‘Pandemic has given environment a chance to breathe’

Cuki and Mariana Alvarez celebrated Earth Day last Wednesday by picking up trash at the American Memorial Park after doing their daily exercise around the park. (Krizel Tuazon)

If there’s one thing positive about the COVID-19 pandemic, is its salutary effect to the environment. As the world celebrates this year’s Earth Day, the pandemic is healing nature.

With countries implementing lockdowns, keeping vehicles from the roads, the world is seeing a drop in air pollution levels, wildlife roaming on empty streets, and murky canals getting clearer. With no tourists and a stay-at-home guidance in place, the CNMI too, is seeing less pollution.

According to Rep. Joel Camacho (R-Saipan), the environment is an important issue that needs continued discussion and public education. “Although it has significantly impacted our economy, I believe this is one the rare times that our environment has had a chance to breathe,” the House Natural Resources Committee vice chair said.

He added that this is an unprecedented time when the islands are seeing a significant decrease in trash in beaches and public places as a result of social distancing policies.

“The coronavirus has taught us many things and has changed the norm around the world today. One thing it definitely has done for the CNMI is that for the first time in a very long time, we have seen our beaches and our tourist sites quiet.”

“Beaches and public parks look pristine now and this valuable lesson resulting from the pandemic will help to keep our island clean and beautiful as our environment is the one precious asset we can pass down to our children and their children,” Camacho said.

Sen. Vinnie Sablan (Ind-Saipan), an environmental advocate, said that we could only imagine what it would look like without the environmental controls such as the Clean Water and Air Act that was triggered by Earth Day.

“It was this day 50 years ago when people decided to pay tribute, to honor and to create movements to protect our Earth,” Sablan added. “This day is a testament to the human ability to protect and preserve what was created for all of us. We owe everything to our environment.”

Micronesia Islands Nature Alliance executive director Roberta Guerrero echoed Sablan. “Every day should be Earth Day. It’s the only one we have. Honor it, respect its bounty and beauty, and keep it clean to save our islands’ fragile environment for the generations that will come after us. Our home, our island, our responsibility.”