My homeland is St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The natural beauty of these islands is one of their most wonderful features. I would like to see these plants, sea, and the beaches preserved through anti-litter programs by creating gardens and restricting overdevelopment to make the 21st century a better place to be. Since the U.S. Virgin Islands are close to the equator it is warm all year round which makes it good for many outdoor sports such as: surfing, tennis, baseball, swimming and others. Tourists usually visit during the winter months because it is warmer here than in the states and other countries. The Tradewinds make it the perfect place for a vacation or to stay through out the year. The Virgin Islands are rich with exotic and colorful plantlife such as: palm trees, banana trees, orchid, bougainvillea, and hibiscus. Visitors to the Virgin Island are attracted to the vivid hues of the plantlife. You will often find them taking pictures of the plants and themselves next to the plants. The Virgin Islands depend on tourism, so that is one reason why we need to preserve their beauty by enforcing littering fines, and creating gardens. Many people consider the sea and the beaches to be the most beautiful aspects of the Virgin Islands. We are very lucky to have such clear blue sea. Because of its clarity it is perfect place for scuba diving, snorkeling, and swimming. The beach is on the Virgin Islands are great because they are nice and sandy and many are shaded with palm trees. It is important to protect the natural beauty because it is our main tourist's attraction. To preserve the natural beauty of the beaches and the sea we should keep oil tankers a safe distance from the Virgin Islands because oil spills are disastrous. We should take responsibility for the trash on the beaches and in the water by creating an adopt a beach program where groups of people take care of a particular beach. Conserving the natural beauty of the Virgin Islands is important. Many people live or visit because they see it as paradise. It is perfect for people who are used to living in cities to see the sunshine, turquoise sea and breath fresh air. Our warm weather, exotic and unusual plantlife, spectacular coral reefs, and unspoiled beaches are all part of our natural heritage that we should treasure for the 21st century and beyond.
Alexander L. Nissman
Manor School
