The tree planting was a component of the 3rd Annual Green Steps 5K, a cleanup walk coordinated by the FSM National Olympic Committee.
The proceeds of the event went to support T.J. Rush, a youth tennis player from Pohnpei currently attending Oceania Tennis Academy in Nadi, Fiji.
Rush’s attendance at the academy, as well as his participation in the upcoming Oceania Junior Tennis Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand, are funded by the FSMNOC.
In his remarks, U.S. Ambassador to the FSM Peter A. Prahar explained that “few things…distract from the beauty of the environment more than trash.”
Citing U.S. efforts to reduce roadside litter, Prahar called for a recycling program that would not only reduce garbage, but would promote resource conservation and provide a financial incentive for program participants.
Drawing upon experiences in his hometown, he explained that “it’s clearly much more efficient to prevent trash than to try to pick it up and dispose of it properly.”
In conclusion, Prahar encouraged all Green Steps participants to continue to beautify Pohnpei, asking that “when Pohnpei hosts the Micronesian Games in 2014, the sign at the airport saying ‘Welcome to Pohnpei, the Garden Island of Micronesia’ really does welcome visitors to a garden island, one that we can be proud of.”
Prahar then planted a calamansi seedling with FSM swimmer Debra Daniel, who earned seven gold medals and was named Top Female Athlete at the 7th Quadrennial Micronesian Games held in Palau in August.
Daniel will represent the FSM in the 3rd Dubai World Games Expo and in the London Olympics in 2012.
During their demonstration, USDA-NRCS agriculture conservation specialist Gibson Santos walked event participants through proper tree-planting and conservation techniques, and explained the invaluable role of trees in the environment.
Santos also used mulch containing wood shavings to illustrate the importance of organic matter to tree growth and longevity.
Santos, NRCS resource conservationist Paul Lake and agriculture conservation aide Rodasio Samuel then led a group in planting over 30 seedlings at Pohnpei Administration Building and Daini Field in Kolonia. The seedling species included various fruit-bearing trees: calamansi, sweet sop and soursop.
Throughout Pohnpei, USDA-NRCS promotes reforestation by providing seedlings and advising on proper planting and conservation techniques. In partnership with Pohnpei State Forestry, NRCS distributes over 1,000 seedlings a year to communities on island.
