The Beautify CNMI is in need of more volunteers for the LaoLao Bay Tree Planting Day scheduled for August 16 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Angelo Villagomez, the executive director of the Beautify CNMI, said they welcome volunteers for the project, which is designed to reduce sediments from entering the LaoLao Bay watershed, thereby, prevent the sediments from accumulating on adjacent coral reefs.
Villagomez said community involvement is very important in any environmental-related project because the work covers vast area to clean-up or revegetate.
About seven acres of tree saplings were planted at LaoLao Bay in 2006 and more followed in succeeding years.
The Beautify CNMI, the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, the Coastal Resources Management Office, the Coral Reef Initiative and the Division of Environmental Quality, are joining forces to carry out the replanting project in Laolao Bay.
In a separate interview, MELA Coral Reef Management fellow Kathleen Hermann said they need as many as 75 more volunteers.
“We wanted to have at least 75 or more volunteers,” she said.
So far, about 30 volunteers pledged to help.
Project organizers said those who are interested to help should come at their assembly point—the Santa Soledad Church in Kagman — at 7:45 a.m. on Sunday, August 16.
Interested volunteers should contact Sharisse Rivera at 664-8500 or email [email protected] for more information.
