Nurture nature, nurture the mind was the approach Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort, Aruba, recently welcomed as it was honored to host Respaldo, the Aruba Foundation for Mental Health, at The Bucuti & Tara – GMC Nature Preserve to recognize World Mental Health Day 2023. Held on Oct. 14, 2023, at the peaceful nature preserve located in bustling Noord, Respaldo staff members along with employees of local mental health-focused healthcare institutions and universities joined together for a special tree planting as a part of the preserve’s extensive reforestation.
The World Federation for Mental Health is the founder of World Mental Health Day. The universally recognized World Health Organization helps spirit World Mental Health Day each year. The day is an opportunity for people and communities to unite. This year’s theme is “Mental health is a universal human right” to improve knowledge, raise awareness and drive actions that promote and protect everyone’s mental health as a universal human right.
For this year’s acknowledgment, Respaldo wanted to symbolize the importance of nature and mental health, and to also share that every person’s mental health is like a plant needing to be nurtured continuously. The dedicated group planted 100 trees. Bushicuri, Druif, Palisia dushi, and Zjiron were some of the 30 different indigenous species.
Respaldo’s effort was made possible by the collaboration of the resort, The Bucuti & Tara – GMC Nature Preserve in providing space, Ban Lanta y Planta for providing the trees and the support of Aruba’s government. In addition to Ban Lanta y Planta for providing the trees, the nonprofit was pivotal in preparing the seedlings and space in the preserve before and after the activity, and assisted in the know-how to plant the trees properly due to Aruba’s climate to ensure their survival.
Nature Preserve celebrates first anniversary
In October 2022, Bucuti & Tara celebrated the resort’s 35th anniversary by gifting its island home 30 acres of scarce, undeveloped available land in Aruba. The expanse, located in the city of Noord, is forever protected at The Bucuti & Tara – GMC Nature Preserve. The resort has committed to reforesting the stretch with 15,000 indigenous trees. Closing in on the resort’s 36th anniversary on Oct. 19, to date, 719 trees have been planted with more than 1,000 seedlings being readied by Ban Lanta y Planta in the preserve’s greenhouse.
The preserve protects flora and fauna and eventually trails and paths will be added for residents and visitors alike to enjoy the island’s natural beauty. The resort’s sustainability efforts include supporting its home community and providing space for activities such as this symbolic tree planting. Additionally, The Bucuti & Tara – GMC Nature Preserve serves as a carbon sink drawing down greenhouse gas emissions from the atmosphere and returning fresh oxygen.
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*Article written by Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort
