St. George’s, Tuesday, March 22, 2011: The Government of Grenada has approved a National System Plan for Protected Areas as part of attempts to save local forestry and tree life.

“This policy is in an effort of satisfy the goals and objectives of our National Forestry Policy and obligations under the Programme of Work of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD),’’ said Hon. Michael Denis Lett, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

He was speaking Friday, March 18, at the 100th meeting of the Grenada Sustainable Development Council. The meeting, at the Public Workers Union conference room in Tanteen, also marked the local launch of the International Year of the Forest.

Hon. Lett, who at the time was Acting Prime Minister in the absence of PM Tillman Thomas who was overseas attending an OECS meeting, said that under the CBD, Grenada has pledged to protect 25% of its representative samples of marine and terrestrial ecosystems.

The Minister highlighted other related government initiatives such as its support for the development of management plans for areas like the Levera National Park, the Perseverance Dove Sanctuary, and the Grand Etang and Annandale Forest Reserves, under the OECS Protected Area and Associated Livelihoods (OPAAL) sub-project.

Hon. Lett also expressed government’s backing for the implementation of the Sustainable Land Management project, which is geared towards capacity building for reversing land degradation and promoting the best land use practices.

An Ornamental Immortal tree was also planted on the Public Workers Union grounds by the Minister and the Young Leaders of the Anglican High School.