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Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
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CAYE CAULKER

All day Sunday the roar of chain saw motors could be heard. The BEL
linesmen had arrived on Caye Caulker to work. The coconut trees were
being cut and rolled in piles to one side of the streets. Gone is the
beautiful archway of coconut trees running between front pier to back
pier. ( see http://members.tripod.com/~speculation/HOMEPAGE.html ) I
planted most of those trees myself, 15 to 30 years ago. It is time to
replant again. Not only along the sides of streets to provide shade in
the tropical sun, but to beautify the village. The new beach in front of
the island also needs coconut trees planted. I estimate about 500
coconut trees should be planted in a restoration and beautification
project. Growth takes about 8 years, but you will see results in 3 or 4
years.
There are many seedlings sprouted up on the north part of Caye Caulker
on property nationalized by the Government some years ago. Indeed, I use
to have a 20 acre coconut walk plantation up there myself at one time.
Villagers are going to be busy for months to come with reconstruction
of damaged property and getting their lives back together again. Also
hopefully, the December Xmas season will happen with cash flow from
winter tourists. There are lost lobster traps to find bring ashore and
get repaired, damaged boats to repair, outboard motors to overhaul and
houses to fix. It is not likely anyone would have either the time or
money to bother about replanting coconut trees.
It sounds like a beautification project we could do from the Belize
Development Trust. I was running estimates last night. I estimate 500
trees needed. Should be able to get those seedlings from the north part
of the island where nobody lives. Collecting them and then have somebody
take a post hole digger and planting them around the streets and along
the reclamed front beach. The cost is likely to run aroud $1500 USA to
$2000 USA, with collecting and planting operations. To get into the
shoreline, a shallow draft skiff is necessary. A deeper draft boat won't
do it. Tina Loeper, local island project manager for the Belize
Development Trust, would probably provide a collection point at her
house, disburse money and pay for the replanting, as local village Belize
Development project director. Haven't talked to her yet. It is not
something would get done in a hurry. Sort of a boat load here and a
chance planting by a hired laborer there, when someone is available.
Take a few months to do. But 500 coconut trees to replace all those
knocked down by the hurricane force winds would be a worthwhile project,
I think. But I'm biased. Been planting coconut trees around Caye
Caulker since 1964. Can't stand to see a hot sunny spot without shade or
beauty.
At any rate, if Marty could see his way of advertising for a Coconut
Tree beautification re-planting scheme for Caye Caulker on the Message
Board and we should be fortunate enough to get about $1500 to $2000
donated for this project, we will go ahead and see what can be done to
organize and administrate it. Donations should be by cheque sent to:
Belize Development Trust, c/o 2471 NW 152 Terr., Opa-Locka, Fl. 33054.
If you could visit yourself and spend some tourist dollars and plant 5
seedlings as part of your visit. Even better! Watch your tree grow and
know you planted it! Used to do that trick with my tourist clientele
years ago, to make them come back and see how their tree was doing. Got
letters all the time and requests for photographs of the tree for years
and years. Made many beautiful lasting friendships that way, long term.

Ray Auxillou

Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 713
S
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S
That's a great idea. I will certainly contribute.
It should be publicized on all the tourist oriented web site; figure out the cost to import, plant and care for each tree, and invite the public to donate. It would be great if people could donate online using a credit card (one of your daughters probably has a merchant account set up already for their tourism business, right?) and the "plant a tree" program is the kind of thing that newspapers will write about so you will probably raise that money fast!
Carlos, our gardener at Paradise Villas, can make anything grow. He found some coconut trees that grow very fast a few years ago when coconut tree disease ruined most of the coconut trees there, and they grew a couple of feet per year. I am sure he knows what kind they are, where to get them, and how to take care of them. They seem to be immune from the coconut tree disease as well.
I hope you are going to include people's property in the project. I am sure the homeowners will want a tree in their yards too!


Susan Guberman-Garcia, Attorney at Law. Phone: 510-792-2639
Fax/Voicemail:: 510-405-2016 Email: [email protected]
A
Anonymous
Anonymous
A
Replanting!!!!

A wonderful idea.

Our adult family of four will be in Ambergris Caye for two nights January 9. We can do five trees each if someone on the island will point us in the right direction. We will be staying at the Palms.

