At NGC, we believe passionately that the environment forms part of our national heritage.  Among the many environmental initiatives and programmes that we have undertaken, we are particularly proud of our Reforestation Programme. The Reforestation Programme also won a CSR award from the STIC.

 We developed the programme in accordance with a Certificate of Environmental Clearance Reforestation stipulation that we reforest, at the very least, the equivalent of the area permanently cleared for the Cross Island Pipeline Project and Beachfield Upstream Development projects.   We had cleared 105 hectares for the two projects.

 However, we went further and developed a “no net loss of forest resource” policy and have embarked on a programme to reforest an additional 210 hectares in the Morne L’Enfer Forest reserve which is close to the Union Industrial Estate where NEC cleared about 200 hectares.   The locations were selected by the Forestry Division and listed as critically degraded areas with secondary type forests.  These six areas lie adjacent to our 75 km 56 inch pipeline corridor extending from Guayaguayare in the east to Point Fortin in the west, with the largest parcel being in the Morne L’Enfer Forest Reserve. 

In all, therefore, 315-hectares of degraded forest are to be re-forested in this community based programme.

Excellent success rates 
We conducted field audit assessments in 2007 to determine the survival rates of the planted seedlings. These audits revealed a survival rate of 91% in Guapo, 88% in Edward Trace, 86% in Mayaro and 90% in Grant’s Trace.  These survival rates were significantly higher than the 80% benchmark set by the Forestry Division.   

Buoyed by these successful survival rates, we have established 50x50 meter experimental plots in all the reforestation sites, where the growth and height rate of the seedlings will be monitored to assess their performance.  Another field audit undertaken this year revealed that the established plots had a cumulative average survival rate of between 88 and 90%.

In 2009, we will reforest 85 hectares (210 acres) and maintain and re-supply seedlings to the existing 50 hectares previously established in Phase I.

Achievements to date
 So far, Phase I, which began on World Environment Day 2006 in the Morne L’ Enfer Forest Reserve, came to a close in August 2008.  Within this period, a total of 27, 818 mixed hardwood seedlings, which included Cedar, Apamate, Mahogany, Crappo and fruit trees like Cashima and Pommerac, were successfully planted.

 In the past two years, we have reforested approximately 50 hectares:

• Grant’s Trace - 8.8 hectares
• Guapo/Parrylands -  7.3 hectares
• Mayaro - 7.8 hectares
• Edward Trace - 7.9 hectares
• Rochard Douglas Teak Plantation - 7.0 hectares
• Morne L’Enfer – 11 hectares

 Of course, we have also undertaken to protect the seedlings until they are strong enough to withstand natural and man-made disturbance on their own.  As such, we have conducted tending and fire patrols in these areas.

Community Involvement
As is our policy, we seek maximum participation from communities affected by our programs. Residents of the communities affected by our programs. Residents of the communities affected by the CIPP, BUD and Union Industrial Estate projects formed community re-leaf groups, and have become actively involved in all aspects of the program.