ initiative on beaches where the trees are planted. “We have also embarked on a adopt a tree initiative on the beaches where we plant trees, to allow for person to care for the trees, during the growing stage,” he said, adding that the survival rate of trees planted under the programme currently stands at about 80 per cent.

Meanwhile, Garfield Goldburn, liaison officer with the Jamaica Fishermen’s Cooperative Union, said the group remains committed to environmental protection.

“We continue to partner with the fishermen towards them being environmental defenders which is crucial because the beaches are their work space, and if they don’t protect it, it means they won’t have it,” said Goldburn.

According to him, the initiative is supported by the Forestry Department, which supplies the trees.

Local fishermen have welcomed the effort. Devon Malcolm, chairman of the Half Moon Bay Fishermen’s Cooperative, said he was pleased with the exercise.

“There are other factors contributing to the erosion. We can’t solve them all, so we give thanks for what has been done here today,” he said.

Malcolm pledged his members’ support in nurturing the young plants in the early stages of growth.

Studies have shown an average long term beach erosion rate on Jamaica’s beaches to be 0.26 metres per year. Studies also showed that some beaches such as the Negril Seven miles is experiencing a higher rate of erosion, at 0.76 metres per year, influenced by sea level rise and storm intensity.