At 4:30 in the morning, more than 60 volunteers went out to face the relentless protagonist of Puerto Rican summer: heat.
Summoned by the organization Regenerative Development of Caribbean Communities (CRCD), participated in the first common heat monitoring in the southwest of the island, with a clear objective: to collect scientific data to understand – and fight – the heat where it hits the most.
“Due to extreme heat events, we have the task of getting information that helps us respond with real solutions”he commented Yasiel FigueroaCRCD U-TERE project manager, in an interview with The new day.
The day “Trees against the warmth” was a collective effort between scientists and volunteers. It began at the Próceres Museum, in Cabo Rojo, on July 23 and was deployed by 11 routes distributed among the municipalities of Mayagüez, San Germán, Hormigueros, Cabo red, Slabs and Big savanna. The routes were made in three periods –6: 00 am, 3:00 pm and 7:00 pm – to capture the temperature variations throughout the day.
On each route, a “Snapshot” was captured or an instant sample of both the ambient temperature and the air quality. This was carried out using vehicles with specialized sensors, Figueroa explained. This technology is part of the work of the Center for Collaborative Heat Monitoring, a network of community science in the United States of which CRCD is one of the 11 scientific partners.
Before starting the event, the atmospheric conditions of the day were evaluated, which were ideal to collect the data: little cloudiness, little probability of rain and moderate winds. These factors are key to capturing precise measurements, said Figueroa.
During the next three months, the data collected will be analyzed by experts to create a high -resolution thermal map of the southwest region. This map will clearly visualize how temperatures between neighborhoods and municipalities vary, and which areas present the most critical conditions.
In addition to the information about temperatures, air quality data will be incorporated to have a more complete image of the factors that affect environmental health.
But the objective is not just studying the problem. “We want to do science that does not stay on paper, but apply in the field and be at the service of communities”Figueroa stressed. Therefore, the map will also serve as a tool to design mitigation strategies, including the directed planting of trees.
CRCD has the goal of sowing 20,000 native trees from now on until 2029. The location of these trees will be determined, in part, by the results of the thermal map. Including this component in the project, said Figueroa, is an essential part of the initiative.
“Sowing trees is one of the most effective solutions to reduce temperatures, while providing other benefits. They are our allies in a broader context of green infrastructure,” he emphasized.
The trees intercept the sun’s rays, and through energy processes such as photosynthesis and evapotranspiration, which transform energy and water, respectively, refresh the air by releasing moisture, Figueroa explained. In addition to reducing temperature, trees help filter soil pollutants and improve air quality.
Beyond the data and planting of trees, the day integrated educational and cultural elements. Workshops on climate change and conservation were offered, together with a full presentation by artist Leró Martínez and a pump touch, which served as a reminder of The connection between nature, science and culture.
The full and the bomb were not only a symbolic component, but an expression of how music is also part of ecology, said the organizer. The instruments made of wood or that come from trees, such as the Güiro and the barrels, represent that intimate relationship between the environment and the Puerto Rican identity.
For volunteers, the experience was transformative. “I enjoyed it since I arrived at dawn until now in the afternoon. I also feel that I contributed to the solution of the heat problem on the island,” he said Yohansen Herreraone of the participants.
In the words of Mariana QuiñonesExecutive Director of CRCD, the success of the event was a reflection of the interest of the community. “People want to learn about trees, conservation and how to face the heat problem. We have the duty to respond to that call,” he said.
For more information about the project, you can visit the organization’s accounts in Facebook and Instagram.