Progress 10/01/19 to 09/30/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached by the project consisted of landowners, natural resource professionals, extension professionals, urban foresters, forestry professionals, policymakers, utility employees/linemen, public works officials, other governmental agency personnel, NGO's, youth groups, forestry council members, agriculture advisory groups, landscapers and residents. Changes/Problems:The COVID-19 pandemic caused the cancelation of all in-person programming scheduled after March 2020. For periods of time, the U.S. Virgin Islands including the University was shut down. Fortunately, we were able to collaborate with other agencies to participate in their online programs. When both the university and all public schools in the territory reopened, the format for instruction was remote/online only for the rest of the year. We will have to modify our outreach events to include more webinars and other similar formats if COVID-19 protocols remain in place during the next year. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development opportunities were severely curtailed by the COVID-19 pandemic. All of our in-person training events, scheduled after March 2020, were canceled. This included both local, regional and national educational/training workshops and conferences. The International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference and Trade Show was postponed then rescheduled, as a virtual event during FY 2021. Most of the opportunities for training and professional development were switched to webinars. We collaborated with other agencies to participate in their online programs and invited staff of the University of the Virgin Islands, the VI Department of Agriculture, certified arborists, utility employees/linemen, and other arboriculture professionals in public and private industry, and residents to attend. We also directed our clients to participate in webinars from other national universities and agencies. The training focused on native plant production in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, greener cities, community tree plans, working safely in trees, tree planting, and plant propagation. It is expected that, as a result of this training, participants will increase their knowledge and incorporate the techniques learned into their respective educational programs. Attendees are also expected to share the knowledge gained with other colleagues. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Program results were routinely disseminated through the Cooperative Extension Service program on the University of the Virgin Islands radio station (WUVI) program "What's Going On @ UVICES". Information regarding activities and events was also disseminated by email, social media, UVI website (www.uvi.edu) and press releases, along with local newspapers, radio and television stations. The results of some of the activities and accomplishments were also chronicled in the local print, electronic media and other reports. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We will adjust our operations as allowed by COVID-19 restrictions. We will transition to more online programming for educational activities if in-person instruction is limited. Recovery from the two Category 5 hurricanes will continue to be a priority of the Virgin Islands during the next reporting period. Restoring the urban forests will be a focus along with efforts to support the recycling of hurricane debris - wood and green waste. Through online training, we plan to continue providing professional development opportunities for extension staff, arborists and other arboriculture professionals. Young persons will be targeted for educational activities. We are hopeful that the mode of instruction used by the Department of Education will allow interactions with schoolchildren. This will be monitored and explored. Staff will attend conferences such as the International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference and Trade Show to obtain information and remain up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry. We will continue to work with our partners; the Virgin Islands Urban and Community Forestry Program, the Virgin Islands Forest Stewardship Program and the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, to accomplish our training goals. Hopefully, the Virgin Islands state forestry programs will be active during the upcoming year. They were both without program coordinators this year.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the delivery of our planned programs. The shutdown of the U.S. Virgin Islands, including the University, followed by strict protocols affected our interactions with clients and other stakeholders. The Cooperative Extension Service sustained the focus of our educational programs on the ongoing recovery efforts from the devastation and destruction caused by the ravages of two Category 5 hurricanes in 2017. The revitalization and resurgence of the forests, especially the urban forests, was the primary focus of our programs, continuing to emphasize resilience in anticipation of future climate change events, especially hurricanes. In collaboration with the St. George Village Botanical Garden, we continued the 'Trees for St. Croix Project' to educate the public on the importance of having trees in both the home and urban landscape. The project grew and distributed over 6,000 trees to interested persons upon request. Distribution of the trees began at the annual Agriculture and Food Fair of the U.S. Virgin Islands in February 2020. COVID-19 pandemic restrictions later affected the distribution but it continued by appointment only, through the end of the program on September 1, 2020. The sorting and chipping of hurricane debris generated by the storms, from fallen trees, continued. Selected wood, identified and set aside, were