Environmental research

The Dallas Castle Producers (DCP) are currently involved in creating alternative livelihoods in communities of eastern St. Andrew which have high unemployment rates, especially among women and young persons. These conditions have existed for over 20 years and there have been very limited attempts to address the needs of these groups. One group now involved in assisting is the Good Hope Partners in Entrepreneurial Development which was formed in November 2006 and their activities include one job fair and a numeracy and literacy programme for community members, both of which complement the activities of the DCP. The lack of opportunities for training, enterprise development and access to funding have impacted adversely on initiatives which have aimed at tackling vulnerable groups such as the poor and young people. Consequently, this has resulted in extensive farming on hillsides and poor farming practices resulting in loss of soil, high use of pesticides and fertilisers and increased potential for pollution of the rivers within the watershed and land degradation. The DCP is also aware that the increase in deforestation, use of fossil fuels and burning impacts on climate change and global warming, the latter releasing gases such as carbon dioxide and methane. Although technology is available to facilitate the utilisation of renewable energy for community development the cost is a deterrent and community based organisation are not informed of the available pathways available to fund implementation of related activities. Additionally, young people are vulnerable to becoming involved in criminal activities, drug use and teenage pregnancy. The housing stock is also poor and vulnerable to destruction by tropical cyclones, as was evidenced by the impact of Hurricanes Ivan and Dean in the communities of Dallas Castle, Constitution Hill, Hall s Delight and Bito. Additionally farmers lost crops due to land slippages and erosion, some of which could have been reduced by the application of appropriate soil conservation measures. II. Project Purpose Main goal The main goal of the project is the application of renewable energy technology and soil conservation methodology to the provision of alternative livelihoods to our communities thereby contributing to the sustainable development of Jamaica.

Jamaica