Blog

23 June 2023

Preserving the Virgin Islands We Love: Building on a Vision for Our Public Lands & Water Use


Written by: Felisha Felix


I took the initiative of attending a town hall meeting of the US Virgin Islands Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan with the support of my Forest Service mentor. I knew it would be beneficial to share what I learned with our local Urban and Community Forestry project leaders. We needed an informed and educated perspective on where our efforts should lay in regard to sustainability, use of urban and forest areas and green space initiatives within our VI territory.


With that in mind, I attended the Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan (CLWUP) town hall at the University of the Virgin Islands to openly discuss how the community and government can strengthen, protect, and transform the VI’s landscape and natural water resources. Some topics discussed included, water gut runoff, wells, water irrigation systems, beautification initiatives, landmark preservation and restoration, well supply, energy use, climate, recycling, and protection of vulnerable areas within the territory. I contributed to breakout sessions with other local government representatives and community members to discuss territorial land use and water concerns and offer solutions or fresh ideas. Residents were afforded the opportunity to speak freely on environmental concerns affecting the community on a whole; local and foreign. We also addressed the long-term effects of inaction and ways to develop and sustain our vital resources. Not only that, we also considered alternative ways to avoid waste and make use of public land for recreational use. The ultimate gain would be to balance the development of land throughout our territory and maximize community and environmental benefits for Virgin Islanders and future generations. Ultimately, once the Comprehensive Land and Water Use Plan is developed, the idea would be to propose it to legislature for approval and execute legal authority to enforce. Which will also give us direction when submitting proposals for federal forestry grants. Once the CLWUP is complete and becomes public knowledge it will be a guided tool in developing future forestry programs! There's longevity in responsibility! This is a arrow pointed in the right direction for our beautiful Virgin Islands.

 

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