By The Star Staff
The nonprofit organization Para la Naturaleza announced Monday that it will distribute 4,000 native, endemic and fruit trees for free on Saturday, Sep. 7, in Luis Muñoz Marín Park in San Juan, as part of the educational event La Siembra, which this year is titled “Trees that Astonish.”
The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and aims to promote reforestation and mitigate the effects of climate change in Puerto Rico.
This year, tree distribution will take place in person at the park, rather than using the drive-thru system implemented in previous years due to the pandemic. Participants will need to enter the park to pick up the trees, and complimentary transportation will be provided from the Coliseíto Pedrín Zorrilla parking lot. Both admission and parking will be free.
The planting will include educational modules where reforestation specialists will guide the public on the best practices for planting trees and which species are most suitable for different needs and spaces. Available species include acerola, cocoa, carambola, guanábana, guava, jobo, malagueta, button mangrove, papaya, native oak (white), yellow elderberry, and tamarind, among others. Each person will be able to pick up to two trees, subject to availability and on a first-come, first-served basis.
To participate in the event, those interested can register on the website pln.org/lasiembra. More information can be found on the same page, or by sending an email to reservaciones@pln.org, or calling 787-722-5834/5882.
The reforestation effort seeks to beautify the environment, provide nutritious fruits, support local agriculture, improve air quality, and offer refuge to local wildlife, while fostering resilience to extreme weather conditions.
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