We'll even pay for the 20 trees. What a great legacy to leave to our families in the future.

The Speckman Family

[email protected]

Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 170
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I would love to plant some trees when I'm there this summer!

A
Anonymous
Anonymous
A
To Whomever wrote the top topic here:

Upon further reflection, I just might know of a US foundation that would jump at a project like the tree restoration. Give me a note and lets see if we can get this thing off the ground. My email:

[email protected]

Thanks.

Ray Speckman, Missouri USA

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 107
C
Offline
C
Well, being a science teacher in Arizona, I'm
big into bringing the rainforest and ocean
units into my classroom...We have a project
every year which saves acres of the rainforest through the Nature Conservancy and
Earth Foundation...why not find an organization like such and see what they can
do? Every year I come to Belize and yes, I've planted a few coconut trees myself...it
is rewarding to see them grow. Definitely,
trees need to be planted A.S. A. P. What
would a tropical island be without coconut
trees!!!??? If the seedlings could be brought in from the North, and there could be
a tree planting day designated, that would
be awesome....but first.....let's get the
supplies, food, water, electricity, etc. to
the people....houses rebuilt, etc. I'm still
trying to locate the rest of my dear friends!
My thoughts and prayers are with you Belize!!

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 21
N
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N
Might be better to plant the Malaysian Dwarf Hybrids. Somewhere on the mainland someones got a nursery for them. I think thats what Fermin was planting along the new beach. One thought though is transplanting adult trees (from the southend maybe?). Caye Chapel has one of those automatic palm tree transplantin' trucks. Maybe they'd loan it?

[This message has been edited by Nate (edited 10-09-2000).]

Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5
Z
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Z
This from a quote from John F Kennedy....." I am reminded of the story of Marshal Lyautey, who once asked his gardener to plant a tree.� The gardener objected that the tree was slow growing and would not reach maturity for a hundred years.� The marshal replied," "In that case, there is no time to lose, plant it this afternoon."

Did anyone see "City Slickers" a few years back with Billy Crystal...there was a poignant scene where Billy's friend is commiserating about his upcoming divorce and his miserable life etc....And Billy points out that he has a "Do Over." Well people...that's what you on CC have now...a"Do Over!" a chance to make it bigger and better, (tree wise...not condos) When/if I get back down there to I will plant some too! Time to get those spades sing'n........Good Luck to All!....Z

Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
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Nates comments on the Malaysian Dwarf Hybrids.


That is confirmed. My daughter Sharon, phoned me to say that the
yellow leafing disease had hit the islands and was killing the coconuts.
Peter mentioned that all those beautiful tall 60 year old trees on the
beach at Hopkins on the coast south of Dangriga were already gone and
destroyed by the Yucatan disease.


There is a nursery for seedlings up in the western Cayo District.
Maybe Frank Redmond can help us with an idea of how many they have and
what prices? What say Frank? It is going to be a lot less coconut
seedlings, or a lot more money though, as there is the purchase price and
internal transportation costs to cover.


Irregardless, I'm a tree planting nut, if we can get some GRANT funds,
will go ahead. It is my understanding one cheque is on the way. Will
check with the local bank that handles our Belize Offshore Trusts here
and see about opening a Development Trust Account. As to the donations
by credit card, will ask about that too. I'm not too clear about how that
business works, maybe Marty or someone else using credit cards and such
billing companies can educate me by private e-mail?


Belize Development Trust
Coconut Tree Planting Project for San Pedro and Caye Caulker
c/o 2471 NW 152 Terr, Opa-Locka, Fl, USA 33054

We can do this tree project, with an online donation form, but give me a few days to get things cleared up
Marty

Joined: Oct 1999
Posts: 84,397
Marty Offline OP
OP Offline
Ray,


I buy small coconut trees from a guy out in Cayo for $1.00 BZ each. These
are about 12 to 24" high already.


I would think that with very little effort of money a lot of trees could be
brought to the islands. Stand at the pier and hand everyone going over in
the boats a tree to plant, should solve the transportation problem. Arrange
with the Town Boards as to where they should be planted.


If this is not done by the time I drive down, perhaps I will do it myself.


Terry Warburton


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