made available to Virgin Islands woodworkers/artisans. Other wood waste was double-chipped and made available to be collected by the public for use as mulch and for composting. The territorial long-term recovery efforts are ongoing including the recovery of the urban forest. As this happens the valuable contributions that trees make to the tourism industry and the quality of life of residents continues to be evident. The community is constantly being made aware of the value of trees/forests and what they provide to the local economy. Goal 2: Enhancing Economic Benefits Woodworkers' Expos were held in both St. Thomas and St. John, during December 2019. These events had not been held for a few years and their return was welcomed. In addition to the woodworkers displaying and selling their items to attendees, the event included woodturning demonstrations and featured tours for schoolchildren. These Expos provided opportunities for the woodworkers to increase their income while exposing the community to products that can be made from trees and parts of trees that would have been normally discarded. The art of woodworking was introduced to young people making them more aware of the economic potential of recycling forest products. Educational activities were conducted which exposed the community to the utilization of products that are made from green waste, trees, and parts of trees generated from the ravages of the hurricanes. Other educational efforts focusing on schoolchildren were limited when the pandemic caused the closure of all public schools and the switch to remote/online learning. Fortunately, the Virgin Islands Agriculture and Food Fair occurred just before the COVID-19 pandemic so we were able to use the event, which thousands attended, to share information and increase the knowledge and awareness of our target audience. Goal 3: Enhancing Resource Management on Working Forests and Rangelands All of our educational events, which were already scheduled from April to August 2020, had to be canceled due to the pandemic and the restrictions that followed. We were no longer able to have direct communications for our planned in-person programs, so we joined with some of our collaborating agencies to participate in their online programs. As a result, we were able to direct our target audience to be involved in a number of webinars. The main series covering a range of topics was 'Native Plant Production in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands' - weekly webinars during the months of August and September. Even though the pandemic severely limited in-person interactions with our target audience, we were able to, while following COVID-19 protocols, continue some of our projects related to tree planting. As a result, we were involved in at least six projects distributed across St. Croix, St. Thomas and St. John. Over 3,000 trees were planted. A Tree Care and Maintenance Workshop was held at the request of the We Grow Food, Inc. organization. CES staff delivered a very interactive two-hour workshop at the Estate Bordeaux Farmers' Market for their membership and interested members of the general community. As a result of the training event, 29 farmers and homeowners increased their knowledge and awareness of urban forestry. Some of the topics of presentation were proper tree selection, site selection and preparation, proper spacing, transplanting techniques, pest monitoring and control, and drip irrigation technology. At the conclusion of the workshop, the participants expressed their interest in continued training activities regarding tree care and maintenance. In partnership with local governmental agencies, we helped develop post-hurricane plans for restoring/replacing damaged/destroyed vegetation in VI coastal recreational areas. We responded to requests from clients such as landscapers, property owners, developers, architects, local and federal government agencies, and others in the community for technical information on native plants or plants in general for habitat protection and restorations, and to enhance the landscape. CES Staff provided technical assistance to territorial park managers and the UVI Master of Marine and Environmental Science Program (MMES) students and faculty about evaluating, restoring, and developing plans for, urban forest areas damaged by hurricanes in 2017 in the Magens Bay Territorial Park. Our staff worked with clients to inventory damaged plant communities and develop various restoration strategies. In similar efforts, CES staff provided technical assistance to the UVI Physical Plant personnel about trees on the St. Thomas campus. The target audience was professionals and all other persons involved with or interested in caring for trees. The attendees who increased their knowledge consisted of extension professionals, governmental agency personnel, NGO's, natural resources professionals, urban foresters, utility employees/linemen, forestry professionals, private sector landscapers, landowners, property managers and residents. Hundreds of private landowners and homeowners increased their knowledge about a variety of tree-related issues through technical assistance and advice during socially distanced onsite visits and other communications. Staff served as members of the Virgin Islands Urban and Community Forestry Council and the Virgin Islands Forest Stewardship Council. Assistance and technical advice were provided to Urban and Community Forestry projects.