Bio-diversity

North Eastern Wildlife Conservation Environmental Protection and Tours Inc. (NEWCEPT) is dedicated to promoting conservation in the North Eastern area of the Commonwealth of Dominica where community members can benefit economically, socially, and ecologically from their conservation efforts. NEWCEPT, a Non-Governmental Organization with roots dating to 2005, is a community-based organization headquartered in Wesley with membership in the communities extending from Calibishie to Marigot and is registered with the Registrar of Associations, Company #2118 on November 11, 2008 The properly finished Interpretation Welcome Centre with wheelchair access and adequate facilities and equipment will ensure protection of turtles, the conducting of tours and be an educational facility as well. Local and foreign visitors are welcomed at the Centre and until such time that a turtle comes up to nest they view presentations, purchase souvenirs etc and are part of a structured tour in an effort to ensure the safety of the turtles and the visitors. Approved signage on the roadside and on the building is in itself a means of advertisement of the turtle tours when tourist go pass on the way to and from the Airport and also focuses on the GEF SGP programme and the Community group s effort at alternative livelihoods. The project meets the GEF/SGP Country Programme Strategy for species protection, rehabilitation of coastal environments, community-based, alternative livelihoods and gender balance. 10 Activity Description GEF/SGP NEWCEPT TOTAl (USD$) 1 Completion of building 23,047.38 1,666.67 24,714.05 2 Furniture equipment signage 6,324.07 6,324.07 3 Beach/forest rehab/Tree plant 1628.55 3,703.70 5,332.25 4 Patrolling and protection 11,033.33 11,033.33 5 Public Awareness and Environmental Education 4000.00 4000.00 TOTAL 35,000.00 16,403.70 51,403.70 PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED RESULTS This proposal seeks to meet the following objectives: To complete the concrete Interpretation Centre which will be utilized in the group s capacity building development and which will, as a base for their eco-tourism turtle watching tours, provide for livelihood aspects of their continued community development. To minimize the threat to endangered sea turtle species and empower the members of NEWCEPT to promote and protect these sea turtles while developing turtle tours, a sustainable use of this resource that provides alternative livelihood opportunities. To protect, manage and rehabilitate the coastal ecosystem on the stretch of beach 300-400m on Londonderry resulting in the re-establishment of the Londonderry Beach to its original coastal and forest grandeur and an aesthetically beautiful beach front. End Result: The establishment of a community-based eco-tourism program that will establish NEWCEPT on the Londonderry Beach ensuring that NEWCEPT members and by extension the surrounding communities, will derive financial benefit from sea turtle conservation. 11 A properly finished Interpretation Welcome Centre with wheelchair access and all other facilities and equipment to ensure protection of turtles, the conducting of tours and as an educational facility. Local and foreign visitors are welcomed at the Centre and until such time that a turtle comes up to nest they view presentations, purchase souvenirs etc and are part of a structured tour in an effort to ensure the safety of the turtles and the visitors. Approved signage on the roadside and on the building. This in itself is means of advertisement of the turtle tours when tourist go pass on the way to and from the Airport. A properly managed and rehabilitated Londonderry Beach coastal ecosystem on the stretch of beach 300-400m in the re-establishment of the Londonderry Beach to its original coastal and forest grandeur and an aesthetically beautiful beach front. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES Activity 1- The completion of the concete building . The detail activities for completion are as follows: Completion of the roof by constructing the steps up to the roof, railings around the roof. Construction of steps and wheel chair access to the main entrance at the ground floor The plastering of the walls inside and outside of the building Installation of Balusters around front porch Electrical wiring installation Construction of and installation of windows, doors, bolts, locks Construction of Septic Tank digging of hole and concrete work Installation of Water Tank Tiling of floors Painting of building inside and outside Installation of toilets and sinks Activity 2 - Purchase and installation of furniture and equipment and signage. This will be done upon completion of the building. Purchasing and transporting of furniture and equipment will be done by NEWCEPT members. Signage installation by NEWCEPT Activity 3 Beach and forest Border rehabilitation and tree planting The purpose of this activity is to rehabilitate the coastal eco-system on Londonderry beach. 12 Purchase of tools for rehabilitation of beach front and tree planting will be done as soon as funds become available. This is already an ongoing activity and is expected to continue throughout as maintenance work will have to be done on a voluntary basis for the building and surroundings to remain aesthetically pleasing and inviting for this eco-tourism product to continue to be successful. Specific to the tree planting preparation of planting material, preparation of the site, planting of the trees will be done by NEWCEPT and, youn

Dominica