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bjbjqPqP 11th Caribbean Urban and Community Forestry Conference June 19-22, 2006 ( St. Croix, Virgin Islands Schedule for the field tour on Thursday, June 22, 2006 The Logistics Subcommittee of the Organizing Committee for the 2006 Caribbean Urban and Community Forestry Conference has planned a field tour for conference participants. Remarkable Big Tree Project Tour: A tour of several Big Trees located in the Frederiksted area. These trees are a part of “The USVI Register of Big Trees” developed by Dr. Robert Nichols with assistance from Olasee Davis, Carlos Robles, and Toni Thomas. The project was funded by the V.I. Department of Agriculture’s Urban and Community Forestry Assistance Program. The focus is on native trees considered rare or endangered, trees that have fulfilled cultural and spiritual functions within the community, trees that demarcate historical events, and trees which by their age and size deserve the title “Remarkable Trees.” REMARKABLE BIG TREE PROJECT TOUR 8:30 A.M. – 4:00 P.M. The first stop is under the largest Baobab (Adansonia digitata) tree in the Virgin Islands. Its circumference is 55 feet and it towers 53 feet into the sky. It is considered a historic tree due to the 1878 “Fireburn” uprising, political rallies, meeting place, and where the first island labor union or movement established. The Baobab tree is native to Africa, where the tree is considered a “spirit” or “jumbie” tree. The enslaved Africans brought the baobab seeds and planted it on St. Croix. It was an African custom to carry seeds as emergency rations, Pakenham says, and Baobab seeds were “special treasures.” The second stop is the Carl & Marie Lawaetz Family Museum. There are two exceptionally large rain trees (Pithecellobium saman) west of the Greathouse. The largest one is 115 feet wide with a broad spreading canopy. According to Dr. Robert W. Nicholls, it is the largest rain tree measured on St. Croix, and second only to the huge rain tree on St. John. It has a dbh of 5.9 feet and is 66 feet high. The third stop is located in Frederiksted town. The launderette at 68 Queen Street has the largest silk cotton (Ceiba pentandra) tree measured in the Virgin Islands. In the yard of the launderette, the silk cotton tree shares the yard space with two mahogany trees. The silk cotton is also known as a “Jumbie” tree. It is related to the Baobab which is considered a spiritual tree by Africans. The tree has large, cave-like buttress roots that lead right up to its branches. Its measurement is 7.6 feet above ground level with a diameter of 9.8 feet, and a high of 59 feet. Its canopy spread is 78 feet. The last stop is the Estate Whim Greathouse. Whim Plantation is a local museum that attracts visitors and locals alike. It has a good display of how the sugar factory functioned during the plantation era of the Danish West Indies. North of the great house is a tamarind tree (Tamarindus indica L.). This tree is about 300 years old and was reported to be mature when the plantation was established in the 1700’s. The tamarind tree is very cultural in the Virgin Islands. It was used as a gathering place for farmers, and a meeting place for the community, school, etc. The fruit was and still is used for food today. It is one of the largest trees in the Virgin Islands. It measures 6.7 feet dbh and is 55 feet tall and has a 67 feet spread. FIELD TOUR ITINERARY Presenter: Dr. Robert Nichols Field Tour Guides: Olasee Davis Errol Chichester 8:30 a.m. Depart Carambola Hotel 9:00 a.m. Arrive at Grove Place 9:00-9:20 a.m. Presentation on Baobob Tree 9:30 a.m. Depart Grove Place 10:00 a.m. Arrive at Lawaetz Museum, Frederiksted 10:00-10:20 a.m. Presentation on Saman (Rain) Tree 10:30 a.m. Depart Lawaetz Museum 10:45 a.m. Arrive at Queen Street, Frederiksted 10:45-11:05 a.m. Presentation on Silk Cotton (Kapok) Tree 11:15 a.m. Depart Queen Street 11:30 p.m. Arrive at Villa Morales 11:30 a.m. -1:30 p.m. Lunch at Villa Morales 1:30 p.m. Depart at Villa Morales 1:45 p.m. Arrive at Whim Greathouse 2:00-2:30 p.m. Presentation and tour at Whim Greathouse 2:40 p.m. Depart Whim Greathouse 3:00 p.m. Arrive at Carambola Hotel PAGE PAGE &`#$ hªZM urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags PlaceName urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags PlaceType urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags City urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags Street urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags address urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags place http://www.5iantlavalamp.com/ Tour “A” Christene E. Henry Cooperative Extension Service Tour “A” Title