From Destruction to Hope

Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017. The storm destroyed 80 percent of the island’s agriculture. It also wiped out about 15 percent of the trees in the U.S. territory. That’s what environmentalists Amira Odeh Quiñones and Dariana Mattei Ramos noticed the most: downed trees and fallen fruit. Puerto Ricans relied on the trees for food, and farmers counted on them for income. The duo knew they had to do something to combat the island’s deforestation.

Back in 2016, Odeh Quiñones and Mattei Ramos had founded the Puerto Rico branch of the group Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN PR), which brings together young people who want to protect the environment. After the hurricane, they worked with CYEN PR volunteers to deliver trees, seeds, and first aid supplies to people across Puerto Rico.

Hurricane Maria hit Puerto Rico in 2017. The powerful storm destroyed 80 percent of the island’s farms. It also wiped out about 15 percent of the trees in the U.S. territory. The loss of fruit trees worried Puerto Rican environmentalists Amira Odeh Quiñones and Dariana Mattei Ramos. They knew that many Puerto Ricans relied on the fruits for food, and farmers needed the income from selling them. The two young women decided to do something to help.

Back in 2016, Odeh Quiñones and Mattei Ramos had founded the Puerto Rican branch of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network. This group brings together young people who want to protect the environment. After the hurricane, Odeh Quiñones and Mattei Ramos rallied these volunteers to help with their recovery effort. They delivered trees, seeds, and first aid supplies to people across Puerto Rico.

The team feared that people who had suffered hurricane damage might not be in a place to appreciate the gift of a fruit tree. “We worried that people might say ‘Why are you giving me this tree when I just lost my house?,’” says Mattei Ramos. But to their surprise, the recipients were thrilled to have the new fruit trees.

The team bought some trees, but they also started growing trees at home. Depending on the species, fruit trees grown from seed may be ready to plant within one to four months. Some, like papaya, can produce fruit within a year. Others, like lemon or orange citrus trees, take up to five years.

In 2018, the duo started a new phase of their project: planting small plots of fruit trees in communities. They called these plots “food forests.” The food forests are in public places to be accessible to everyone in the community. So far, they’ve planted food forests in 19 communities out of their goal of 30, which they should hit later this year. After that, the team may step back and focus on maintaining the food forests that already exist.

Volunteers as young as high school seniors are working to plant food forests. According to Mattei Ramos, youth represent the future and therefore have a stake in the future of the planet. “This is why I believe young people get involved in environmental movements and initiatives,” she says.

The team wasn’t sure at first if people would appreciate receiving fruit trees. “We worried that people might say, ‘Why are you giving me this tree when I just lost my house?,’” explains Mattei Ramos. But the response pleasantly surprised them. The recipients were thrilled about the new fruit trees!

The team bought some of the trees they distributed. But they also started growing trees at home. Fruit trees grown from seed can be ready to replant within one to four months, depending on the species. Some, like papaya trees, can produce fruit within a year. Others, like citrus trees, take up to five years.

In 2018, Odeh Quiñones and Mattei Ramos started a new phase of their project. They began planting small plots of fruit trees, which they call “food forests,” in Puerto Rican communities. The food forests are in public places, so everyone in the community can harvest fruit from them. So far, the team has planted food forests in 19 communities, but they hope to reach 30 by later this year.

Many of the volunteers working to plant food forests are high school students. That’s not a surprise to Mattei Ramos. Young people have the biggest stake in the future of the planet, she says. “This is why I believe young people get involved in environmental movements.”