First Lady, Carl Lewis and Young Leaders Plant Trees in the Bosque de los Valores

First Lady, Carl Lewis and Young Leaders Plant Trees in the Bosque de los Valores
Dominican Republic, Santo Domingo, 06/14/2011

“I am very happy and very proud that Carl is here with us in his capacity as Goodwill Ambassador of the FAO. I believe it is an act of marvelous altruism that he has placed his fame, his name and all his gold medals on the line for the betterment of humanity.”

Carl Lewis, in his capacity as Goodwill Ambassador for the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, is continuing his tour of activities in the Dominican Republic accompanied by Dominican First Lady, Margarita Cedeño de Fernández. The former world-renowned runner and long jumper and the First Lady planted a tree in the Bosque de los Valores (Forest of Values) as a symbolic way of contributing to reforestation of the planet. 

Jaime David Fernández Mirabal, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, welcomed young leaders from the Progresando (Progressing) Program who accompanied the First Lady and Carl Lewis. The Minister invited the young people to care for and protect the forest as he explained the correct method of planting trees in so that they will complete their full growth process.

Mrs. Margarita Cedeño de Fernández said this event symbolically represents the planting of values in society, which is essential for the consolidation of progress in all countries.

“I thank Carl for accompanying us today as we continue our schedule of looking at issues involving food, nutrition, reforestation as the FAO happens to be celebrating the International Year of Forests,” according to the Communications Department of the Office of the First Lady (DPD).

The First Lady said Carl Lewis’s visit is an example of humility, responsibility and an example of how we can all contribute in changing the world, the country and the space we occupy. “I am very happy and very proud that Carl is here with us in his capacity as Goodwill Ambassador of the FAO. I believe it is an act of marvelous altruism that he has placed his fame, his name and all his gold medals on the line for the betterment of humanity.”

Carl Lewis praised the work of the First Lady and said he too was happy because, with this visit, he is helping to care for poor children, showing them how to protect the environment, biodiversity and how to plant trees.

The Bosque de los Valores began with 40 young Dominicans who were part of the Infant and Juvenile Forum of the Dominican Republic Library. With the declaration of the International Year of Forests 2011, every Saturday in February they went to the Mirador Park of the West where the Ministry Environment and Natural Resources gave them a space to plant endemic trees. The young people planted mahogany, oak, caoba and jagua trees among other species. They now have more than 2,000 trees planted.  

Greenhouse and the CTC of Favidrio
 
Later they went to the organic green house located in the community of Boruga, Municipal Distrito of Hato Damas in San Cristóbal where rural women play a role in the productive activities, which serves to improve and elevate their quality of life and their families’. The Greenhouse is part of the Office of the First Lady’s Hemispheric Gender Equality and Development Program for Rural Women (PADEMUR).

Cedeño de Fernández and Lewis ended their visit at the Community Technology Center (CTC) of Favidrio, which works to involve the area’s agricultural sector with Information Technology as part of the efforts underway to reduce the digital divide and eliminate hunger. These are commitments assumed by Cedeño de Fernández on an international level. She and Lewis were accompanied by Environment Minister, Jaime David Fernández Mirabal. 

As Extraordinary Ambassador of the FAO, Cedeño de Fernández, through programs and projects carried out by the DPD, has developed an intensive program for the promotion of food security. These programs include working with those who promote production and productivity, the use of information technology and communication, micro-financing, education, nutritional health, the establishment of food guides and awareness of the right of everyone to have access to a healthy diet.