The Birds and the Breeze - Spring 2008 - Page 1

The Birds and the Breeze

Text Box: When Mustique was first glimpsed by European explorers, they reported a 30 meter canopy of trees covering the island. Less than 100 years later, the island had been deforested to make way for plantations of sugar cane and later sea island cotton. Eventually as those markets failed, the plantations laid fallow and the island began to re-vegetate itself. In the 1960’s Colin Tennant embarked on ambitious orchard projects here on Mustique. They were successful for a time, but when a severe drought struck, the orchards failed. As there was no capacity for irrigation in those days, the scheme was abandoned. Until now

Text Box: . In the south east of the island the grounds staff of the Mustique Company have been working to rehabilitate this heavily eroded area. The hills and hollows are being covered with rich fresh mulch and planted with Sea grape (Coccoloba) and in time vegetated with trees as the soil and mulch settle. In other, less heavily damaged areas of the island, thousands of fruit trees are being planted. These trees will soon bear mango, papaya, guava, banana, citrus, breadfruit, plum rose and many other local favorites. These fruits will be available for all to share as part of the community orchard project. Two hives of bees will be placed in one of the orchard areas. Not only will these bees

Text Box: help with pollination, but we hope to someday harvest Mustique Honey. These new orchards are located along public roadways and in large patches of Mustique Company land where no land sales are planned. The locations have been chosen so people will easily be able to visit the orchards. Our orchards will be grown organically and it is the hope of the committee that villas on the island will add more fruit trees to their gardens as well.

Text Box: The Ministry of Health and the Environment of St Vincent and the Grenadines is sponsoring a school competition for the most Green School in the country. Schools will be judged on cleanliness, waste disposal and environmental practices and awareness.

Text Box: Judges visited the Mustique primary school earlier this year, and were very impressed. The children of the Mustique Primary School participate in weekly environmental science classes sponsored by the PTA and the MET. As well, the

Text Box: students benefit from visits from many scientists who come to the island for study or holiday and give of their time and expertise to the school. We wish the Mustique Primary School good luck in this, the first competition of its kind.

Mustique Environmental Committee

MPS Organic Garden	2
Waste Water treatment	2
Incinerator cleanup	3
Lighting	3
Archeology	3
Solar Water Heat	4
Sea Turtles	4