Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 24, 2025

New Rotary club makes mangrove restoration a mission

New Rotary club makes mangrove restoration a mission

As part of their overall thrust of pursuing projects that offer protection and restoration of the environment, the newly formed Rotary Club of Central Tortola has embarked on a mission to partner with local agencies to replant hundreds of mangroves lost to the 2017 hurricanes.

The club plans to deploy its members and other volunteers on a quarterly basis to replant mangroves across the territory’s shoreline in coordination with the managers of the Mangrove Nursey at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College, the Ministry of Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, as well as other local stakeholders.

As part of their overall thrust of pursuing projects that offer protection and restoration of the environment, the newly formed Rotary Club of Central Tortola has embarked on a mission to partner with local agencies to replant hundreds of mangroves lost to the 2017 hurricanes.


130 seedlings planted in SCB


Club President, Nelcia St Jean disclosed that the club embarked on its first mangrove planting exercise on Saturday, April 17, along the Sea Cows Bay Road. In conjunction with officials from the HLSCC nursery, some 130 seedlings were planted.

“Supporting the environment is Rotary's seventh area of focus, which are categories of service activities supported by global grants. We are keen to become fully involved in projects that are sustainable and promote the protection of our ecosystem here in the Virgin Islands,” St Jean stated.

The President added, “We have aligned with the mangrove initiative by replanting mangrove seedlings which are so needed to assist with the restoration of damaged coastlines due to storm surge and manmade factors. Mangroves are extremely important as they help build the Territory’s resilience to future effects of storms and climate change. We believe that working together, we can rebuild the mangrove habitat, one mangrove at a time.”

Mangroves restoration drive


Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley (R9), the Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, recently acknowledged the several community groups including the Youth Empowerment Project, and others who have planted 860 seedlings at Sea Cow's Bay, Frenchman's Cay, a damaged section of Paraquita Bay and Beef Island.

According to Honourable Wheatley, some 155 volunteers from community groups, youth organisations and private sector entities engaged in planting or educational activities related to mangroves restoration and increasing coastal resilience.

A further 107 persons from schools, community-based organisations and private businesses have been engaged in planting or hands-on education at the Mangrove nursery.

During the month of April alone, an additional 383 seedlings raised in the HLSCC mangrove nursery have been planted at new sites which include Brandywine Bay, Manuel Reef and North Sound around Bitter End Yacht Club.

Government is planning to introduce new environmental legislation which will create what will be known as Environmentally Sensitive Species, which will be afforded a higher degree of protection. Honourable Wheatley has announced that the first species to be listed, once the legislation is passed, will be mangroves.

The Rotary Club of Central Tortola was officially charted on January 15, 2021, as the fourth Rotary Club in the Virgin Islands.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
“You Have 12 Hours to Flee”: Israeli Threat Campaign Targets Surviving Iranian Officials
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Airlines Evaluate Flight Cancellations Amid Escalating US-Iran Tensions
Starmer Invites Innovators to Join Government Talent Scheme
UK Economy’s Strong Opening Quarter Shows Signs of Cooling
Harrods Seeks Court Order to Secure Al Fayed Estate for Victims
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
WATCH: Israeli forces show the aftermath of a massive airstrike at Iran's Isfahan nuclear site
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
We have new information and breaking details to share about what is shaping up to be a historic air campaign tonight
Six Massive Bombs Dropped on Fordow; Trump: 'A Historic Moment for the U.S., Israel, and the World'
Fordow: Deeply Buried Iranian Enrichment Site in U.S.–Israel Crosshairs
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
Pakistan to nominate Trump for Nobel Peace Prize.
BBC Demands Perplexity AI Immediately Stop Using Its Content
Telegram Founder: I Will Leave My Fortune to Over 100 of My Children
Political Turmoil Resurfaces in Belgium Amid Economic Concerns
Fed policymakers divided on timing of interest rate cuts
Trump signals imminent agreement with Harvard University
Inheritance tax referendum alarms Swiss billionaire community
Japan cancels bilateral security meeting amid US defence demands
AI skeptic Emily Bender warns that ‘the emperor has no clothes’
Israel Confirms Assassination of Quds Force Commander in Tehran
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
×