A project to establish small havens of native plant life across the island has borne fruit as it enters its fifth year.

The Bermuda Zoological Society said that since the launch of its Micro Forest Project in 2021, the programme has helped to transform 26 invasive-dominated spaces into thriving native ecosystems.

Nicholas Coelho, the BZS Micro Forest Project officer, said the scheme had highlighted the impact that focused, community-driven conservation can have.

“In only a few years, we have established 26 micro forests across Bermuda, covering more than 85,000 square feet,” he said.

“These spaces are more than just plantings of native trees. They are living, breathing ecosystems that improve soil health, draw down carbon and provide vital habitat for Bermuda’s wildlife.

“Just as importantly, they are places where our community of students, volunteers, families and organisations come together to take real action for the environment.”

A BZS spokeswoman said that more than 125,000 invasive plants had been removed through the project and were replaced with 5,295 native species with a 91.75 per cent survival rate.

She added that 2,500 volunteers including students, corporate teams and individuals had stepped forward to help the project since its inception.

“The project’s success reflects the strength of community collaboration,” the spokeswoman said.

“With the support of lead sponsors HSBC, founding partner RenaissanceRe, corporate partners, schools and volunteers, many throughout the community have played a vital role in establishing these micro forests that benefit both the community and our island environment.”

The spokeswoman said that the project also incorporated cutting-edge conservation tools to monitor the health of the ecosystems while giving students hands-on experience with the new technologies.

“Students have planted trees, explored drone mapping and participated in service projects that build both environmental awareness and a sense of stewardship,” she said.

Groups included tree stewards made up of Year 7 pupils from Warwick Academy, preschool children who learnt about plants and gardening, young people on the BZS Conservationists Camp who collected data at the Jennings Land micro forest and interns who gained a deeper understanding of conservation techniques.

“These partnerships have not only supported reforestation but also inspired a new generation of environmental leaders,” the spokeswoman said.

Mr Coelho highlighted the work carried out at the Bermuda College, where an abandoned hillside was turned into the project’s largest forest, spanning half an acre.

“Students have played a central role in preparing, planting and caring for this site, and it is now both a beacon of regeneration and a living classroom where young people learn first-hand about sustainability and ecology.

“This single forest represents more growth than we accomplished across ten sites in our first year, highlighting the exponential impact this project is having.”

The project was also hailed as a powerful tool to combat climate change, with the spokeswoman stating that the forests have the potential to sequester more than 100 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.

“As of 2024, at Micro Forest Plot 1 at Jennings Road our team calculated over 30,000 pounds of carbon dioxide absorption over a three-year period,” she said.

Philippe Bacon, the BZS president, said the project reflected the society’s core mission of conservation, education and community engagement.

“By restoring native habitats one small forest at a time, we are not only protecting biodiversity but also building natural resilience against climate change,” Mr Bacon said.

“This initiative empowers our community to take part in shaping a healthier environment and together, we are moving Bermuda towards a more sustainable future.”

• For more information, or to learn how to get involved or sponsor a micro forest, visitbzs.bm