Bio-diversity

Cockpit Country is home to 150 endemic species and several endangered species. Habitat for these endemic, endangered and other traditionally-used species are under threat in communities like Alps from unsustainable livelihood practices and careless exploitation of other natural resources in order to secure an income. This has resulted from a number of factors, including: 1. Residents are unaware of the importance of conserving endemic/endangered and medicinal species in their area and the methods of utilizing them for sustainable livelihoods. 2. Alps CDC and its partner STEA are under-resourced to complete their present eco-tourism development programme designed to conserve biodiversity and create alternative income. 3. Marketing of Alps tour packages through signage, brochures, website and negotiation with tour companies cannot be financed from the current income of the development programme. 4. Degraded areas of the eco-tourism site are in need of reforestation to protect habitats and reinstate an aesthetically pleasing natural environment. The purpose of this overall project is that Alps Community Development Committee (CDC) with the support of its partner the Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA) will attempt to conserve the habitats of endemic and endangered species through a comprehensive programme of activities that will attempt: 1. To Educate Residents of Alps on important Cockpit Country Species and why species should be identified, mapped, conserved for posterity. At the end of the project, a critical mass of stakeholders, including farmers, residents, children and users of forest resources in Alps will be able to identify endemic/endangered species in Cockpit Country Alps and have a strategy to conserve these species from extinction. There will be the creation of a catalogue of local endemic plant species and an established GIS map of colonies of endemic species. 2. The Alps CDC and its partner the STEA will continue developing eco-tourism attraction packages and marketing programme to generate income for the community while operating in a manner that protects biodiversity and the integrity of the local environment. At the end of the project there will be a tripling of the number of tours taking place in the Alps community over the 2007 record of visitors. There will be a well manicured and maintained garden boasting plant species endemic to the Cockpit Country area and trained guides able to expound on their medicinal properties. Care will be taken to ensure that the increased visitor arrivals will not adversely impact on the ecosystem. 3. Under the project a clearly documented marketing plan for the Alps eco-tourism programme that can be implemented with relative ease. Some easily readable signage will be placed at strategic locations in the area. These activities are in synchrony with the specific outcomes, activities and indicators of BD projects to be funded under the RAF allocation of Jamaica 4. Degraded areas of the Alps Rocky Fort region in Cockpit Country replanted with indigenous forest species to enhance habitat conservation and improve the aesthetics. Obtain propagated plants from the Forestry Department to engage in a reforestation programme in designated areas of Alps Rocky Fort. Degraded areas in the Alps, Rocky Fort Region planted out with indigenous plant species.

Jamaica