The Bermuda Zoological Society [BZS] and the Department of Parks spent time clearing invasives on Trunk Island recently in an effort to share knowledge and continue the partnership that has been evolving since the BZS Micro Forest Project began in 2021. “On June 26, members of the Parks team from Tulo Valley and Government House joined the BZS team on Trunk Island to clear invasives and create strategic berms to protect future plantings of endemics on a new site on the island,” a spokesperson said. Trevor Rawson, the BZS Trunk Island Project Coordinator, said that working alongside the Parks crew was “incredibly valuable,” as the BZS team continue to test out new styles of conservation efforts.
“The work the Parks Department provided was a huge help,” he said. “They lent us their expertise and it was sharing knowledge and a learning experience on both sides.” The spokesperson said, “The BZS Micro Forest Project, a method of densely planting trees together with the aim of increasing biodiversity and restoring Bermuda’s natural ecosystem, was first piloted on Trunk Island before moving to the mainland where plots were identified and cleared of invasive species then densely planted with native and endemic plants.
“There are currently just over 20 micro forest plots across Bermuda with many of them on Parks land. Most notably, the BZS Micro Forest team and Parks collaborated on a micro forest for the King’s Coronation Garden in the Botanical Gardens to mar.