Green Jamaica

It’s nearly a month late, but I had the pleasure of attending Green Expo (twice) at the National Arena. Put on by the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT), they managed to put together a show that appealed to all ages and interests. Think about this: the show had the traditional environmental awareness elements, but also had new green technologies (solar panels, wastewater treatments), and trinkets and jewellery created from natural products. There were booths from financial organizations that offered favourable loans for purchasing green tech. Talk about putting money where your mouth is; it makes no sense talking a green game if you’re not living it, and these organizations are there to help you do just that. Mind you, this is as much a business venture to them as a car loan for example, but who says business and the environment can’t mix?

But the bigger picture – and kudos – goes to the JCDT. Knowing what I know, and you’re going to have to take my word for it, the JCDT is a miracle-making organization. They have a skeleton – and I mean skeleton – staff that administers the entire Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, including the Hollywell Recreational Park. The Prince of Wales visited the Park in 2008. No pseudo-Greenie, His Royal Highness knows his environmental affairs, being actively involved in environmental causes all over the world. And he visited the Park and saw its activities and met the staff. His visit helped to validate the fantastic work at the park, that the Park is worthy of royal attention.

The organization isn’t another loudmouth environmental NGO, and this is why I’m blogging about them today. They have a hardcore scientific programme, with a full-time conservation science officer who’s completing his PhD in ecology (the previous CSO is doing her PhD at Cambridge University). They attract researchers from international universities conducting tropical ecological and ornithological studies. They do water quality monitoring (yes, Catherine’s Peak is within the Park’s boundary). They remove invasive species and restore original vegetation. They have reforestation profiles, and the rangers monitor illegal deforestation. The Blue Mountains are the only physical geographic attraction in Jamaica of international repute (Bob Marley isn’t a landscape, and we’re not even going to get into the notoriety we suffer from crime and drugs. And there are many other tropical islands with white sand beaches). The JCDT really does outstanding work, mixing science, general environmental awareness, and tourism, all in the cool Blue Mountains.

The organization is suffering from the current economic crisis (who isn’t?), but also from declining interest and visitors. Attendance at Green Expo was underwhelming, and Hollywell could really use some more visitors (and more visitors to Jamaica could use Hollywell!). The JCDT has to compete with other NGOs for valuable grant money, which itself is thinning out. But as managers of Jamaica’s only national park, they deserve better – they deserve your support.