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The Lignum Vitae Forest

Lignum vitae (Guaiacum officinale) is perhaps the most beautiful tree you will ever see. Known as Gaïac in French, the tree is native to the Caribbean but is currently listed as an endangered species. It is a slow-growing tree that was over-harvested for its incredibly strong and dense wood. The wood was used extensively in ship-building, where its strength and resistance to decay made it ideal for deadeyes and other hardware. The wood was also widely used for ship propellor bearings due to its hardness and the natural oils that served as lubrication.

Although most lignum vitae trees on St. Martin were harvested long ago, fine examples still remain on Tintamarre. With their intricate branches, tiny blue flowers and textured bark, they are a beauty to behold. Why not plant and manage a lignum vitae forest on St. Martin, both to preserve the tree and provide a sustainable attraction for local residents and tourists alike?

The project would require setting aside some appropriate land and planting and managing lignum vitae seedlings (which could be grown from seeds sourced on Tintamarre). Rather than a monoculture of lignum vitae, the trees should be incorporated into a landscape mixed with other native plants and trees. Trails and picnic areas could be incorporated so the forest could be enjoyed by residents and tourists, and an information center or series of signs would explain both the natural and historical significance of the tree.

In many ways this would be the perfect project to combine natural and historical heritage for the benefit of the island and its tourist visitors. It would be beautiful, help preserve this rare tree, and possibly become a revenue source for the island. Of course, there might be one small problem: it would be decades before these slow-growing trees reach maturity.

Would such a proposal be taken seriously by the stakeholders required to make it a reality? Could (and would) St. Martin/St. Maarten follow through on the decades-long commitment to nurturing this project for an uncertain future return?

I propose this project seriously. Not only is it intrinsically very beneficial to the island and its people, but by pursing this objective the island makes a commitment to itself, its youth and as-yet-unborn future generations. If this project today sounds laughably infeasible, it says more about the problems in the prevailing mindset on the island than the value of the plan itself. If it sounds ridiculous now, how do we adapt to reach the point where it is seen as a practical, desirable project that should be started immediately?

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One Response so far.

  1. Conor McMenemie says:

    I 100% endorse any venture to promote viable Lignum Vitea plantations. As someone involved in hydro turbines, my life might be infinetly easier is there were a ready supply of this exemplary organic engineering component. GO FOR IT.

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