Photo credit: PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum
Twenty employees from St Barbara Limited’s Simberi Operations observed the World Environment Day by planting more than 200 mangrove shoots (young trees) at Pikinur along the airport runway at Simberi, New Ireland Province.
Led by the General Manager, Randy McMahon and the Environment team, the employees were transferred by shuttle buses to the planting site at 6am on Sunday 5 June. After a briefing on the process involved and a message from Randy, they dispersed throughout the 0.5-hectare area and began planting.
The activity continued yesterday on Monday 6 June - this time with students from Simberi Primary School, taking some time out of classes to plant another 100 shoots. The session was also facilitated by the company’s Environment team.
Randy and Acting Environment Manager, Faith Angoro acknowledged the effort by the employees to honour St Barbara’s (Simberi’s operator) commitment of respecting the environment through the activity while emphasising the important role of mangroves in the ocean’s ecosystem.
“Mangroves aren’t just trees; they are the nursery for the ocean. Planting a mangrove is putting a nursery in the ground. It benefits the ocean and the land,” said Randy.
Environment assistant and Bekou villager Jacinta Peter re-enforced the GM’s message saying, “mangroves are important to the marine ecosystem of Simberi, Tatau and Big Tabar. They prevent land erosion and absorb storm surges during extreme weather. They also provide a rich source of food.”
Some employees intend to monitor the shoots they planted yesterday to see how well they grow in the coming months and years. The shoots can reach up to a metre within two years if they get adequate nutrients.
Mangroves are home to fish species like barramundi, mangrove jack and mud crabs, which employees from Simberi enjoy regularly for dinner.
Article courtesy of the PNG Chamber of Mines and Petroleum
