Some 120 schools islandwide are to participate in the 'Trees for Peace' initiative, an activity being spearheaded by the Citizenship Education Programme (CEP) within the Ministry of Education to observe peace month.

Programme manager of the CEP, Celia Champagnie explained that the 'Trees for Peace' initiative will involve the planting of trees in schools throughout peace month, which will be observed from February 6 to March 4.

"We have schools participating from regions one and six, which include the parishes of Kingston, St. Andrew, Clarendon, St. Catherine and other schools from St. James and St. Ann," she is quoted as saying in a Jamiaca Information Service release.

She said that the Forestry Department will be providing each school with at least six trees, including the ackee, blue mahoe; the national flower, lignum vitae and other trees requested by the schools.

In addition to the planting of trees, the programme manager said that students would also participate in a competition requiring them to inform and educate the school population about the trees and be responsible for their overall upkeep and maintenance.