The National Parks Trust, as part of Arbour Day 2016, will be honouring Mr Alexander O. Shirley posthumously. Photo: VINO/File

1961 marked a significant year in Virgin Islands’ history – the Sage Mountain land was purchased for the purpose of conservation, and, the National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands was established with the mandate to preserve and manage designated natural and cultural areas in order to improve the quality of life in the British Virgin Islands.

Through the collaboration of the Government of the Virgin Islands, then Chairman of the National Parks Trust Mr Joseph Reynold O’Neal and philanthropist Sir Laurance Rockefeller, the first National Park of The Virgin Islands was established in 1964.

“The Trust was founded with the acquisition of Mount Sage. Established in 1961 the National Parks Trust is the lead organisation for managing 21 legally declared national parks and protected areas - and more are anticipated to be declared in the future,” explained Ms Lynda Varlack, Acting Director of the National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands.

Ms Varlack explained the significance of this year's theme, “The theme was chosen to highlight numerous historical milestones in the life of the Trust, beginning with the major contributions of all the environmental stalwarts who worked diligently to ensure that lands were protected and preserved for the benefit of the contemporary communities as well as for future generations.”

She went on to say, “Persons like Sir Laurance Rockefeller, Hon Ralph T. O'Neal OBE and Mr J. R. O'Neal labored for acquisition of lands for parks and protected areas under legislation. Others like Mr. Joseph Hodge, Mr. A.O. Shirley MBE, and Mr John Smith carried on the work through extensive conservation efforts. These past luminaries lead us to vision then what we see and understand today - Sage Mountain is a proven environmental treasure trove and living legacy.”

This year’s Arbour Day Ceremony will be held on Friday November 25, 2016 at the First Impressions School in Johnson’s Ghut.

Ms Varlack explained, “Traditionally Arbour Day is held at various schools across the Territory and this year we thought it fitting to hold the ceremony at the First Impressions School in posthumous honour of A.O. Shirley and his extensive contributions to the work of the Trust. He held many positions in the Trust as it grew from strength to strength, and Sage Mountain's famous fourteen (14) trails were literally the direct result of his handiwork. Notably, he never missed a Trust event, and the Trust misses him keenly, for he was really family.”

Through partnerships with Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, the Trust has embarked on several Darwin Initiative Projects, the most recent of which is the mapping of various endangered and native plant species within the Virgin Islands. She added, "Recent discoveries at Sage Mountain National Park include several threatened and endangered plant species. The Trust has successfully identified, collected samples and propagated several of these plant species to make them available to the Virgin Islands community. Now land and property owners are encouraged to take advantage of these important finds by planting their own native tree gardens which bring a range of benefits."

Throughout the month of November the National Parks Trust of the Virgin Islands will host a number of activities to celebrate Arbour Day. Sage Mountain National Park Guided Tours are available upon request on select days. The Annual Arbour Day Plant Sale at the J R O'Neal Botanic Gardens will be held from November 14 -25 and Free Trees will be given away November 21 – 25, 2016.