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/18 to 09/30/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached by the project consisted of landowners, natural resource professionals, extension professionals, urban foresters, forestry professionals, policymakers, utility employees/linemen, public works officials, other governmental agency personnel, NGO's, youth groups, forestry council members, agriculture advisory groups, landscapers and residents. Changes/Problems:Following the devastation caused by the passage of two Category 5 hurricanes, the Virgin Islands will continue facing serious economic challenges. The level of funding provided by the central government to the university and partner governmental agencies will continue to be affected. Continued budget cuts and staff shortages are expected to affect the accomplishment of some objectives during this period. Adjustments might have to be made regarding planned goals and objectives and how they will be accomplished. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Educational classroom and hands-on training sessions were conducted in both Districts for the staff of the University of the Virgin Islands, the VI Department of Agriculture, certified arborists, utility employees/linemen, and other arboriculture professionals in public and private industry, and residents. The training focused on the selection, establishment and care of trees in the Virgin Islands with special reference to hurricane damage. It is expected that, as a result of this training, participants will increase their knowledge and incorporate the techniques learned into their respective educational programs. Attendees are also expected to share the knowledge gained with other colleagues. Extension staff attended the International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference and Trade Show. This Conference is the premier event for arborists from around the world. Educational sessions were featured and led by renowned and respected leaders in tree research and technology, equipment design and manufacturing from around the world in the field of arboriculture. Information and networking opportunities provided at this conference were an integral part of the local urban forestry in-service training and public education campaign. Our program facilitated the training and certification of new arborists in the Virgin Islands. Three persons passed the ISA Certified Arborist Exam. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Program results were routinely disseminated through the Cooperative Extension Service program on the University of the Virgin Islands radio station (WUVI) program "What's Going On @ UVICES". Information regarding activities and events were also disseminated by email, social media, UVI website (www.uvi.edu) and press releases, along with local newspapers, radio and television stations. The results of some of the activities and accomplishments were also chronicled in the local print, electronic media and other reports. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Recovery from the ravages of the two Category 5 hurricanes will continue to be the main priority of the Virgin Islands during the next reporting period. Restoring the urban forests will be a prime focus along with efforts to support the recycling of hurricane debris - wood and green waste. We plan to continue providing professional development opportunities for extension staff, arborists and other arboriculture professionals. Participation in exhibitions, fairs, and other educational outreach events will continue to be avenues for reaching the target audience within the Virgin Islands. Young persons will be targeted for educational activities. Staff will attend conferences such as the International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference and Trade Show to obtain information and remain up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry and to interact with other experts and professionals. We will continue to work with our partners to accomplish our training goals, the Virgin Islands Urban and Community Forestry Program, the Virgin Islands Forest Stewardship Program and the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Our educational programs sustained their focus on the recovery efforts from the devastation and destruction caused by the ravages of two Category 5 hurricanes. The revitalization and resurgence of the forests, especially the urban forests, continued to be the primary focus of the programs. Emphasis was maintained on resilience in anticipation of future climate change events including hurricanes. The Virgin Islands now have a tree ordinance. After decades of deliberations, the state legislature passed the Community and Heritage Tree Law. During the process, the Cooperative Extension Service was involved in educating the public about the proposed legislation. The new law protects all public trees, which are those within the right-of-way of public roads and on publicly owned land. The new law (Act 8149) aims to help preserve unusual, historically significant, large or beautiful trees as "heritage trees" and preserve green space. It also creates a process for deciding whether to prune or remove such trees. The Cooperative Extension Service in collaboration with the St. George Village Botanical Garden and the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands launched the 'Trees for St. Croix Project' to educate the public on the importance of having trees in both the home and urban landscape. The project will grow and distribute thousands of trees and also involve a community-based initiative to collect seeds of local native trees to deposit in a seed bank. The sorting and chipping of the extremely large volumes of hurricane debris - wood and green waste (mainly fallen tree trunks, branches and limbs) generated from the storms continued. Based on the information provided by the Cooperative Extension Service selected fallen trees were identified and set aside for Virgin Islands woodworkers/artisans. Wood waste was converted to mulch and made available for distribution. The chipped materials were collected by the public for use as mulch and for composting. The territorial long-term recovery efforts are ongoing including the recovery of the urban forest. As this happens