Post Hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017, many beaches around St. John experienced beach erosion, especially Cinnamon and Maho on the North shore.
The Friends trail crew (supplemented by volunteers and school groups) working with Eleanor Gibney, a local horticulturist, has planted over 600 trees on Hawksnest, Trunk, Cinnamon, and Maho Beaches since June 2020. This Native Plant Propagation Project in partnership with the Virgin Islands National Park and funded by Friends donors and members aims to increase soil stabilization and prevent erosion on our beautiful beaches.
The plants are initially cultivated in two nurseries before being planted on our shores. The species planted are buttonwood, seagrape, turpentine, false nutmeg, orange manjack, white cedar, frangipani and tyre palm. These species tend to be salt tolerant and have far-ranging root systems that help keep the sand and soil together.
PSA - Please help us by keeping clear of the new trees and the marked areas.
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