There is presently a low level of awareness among the general populace about the status of the biodiversity in Jamaica. Recent research findings reveal that the environmental educational programs in schools are not yielding the desired effects as students are not practicing most of their learning in everyday life. The programmes are also limited in their reach as not all schools or students are engaged in these.

The college ground of 31 acres is the largest and only semi-public green space available to residents in the surrounding areas. STC is also strategically positioned to work with and encourage the more than 20 learning centres that are in close proximity to become active participants in biodiversity education and education for sustainable development.

Through interaction with our students, past and present, we have concluded that there is a ?disconnect? between the theory about environmental practices and the actual practices. This evident in continued burning, inappropriate farming practices, solid waste disposal, and overuse of chemical fertilizers and the high incidence of conflict in schools and communities. The college will seize the opportunity to inject values and attitude education as there is evidence that there is a strong link between the social and natural environments. We believe that the natural environment can affect the social environment to the extent that understanding and appreciating the natural environment will foster good attitudes in the social environment.

The college through its learning goals aims to incorporate this project in an overall programme of training and development of pre-service teachers to enable them to be ambassadors of Jamaica?s biodiversity. Also, within the context of UNESCO declaring this decade as one of Education for Sustainable Development, we believe that developing the college as a green space will build awareness of biodiversity and demonstrate the link between sustainable livelihoods, biodiversity and education.

The main purpose of the project is to implement components of the strategic direction to improve and advance Shortwood Teachers? College (STC) as a green space in an urban setting that will function as a green learning community. The components include:

? Mainstreaming biodiversity in everyday living
? Planting of endemic species of plants of medicinal value that will also mitigate soil erosion
? Public education aimed at informing schools and surrounding communities about the conservation management and protection of indigenous flora in Kingston and St. Andrew, and Jamaica as a whole
? Undertaking activities that the demonstrate connection between sustainable livelihood and sustainable development