the valuable contributions that trees make to the tourism industry and the quality of life of residents continues to be evident. The community is constantly being made aware of the value of trees/forests and what they provide to the local economy. Goal 2: Enhancing Economic Benefits Educational activities were conducted which exposed the community to the utilization of products that are made from green waste, trees and parts of trees generated from the ravages of the hurricanes. Our efforts to make young people more aware of the economic potential of recycling forest products were more successful this year as the school year returned to a more normal schedule. The Virgin Islands Agriculture and Food Fair returned to its regularly scheduled dates, attracted thousands of attendees and provided the usual opportunity to share information and increase the knowledge and awareness of our target audience. Goal 3: Enhancing Resource Management on Working Forests and Rangelands Arborist workshops were held focusing on selecting quality trees, planting and establishment of trees, preventative pruning and restoring trees - with special reference to recovering from hurricane damage. The workshops were conducted on St. Croix and St. Thomas and included hands-on demonstrations. The target audience was professionals and all other persons involved with or interested in caring for trees. The attendees (49) who increased their knowledge consisted of extension professionals, governmental agency personnel, NGO's, natural resources professionals, urban foresters, utility employees/linemen, forestry professionals, private sector landscapers, landowners, property managers and residents. Hundreds of private landowners and homeowners increased their knowledge about a variety of tree-related issues through technical assistance and advice during onsite visits and other communications. Staff served as members of the Virgin Islands Urban and Community Forestry Council and the Virgin Islands Forest Stewardship Council. Assistance and technical advice were provided to Urban and Community Forestry projects. The Cooperative Extension Service helped develop post-hurricane plans for restoring/replacing damaged/destroyed vegetation in VI coastal recreational areas in partnership with local government agencies (VI Department of Agriculture, VI Department of Tourism, Territorial Park managers), community groups (Island Green Builders Assoc., Hull Bay community association, VI Conservation Service), businesses and University of the Virgin Islands partners.
Publications
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Progress 10/01/17 to 09/30/18
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached by the project consisted of landowners, natural resource professionals, extension professionals, urban foresters, forestry professionals, policymakers, utility employees/linemen, public works officials, other governmental agency personnel, NGO's, youth groups, forestry council members, agriculture advisory groups, landscapers and residents. Changes/Problems:Following the devastation caused by the passage of two Category 5 hurricanes, the Virgin Islands will continue facing serious economic challenges. The level of funding provided by the central government to the university and partner governmental agencies will continue to be affected. Continued budget cuts and staff shortages are expected to affect the accomplishment of some objectives during this period. Adjustments might have to be made regarding planned goals and objectives and how they will be accomplished. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Several educational classroom and hands-on sessions were conducted for urban forestry training to staff of the University of the Virgin Islands, the VI Department of Agriculture, certified arborists, utility employees/linemen, and other arboriculture professionals in public and private industry, and residents. The training topics included: tree biology, reasons for pruning, making proper pruning cuts, pruning equipment, safety equipment with special reference to hurricane damage. Another workshop focused on tree climbing methods, precision tree felling, chainsaw safety & handling, pruning methods and tree biology. Preparing Your Trees for Hurricane Season and Restoring Storm Damaged Trees was the title of another. They were presented by various arboriculture/forestry professionals and experts. It is expected that, as a result of this training, participants will change the way they view trees, know how to restore the forests, how to manage the forests and mitigate hurricane damage by incorporating the techniques learned into their respective educational programs. Attendees are also expected to share the knowledge gained with other colleagues. Staff were involved in workshops and other climate change meetings related to adaptation, mitigation, planning, assessment and implementation. Extension staff attended the International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference and Trade Show. This Conference is the premier event for arborists from around the world. Educational sessions were featured and led by renowned and respected leaders in tree research and technology, equipment design and manufacturing from around the world in the field of arboriculture. Information and networking opportunities provided at this conference were an integral part of the local urban forestry in-service training and public education campaign. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Program results were routinely disseminated through the Cooperative Extension Service program on the University of the Virgin Islands radio station (WUVI) program "What's Going On @ UVICES". Information regarding activities and events were also disseminated by email, social media, UVI website (uvi.edu) and press releases, along with local newspapers, radio and television stations. The results of some of the activities and accomplishments were also chronicled in the local print, electronic media and other reports. