Beautiful Virgin Islands

Wednesday, Aug 27, 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
Spotify’s Strange Move: The Feature Nobody Asked For – Returns
Manhunt in Australia: Armed Anti-Government Suspect Kills Police Officers Sent to Arrest Him
China Launches World’s Most Powerful Neutrino Detector
How Beijing-Linked Networks Shape Elections in New York City
Ukrainian Refugee Iryna Zarutska Fled War To US, Stabbed To Death
Elon Musk Sues Apple and OpenAI Over Alleged App Store Monopoly
2 Australian Police Shot Dead In Encounter In Rural Victoria State
Vietnam Evacuates Hundreds of Thousands as Typhoon Kajiki Strikes; China’s Sanya Shuts Down
UK Government Delays Decision on China’s Proposed London Embassy Amid Concerns Over Redacted Plans
A 150-Year Tradition to Be Abolished? Uproar Over the Popular Central Park Attraction
A new faith called Robotheism claims artificial intelligence isn’t just smart but actually God itself
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner Purchases Third Property Amid Housing Tax Reforms Debate
HSBC Switzerland Ends Relationships with Over 1,000 Clients from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Egypt
Sharia Law Made Legally Binding in Austria Despite Warnings Over 'Incompatible' Values
Italian Facebook Group Sharing Intimate Images Without Consent Shut Down Amid Police Investigation
Dutch Foreign Minister Resigns Amid Deadlock Over Israel Sanctions
Trump and Allies Send Messages of Support to Ukraine on Independence Day Amid Ongoing Conflict
China Reels as Telegram Chat Group Shares Hidden-Camera Footage of Women and Children
Sam Nicoresti becomes first transgender comedian to win Edinburgh Comedy Award
Builders uncover historic human remains in Lancashire house renovation
Australia Wants to Tax Your Empty Bedrooms
MotoGP Cameraman Narrowly Avoids Pedro Acosta Crash at Hungarian Grand Prix
FBI Investigates John Bolton Over Classified Documents in High-Profile Raids
Report reveals OpenAI pitched national ChatGPT Plus subscription to UK ministers
Labour set to freeze income tax thresholds in long-term 'stealth' tax raid
Coca‑Cola explores sale of Costa coffee chain
Trial hears dog walker was chased and fatally stabbed by trio
Restaurateur resigns from government hospitality council over tax criticism
Spanish City funfair shut after serious ride injury
Suspected arson at Ilford restaurant leaves three in critical condition
Tottenham beat Manchester City to go top of Premier League
Bank holiday heatwave to hit 30°C before remnants of Hurricane Erin arrive
UK to deploy immigration advisers to West Africa to block fake visas
Nurse who raped woman continued working for a year despite police alert
Drought forces closures of England’s canal routes, canceling boat holidays
Sweet tooth scents: food-inspired perfumes surge as weight-loss drugs suppress appetites
Experts warn Britain dangerously reliant on imported food
Family of Notting Hill Carnival murder victim call event unmanageable
Bunkers, Billions and Apocalypse: The Secret Compounds of Zuckerberg and the Tech Giants
Ukraine Declares De Facto War on Hungary and Slovakia with Terror Drone Strikes on Their Gas Lifeline
Animated K-pop Musical ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ Becomes Netflix’s Most-Watched Original Animated Film
New York Appeals Court Voids Nearly $500 Million Civil Fraud Penalty Against Trump While Upholding Fraud Liability
Elon Musk tweeted, “Europe is dying”
Far-Right Activist Convicted of Incitement Changes Gender and Demands: "Send Me to a Women’s Prison" | The Storm in Germany
Hungary Criticizes Ukraine: "Violating Our Sovereignty"
Will this be the first country to return to negative interest rates?
Child-free hotels spark controversy
North Korea is where this 95-year-old wants to die. South Korea won’t let him go. Is this our ally or a human rights enemy?
Hong Kong Launches Regulatory Regime and Trials for HKD-Backed Stablecoins
China rehearses September 3 Victory Day parade as imagery points to ‘loyal wingman’ FH-97 family presence
×