On Sunday, Nov. 22, 18 club members and 12 members of the Saipan Marianas Alpha Leo Club joined hands in cleaning up the Garapan Fishing Base and planted camachile (also known as Manila tamarind or Madras thorn) and flame tree seedlings to beautify the area and help prevent erosion.
Canape said their tree planting project is in partnership with the Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance, which provided the seedlings.
“Plant a tree and save our Earth,” Canape said. “Trees remove carbon dioxide, reduce erosion, prevent flooding, add oxygen, provide medicine, fruits and food.”
Members of Saipan Marianas Alpha Leo Club pose for a photo during a beach cleanup and tree planting activity on Nov. 22, Sunday, at the Garapan Fishing Base.
The Saipan Marianas Lions Club and Saipan Marianas Alpha Leo Club conduct a beach cleanup and tree planting activity at Garapan Fishing Base on Sunday. Contributed photos
She said the Saipan Marianas Lions Club started its tree planting project in 2018 when members participated in the nationwide observance of Arbor Day, a tree-planting day celebrated in the U.S. in April.
In 2018, Canape said they planted 36 banalu seedlings in the 13 Fishermen Memorial area. In 2019, the club planted 42 coconut tree seedlings at San Isidro Beach, she added.
This year, Canape said they held two tree-planting activities. The first was in January when they planted 30 coconut tree seedlings at Pakpak Beach.
She said the Saipan Marianas Lions Club and its youth counterpart, the Saipan Marianas Alpha Leo Club headed by Raina Avelino, are committed to environmental projects.
“We also support other organizations’ environmental activities by participating in their cleanup projects,” Canape said.
