Plant Some Trees and Free The Beach!

Meeting in Moore Town Cultural Center

Last week I did a few different things with PEPA.  The first thing we did was travel up the mountain to meet with the local farmers group.  We had written a grant to the UN to fund an agroforestry project.  This project is similar to the one we are currently working on.  This project focuses on climate change mitigation.  Many of the farmers have a limited education and most of them have no concept of global warming or climate change.  I have always found it difficult to discuss this very touchy topic.  It is really surprisingly easy to describe what climate change is and how they can and should be preparing their land.  It’s great when you can use tangible facts and data to show the farmers what can happen, what has happened and what is projected to happen in the future.  Since this is an island, most of the change is driven by ocean temperature and currents resulting in drought or heavy rain and or hurricanes. 

The UN was interested in funding this project but wanted to participate in community meetings to ensure that the communities in which this would effect would actually participate and are interested in the project.  This project entails planting both timber and fruit trees and helping them to learn how to make diversion ditches and other methods to reduce soil erosion.  The meeting went well; a lady from the UN talked with the farmers and tried to figure out what the current problems are with the farming practices and how they can change some of their practices.  I have another one of these meetings today in a neighboring community up in the mountains that will also be part of this project.  Outlook is good and hopefully we will be awarded the funding to help this community.

Meeting at Bay View Villas

www.free-winnifred.com

The other activity that I helped with was a meeting with a local beach society, locals who have a vested interest in one of the local beaches.  This beach has been purchased by the SDC and this group has taken them to court to gain management of this beach.  This workshop discussed what is going on with the case and what the rights and limits are if this beach is being managed by the SDC.  It was an interesting opportunity to learn about the legal side of coastal management in Jamaica.  PEPA was there to help educate the society of the importance of sea life and to give any advice and support to the group as needed.  I gave a hour long presentation on the different aspects of sea life and how they are important to the land, the ocean and our own well being.