The trees were grown in the US and brought to the island by Dr. Ken Bank of Trees that Feed Foundation, whose objective is to supply hardened field-ready fruit tree saplings to farmers and community groups in tropical countries in order to address nutrition, economic and environmental needs. A total of 144 trees were brought to the island, of which 72 were sent to St. Eustatius for the reforestation project of St. Eustatius National Parks Foundation (STENAPA).
The breadfruit trees for Saba will be used in the local food production component the PES’s reforestation project. The trees are currently in the reforestation project’s tree nursery, where they are being cared for by the reforestation team. The trees at this stage are not field ready as they are vulnerable to excessive sunlight and heat. They have to be hardened and grown to a bigger size before they can be outplanted. They, therefore, require some additional care to ensure their health and continued growth. Once the trees are old enough, they will be planted in public spaces, partly distributed to the community and will be used to help develop a food forest.
The breadfruit variety is Ma’Afala, which originated in the South Pacific islands of Samoa and Tonga. The breadfruit tree was first brought to the Caribbean in 1793 by Captain William Bligh, who brought several hundred saplings to St. Vincent and later to Jamaica. The Ma’Afala variety is fast growing with a more compact, shorter form than other breadfruit varieties. This variety is able to bear fruit within 2 – 3.5 years after being planted. The average fruit size is smaller than other varieties, weighing around 1.7 pounds. Breadfruit trees are hardy with a tolerance to salt and drought and have a natural resistance to pests and disease once established. It is forecast that Saba may experience less rainfall due to climate change. It is, therefore, important to utilize drought-resistant crops in the production of local food.
Trees That Feed Foundation
Trees That Feed Foundation was established in 2008 by Mary McLaughlin, her husband Mike McLaughlin and brother Paul Virtue. With their headquarters in Illinois, USA, they serve the Caribbean, Central America and Africa. Trees That Feed has provided over 350,000 fruit trees of different types, including breadfruit, to farmers and governments in more than 20 countries around the world. They believe that tree crops are a large part of the answer to world food concerns. The fruit that trees produce is nutritious, and trees require less labor, fertilizers and space than field crops. They also help restore ecological balance to damaged soil, help capture carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and create habitat for an array of animal species.
