COPENHAGEN, Denmark, December 14, 2009 – Grenada is seeking assistance to rehabilitate its forest areas which were destroyed by Hurricanes Ivan and Emily.
 
 Foreign Affairs Minister Peter David on Monday held discussions with officials of Norway in the margins of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in the Danish capital, Copenhagen.
 
 The Minister, accompanied by Joyce Calliste and Vaughn Forsythe, met with Norway’s deputy Finance Minister Kjetil Lund, Director-General in the Ministry of Finance Lorents Lorentsen and Dr. Camilla Froyn, also of the Ministry of Finance.
 
 The goal of the project is to rehabilitate the forestry sector and to restore it to a fully functioning state, including forest reserves, providing increased social, economical and environmental benefits.
 
 The proposal includes the rehabilitation of 100 hectares of forest areas. It includes the development of a nursery at Grand Etang for the propagation of 55-thousand seedlings and the preparation and enrichment of the land for planting.
 
 According to Minister David, the environment and eco system would be the main beneficiaries of the project because of the increase in the ability of the forest to absorb carbon dioxide.
 
 He said there will be additional environmental benefits such as reduction in erosion, flooding and siltation of rivers, streams and dams.