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Recovery from the ravages of the two Category 5 hurricanes will continue to be the main priority of the Virgin Islands during the next reporting period. Restoring the urban forests after devastation by the hurricanes will be a prime focus along with efforts to support the recycling of hurricane debris - wood and green waste. We plan to continue providing professional development opportunities for extension staff, arborists and other arboriculture professionals. Participation in exhibitions, fairs, and other educational outreach events will continue to be avenues for reaching the target audience within the Virgin Islands. Young persons will be specially targeted for educational activities. Staff will attend conferences such as the International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference and Trade Show to obtain information and remain up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry and to interact with other experts and professionals. We will continue to work with our partners to accomplish our training goals, the Virgin Islands Urban and Community Forestry Program, the Virgin Islands Forest Stewardship Program and the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
As FY 2017 ended in September 2017 the Virgin Islands were left in ruins, caused by the ravages of two Category 5 hurricanes - Irma and Maria. Our educational programs naturally focused on recovery from the devastation and destruction caused by the storms. The primary focus of the programs was the revitalization and resurgence of the forests, especially the urban forests. Emphasis was also placed on resilience in anticipation of future climate change events including hurricanes. The decimation of the forests resulted in extremely large volumes of hurricane debris - wood and green waste (mainly fallen tree trunks, branches and limbs). The territorial long-term recovery efforts are ongoing. The public outcry regarding the management of storm generated green waste resulted in a substantial volume of the material being sorted, chipped and made available to the public for use as mulch and for composting. The community is now much more acutely aware of the value of trees/forests and what they provide to the local economy. Now that so many trees have been lost, the valuable contributions they make to the tourism industry and the quality of life of residents continues to be more evident. Goal 2: Enhancing Economic Benefits Educational activities were conducted which exposed the community to products that can be made from green waste, trees and parts of trees generated from the ravages of the hurricanes. Our efforts to make young people more aware of the economic potential of recycling forest products was limited due to the disruption of the school year caused by school facilities being severely damaged or destroyed. The Virgin Islands Agriculture and Food Fair which attracted thousands of attendees, was a smaller event this year but still provided the usual opportunity to share information and increase the knowledge and awareness of our target audience. Some of our other major outreach activities were canceled due to storm damage. Goal 3: Enhancing Resource Management on Working Forests and Rangelands Arborist workshops were held focusing on tree biology, reasons for pruning, making proper pruning cuts, pruning equipment and safety equipment with special reference to hurricane damage. The workshops were conducted on St. Croix and St. Thomas and included hands-on pruning demonstrations. The target audience was professionals and all other persons involved with or interested in caring for trees. The attendees (45) who increased their knowledge consisted of extension professionals, governmental agency personnel, NGO's, natural resources professionals, urban foresters, utility employee/linemen, forestry professionals, private sector landscapers, landowners, property managers and residents. University and VI Department of Agriculture staff, landowners, certified arborists, utility linemen, landscape maintenance and other arboriculture/forestry professionals attended two-day workshops, in both Districts of the Virgin Islands, focusing on tree climbing methods, precision tree felling, chainsaw safety & handling, pruning methods and tree biology. This information improved the knowledge and skills of the attendees (60) from the target audience. 'Preparing Your Trees for Hurricane Season and Restoring Storm Damaged Trees' workshops were conducted at the beginning of the 2018 hurricane season. The target audience was homeowners with trees on their property and persons involved with or interested in caring for trees. The information provided was very valuable for attendees to prepare their trees for the 2018 hurricane season and to continue storm recovery activities. The information provided improved the knowledge and skills of the attendees (30). Hundreds of private landowners and homeowners increased their knowledge about a variety of tree related issues through technical assistance and advice during onsite visits. Staff served as members of the Virgin Islands Urban and Community Forestry Council and the Virgin Islands Forest Stewardship Council. Assistance and technical advice were provided to Urban and Community Forest projects. A Climate Chance Workshop was held, in both districts, focusing on adaptation and mitigation practices. Attendees were made aware of the negative effects of climate change on the weather, especially droughts, flooding, the severity of tropical storms/hurricanes and how best to mitigate these effects. Staff continued to be involved in several adaptation, planning, assessment and implementation meetings related to climate change.
