Bio-diversity

There is an urgent need for more research and public education on biodiversity and climate change especially in Jamaica. Jamaica s National Strategy and Action Plan on Biological diversity has called for the promotion of awareness and understanding of the role and value of the island s biodiversity issues. With increased knowledge, the Jamaican population would be better able to appreciate and maintain the island s biodiversity. The project entails working with two vulnerable communities to ensure that there is increased awareness and sustainable planning on biodiversity and climate change issues. It would train the media to better report the issues while using popular culture through sensitised artistes to encourage behaviour change. The project will be implemented under Biodiversity OP 13 and Climate change OP 5 Objective State the objective of the project. You should only list one objective. It should explain how the environmental problem will be resolved. This project would work to sensitise key stakeholders in vulnerable sectors and communities on the emerging research and data on climate change and biodiversity issues and help to create sustainable conservation and preservation of marine and forest eco-systems. Expected outcomes and outputs of the project Outcome: 1) Increased understanding of the need to conserve biodiversity to increase public support for legislation and adaptation. 2) Development of specific biodiversity and climate change education and awareness messages for persons in the major economic sectors 3) Strengthening of existing coordinating mechanisms to facilitate a network approach to environmental education and public awareness. The project would be based in the communities of Mocho and Portland Cottage in Clarendon. Mocho is a farming mountain community that has been made particularly vulnerable to climate change through bauxite mining. The mining has also contributed to the loss and degradation of its biodiversity. Portland Cottage is a coastal community located in the Portland Bight Area of Clarendon. Portland Bight is Jamaica s largest protected area and covers about 724 square miles. It has a rich variety of wetlands, corals, rivers and sea grass beds that host many plants and animals that are endemic to Jamaica. The project would achieve the following outputs: Five Concrete adaptation plans on biodiversity and climate change for two communities (one coastal and one mountain) and three sectors (agriculture, fisheries and the local government sector including mayors of all 12 parishes and 1 municipality). The plans would be written after seven workshops were held (two for each vulnerable community and one per sector). The second community workshop would be a day of activities featuring the voices for climate change artistes. The artistes and community members would undertake a tree planting activity in the community and some funds would be invested in the community for maintenance Twenty communication messages on biodiversity and climate change developed. The messages would be in the form of public service announcements that would developed, aired and disseminated in the communities and nationally. At least 10 journalists sensitised to cover biodiversity and climate change issues and one journalistic fellowship to do a series of stories on biodiversity and climate change. There would be one national journalist training on climate change and biodiversity with a special fellowship offered at the workshop to produce a series of four climate related stories 24 artists sensitised on biodiversity issues and performing in the community outreach concerts Replanting of 200 trees in the two communities (mangrove and coastal forests). The Project would not have a site per se but it would be implemented from and by the Mocho community through the Mocho Community Development Association.

Jamaica