ALL ABOUT GREEN With Bilikiss

Adebiyi-Abiola

Over the years, the world has witnessed a significant reduction in the number of trees, leading to climate change and the deterioration of the environment To combat this environmental challenge and meet the global standard of 25% tree cover, the Banana Island environment committee occasionally designs communal tree planting events in a multiyear partnership with Providus Bank. In 2022, 300 residents participated in the 'BIPORAL GOES GREEN' campaign by planting over 700 trees, including children and older adults, with the determination to build a better and sustainable future for Banana Island

The BIPORAL tree planting event is a volunteer-based activity that involves residents planting trees in the estate Popular trees found in the Banana Island Estate are the Palm trees, especially the Foxtail Palm Tree and the Queens Palm Tree; these evergreen plants belong to the Arecaceae family. The history of Palm trees can be traced 5000 years ago, back to early civilization when Palms were grown in Mesopotamia. In Roman times, the Palm branch symbolized triumph and victory, and its fronds were awarded to champions and war heroes Today, the Palm trees represent wealth with a chilled, carpe diem lifestyle

Aside from the palm tree's ornamental appearance, these plants help fight climate change; thanks to their large size and high photosynthetic efficiency, they help to offset greenhouse gas emissions. They do not require a lot of fertilizer and don't need to be pruned often, allowing us to enjoy their beauty with little effort on our part!

For the most recent planting in March, we planted queens palm at the 2nd Avenue in the Estate. The planting exercise started early in the morning at children's play ground where several barren patches were allocated to plant foxtail palm trees Majority of our volunteers at this event were children Amid the heavy downpour of rain fall, the children came out prepared in their raincoats with the determination and zeal to protect our island, equipped with their gardening tools and water buckets As the planting proceeded, the children were encouraged to space the trees properly to ensure they had enough space to grow, they also had to work together to carefully clear the soil around the foxtail palm and plant them at the right depth. The tree planting event was a great success, in line with the committee’s mission to increase the numbers of street trees by 2,000. We are happy to announce a total number of 1,120 trees have been planted.

I encourage parents to allow their children to take up this cause and plant trees. This will not only have an immediate impact on the environment but will also instill in children a sense of responsibility and empathy towards nature. Planting trees may seem like a small act, but it has a powerful impact, therefore it is important children understand the value of trees and feel personally invested in caring for our planet so they can grow up to become eco-conscious individuals

In conclusion, the BIPORAL environment committee calls for the collective action of all residents towards building a sustainable future for Banana Island. We recognize the critical role that greenery plays in supporting life on earth and take action to protect it. Trees play an essential role in balancing the ecosystem by releasing oxygen, absorbing carbon dioxide, and purifying the air we breathe Let us work together to ensure that future generations inherit a green and healthy planet I say, Let the green be seen!