Publications
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Progress 01/17/17 to 09/30/17
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience reached by the project consisted of landowners, natural resource professionals, other extension professionals, urban foresters, forestry professionals, policymakers, governmental agency personnel, NGO's, youth groups, forestry council members, agriculture advisory groups, landscapers and residents. Changes/Problems:Following the devastation caused by the passage of two Category 5 hurricanes the Virgin Islands is bracing for serious economic challenges. This will affect the level of funding provided by the central governmant to the university and partner governmental agencies. The anticipated budget cuts and staff shortages are expected to affect the accomplishment of some objectives during this period. Adjustments might have to be made regarding planned goals and objectives and how they will be accomplished. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Educational classroom and hands-on sessions were conducted for urban forestry training to staff of the University of the Virgin Islands, the VI Department of Agriculture, certified arborists and other arboriculture professionals in public and private industry. The training topics included: proper pruning techniques, introduction to arboriculture equipment, deciding when to remove a tree, and the importance of native trees in the ecosystem. They were presented by various arboriculture/forestry professionals and experts. It is expected that, as a result of this training, participants will change the way they view trees, how to manage them and reduce risk by incorporating the techniques learned into their respective programs. They are also expected to share the knowledge gained with other colleagues. Staff were involved in a number of adaptation, planning, assessment and implementation meetings related to climate change. A stakeholder engagement workshop was also held involving not only the U.S. Virgin Islands but institutions in other Caribbean countries. There was also a 'Climate Impact and Adaptation for Resource Management in the U.S. Virgin Islands' workshop. Extension staff attended the International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference and Trade Show. This Conference is the premier event for arborists from around the world. Educational sessions were featured and led by renowned and respected leaders in tree research and technology, equipment design and manufacturing from around the world in the field of arboriculture. Information and networking opportunities provided at this conference were an integral part of the local urban forestry in-service training and public education campaign. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Program results were routinely disseminated through the Cooperative Extension Service program on the University of the Virgin Islands radio station (WUVI) program "What's Going On @ UVICES". Information regarding activities and events were also disseminated by email, social media, UVI website (uvi.edu) and press releases, along with local newspapers, radio and television stations. The results of some of the activities and accomplishments were also chronicled in the local print, electronic media and other reports. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Recovery from the ravages of two Category 5 hurricanes will be the main priority of the Virgin Islands during this reporting period. Restoring the urban forests after devastation by the hurricanes will be a prime focus along with efforts to support the recycling of hurricane debris - wood and green waste. We plan to continue providing professional development opportunities for extension staff, arborists and other arboriculture professionals. Participation in exhibitions, fairs, and other educational outreach events will continue to be avenues for reaching the target audience within the Virgin Islands. Young persons will be specially targeted for educational activities. Staff will attend conferences such as the International Society of Arboriculture Annual Conference and Trade Show to obtain information and remain up-to-date with the latest developments in the industry and to interact with other experts and professionals. We will continue to work with our partners to accomplish our training goals, the Virgin Islands Urban and Community Forestry Program, the Virgin Islands Forest Stewardship Program and the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The project increased the knowledge of the target audience through their participation in educational activities. They were made aware of economic opportunities and the benefits of good management of our forest/tree