A group of climate-conscious teens is taking a hands-on approach to tackling climate change, by transforming a once-bare hillside into a thriving oasis.

Forty enthusiastic members of the NorthGate College Environmental Action Club, joined by passionate parents, dedicated teachers, and proud alumni, banded together last month to plant 300 saplings along the steep slopes of Caiman Trail, St. Joseph.

Each tree is geotagged so that its exact location is stored, and its progress can be monitored over the next few years. This will allow for precise monitoring and reporting of the amount of carbon captured by the trees.

Club founder, Tasmin-Jade King said, “This is an inspiring experience, with so many NorthGate students demonstrating practically that they care about their environment.”

The students planted the trees on October 14, with the support of the Hike and Plant Initiative, a group working in collaboration with the reafforestation programme of the Forestry Division. The Hike and Plant Initiative prepared the area for planting, and have continued working to ensure the saplings’ long-term survival.

“Despite the relentless sun and the challenging slopes, I was proud of the students’ determined spirit. It took them a few minutes to get the hang of planting the trees, and to figure out the best way to do it on the slopes, but once they got into their rhythm, there was no stopping them. There may have been some liming, but it didn’t get in the way of productivity!” King said.

Financial sponsorship was contributed by Unipet and The Unit Trust Corporation, while the Carbon Zero Initiative of Trinidad and Tobago (CZITT) provided the trees. CZITT selected Moringa trees, a species known for its high carbon dioxide emission capture rate.

Although Trinidad & Tobago’s carbon emissions are relatively small, the country ranks fifth in the world in terms of carbon dioxide produced per person, partly because of its heavy industrial development in areas such as methanol and ammonia.

If all the trees planted by NorthGate students survived, about 120 tonnes of carbon dioxide would be absorbed over the next ten years, enough to offset emissions from seventy-five gasoline cars for a year. It’s a huge ambition, but a great journey is made up of many small steps.