The Laolao Bay Tree Planting Day will take place on Sunday August 16 from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
Volunteers are asked to meet at Santa Soledad Church in Kagman at 7:45 a.m.
For more information about participating, contact Sharisse Rivera at 664-8500 or email, [email protected].
The Laolao Revegetation Project aims to protect the Laolao Bay Watershed to reduce the amount of sediment accumulating on the adjacent coral reefs.
A watershed is an area of land that drains to a common point, in this case Laolao Bay. Development and illegal clearing and burning in our watersheds increases storm flow which leads to erosion of soils which can damage our corals.
The increase of water flow can also lead to the increased water contaminants that can be toxic to living things.
Seven acres of tree saplings were planted at the site in 2006. Over 800 saplings and 250 cuttings consisting of six native species were planted, and nearly 5,000 native seeds were broadcast, including three garbage bags full of softball sizes Barringtonia asiatica seeds, all of which sprouted. Six species of tree saplings were planted that year; it includes the Sosugi (Acacia Confusa), Kamachili (Pithecolobium dulce), Banalo (Thespesia populnea), Gaogao flores (Erythrina sp.), Daok (Calophyllum inophyllum), and Pago (Hibiscus).
According to Angelo Villagomez of Beautify CNMI, the survival of the trees that were planted three years ago will indicate the kind of trees suitable for the area.
The event sponsors will determine what kinds of trees will be planted this year in partnership with The Department of Lands and Natural Resources Forester, Vic Guerrero.
The event is sponsored by the Division of Environmental Quality, Coastal Resources Management Office, Beautify CNMI, Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Coral Reef Initiative.