resources. During the month of September, the U.S. Virgin Islands were devastated by the passage of two Category 5 hurricanes (Irma and Maria). The urban forests were decimated, resulting in an extremely large volume of hurricane debris - wood and green waste (mainly fallen tree trunks, branches and limbs). A long term recovery is slowly getting underway. An interesting aspect of the early stages of the recovery is that members of our target audience, using their knowledge gained, are very actively involved in voicing their concerns about various aspects of the recovery efforts - especially as it relates to managing storm damaged trees and the disposal of the wood/green waste. They are demanding that most of the materials be recycled into value-added products, chipped and composted, or used as mulch to enhance environmental and economic benefits. This is an example of a change in knowledge leading to a change in action and possibly resulting in a change in condition. Policymakers are now faced with very tough decisions as they try to find a delicate balance regarding rapid cost-effective recovery and environmental concerns. The community is more aware of the value of trees/forests and what they provide to the local economy. Now that so many trees have been lost, the valuable contributions they make to the tourism industry and the quality of life of residents have become more evident. Goal 2: Enhancing Economic Benefits Educational activities were conducted exposing the community to products that can be made from trees and parts of trees that normally would have been discarded. A special effort was made to make young people more aware of the economic potential of recycling forest products. This was done at the Virgin Islands Agriculture and Food Fair which attracted thousands of attendees and allowed hundreds of persons to be exposed to the art of woodworking, purchase items and realize the economic opportunities that exist. The VI Native Tree and Flower Fair held on St. Thomas provided another opportunity for economic benefits as the participating vendors included woodworkers and other crafts featuring the recycling of wood and forest products. There were hundreds of persons in attendance. Goal 3: Enhancing Resource Management on Working Forests and Rangelands Young people were trained to develop an appreciation for the benefits of trees. This is important as the rapid pace of urban development continued to reduce and fragment the forested areas in the territory. Educational opportunities and information were provided to schools and youth groups, through publications, lectures and hikes/walking tours. These activities were conducted for over 1,000 students, increasing their knowledge and making them more aware. The topics of proper pruning techniques, introduction to arboriculture equipment, deciding when to remove a tree, and the importance of native trees in the ecosystem were presented in arborist workshops conducted on St. Croix and St. Thomas. The attendees (40) who increased their knowledge consisted of extension professionals, governmental agency personnel, NGO's, natural resources professionals, urban foresters, forestry professionals, private sector landscapers, landowners and property managers. Hundreds of private landowners and homeowners increased their knowledge about a variety of tree related issues through technical assistance and advice during onsite visits. Staff served as members of the Virgin Islands Urban and Community Forestry Council and the Virgin Islands Forest Stewardship Council. Assistance and technical advice were provided to Urban and Community Forest projects. The VI Native Tree and Flower Fair held on St. Thomas provided an opportunity for educational outreach activities. There were hundreds of persons in attendance. Stakeholders were made aware of the negative effects of climate change on the weather, especially droughts, flooding, the severity of tropical storms/hurricanes and how best to mitigate these effects. This was done through outreach at the Virgin Islands Agriculture and Food Fair. This event allows us to reach thousands of residents. Ironically, earlier in the year, the St. Thomas/St. John Agriculture and Food Fair was canceled due to heavy rains and subsequent flooding of the fairgrounds. Staff were involved in a number of adaptation, planning, assessment and implementation meetings related to climate change. A stakeholder engagement workshop was also held involving not only the U.S. Virgin Islands but institutions in other Caribbean countries. There was also a 'Climate Impact and Adaptation for Resource Management in the U.S. Virgin Islands' workshop. Then in September came two Category 5 hurricanes.
Publications
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