Managing Natural Resources while Ensuring Sustainable Livelihoods in the Cockpit Country
Cockpit Country is the most distinctive landscape in Jamaica and is re known locally and internationally for its rich biodiversity. The area includes 22,327 hectares of forest reserves. Its forest includes the largest remaining block of moist to wet limestone forest in Jamaica. The concentration of endemism in Cockpit Country is one of the most remarkable in the world. 27 of Jamaica?s 28 endemic birds are found in the area along with 1500 species of plants and several species of amphibians, reptiles and invertebrates of which 106 species are found only in the Cockpit Country. (Source: Cockpit Country Conservation Plan 2006)
Despite its importance, the area is subject to various threats/depletion of several endemic/endangered species such as invasion/spread of non-native species (e.g. Ferns) over the past two (2) decades also conversion to agriculture, mining and yam-stick cutting. Environmental risks of deforestation and accompanying problems (water shortage, land slippage, soil erosion). If these on-going problems are not addressed, then the Cockpit Country, one of the world?s most recognized biodiversity hotspots will lose its characteristics (biodiversity) including some the endemic species of flora and fauna as the habitats would be destroyed through loss of the forest ecosystems. Some of these victims are: The plain pigeon, the crested tail dove and the land snails which are some of the critically endangered species prevalent in Cockpit Country and are classified as forest dependent species. Endangered bat species such as artibeusflavescens roost in trees in the forest. Other key endangered species in the forest reserves of Cockpit Country includes, the yellow boa snake, bromeliad frogs, Jamaican iguana, black and yellow billed parrots. Jamaican phyllanthusaxillaris snoring frog, Jamaican blackbird ring-tailed pigeon and the giant swallowtail butterflies (animals) wild pimento, , guettardalongi flora (flora) (Source: IUCN)
The project will seek to mitigate some threats and help to preserve biodiversity in Cockpit Country through reforestation, public awareness and diversification of livelihoods. Reforestation activities will entail maintaining and increasing suitable habitat hectares through reforestation, also inter planting forest gaps to mimic small natural gaps to help maintain and preserve biodiversity as recommended in the Local Forest Management Plan 2012, published by; Forestry Department. To get a change of practices to improve biodiversity will necessitate a strong education and demonstration component, as a culture change is required for adoption on a scale that would be significant. School program and Navel String programme will highlight the importance of forest, reforestation and tree planting. The project encourages alternative livelihoods training and job creation in bee keeping, bee care and honey production. Medicinal and root plants propagation will expand the demonstration plots already established under the PARE/TNC project, to mobilize more members and communities to be innovative and independent, by giving an alternative to the traditional yam cultivation. Both the Cockpit Country forest and communities will benefit from sustainable timber resources and livelihoods in forthcoming decades
Expected Results
To replant 20 acres of steep exposed crowns with native and endemic species to restore forest cover and preserve key biodiversity areas. The below activities will lead to the achievement of the expected results
1. Provide 10 hives and train 30 persons in bee keeping and honey production.
2. Secure participation of 40 farmers in agro-forestry planting fruit and timber seedlings.
3. Continue biodiversity awareness programme to include at least 20 schools in Cockpit Country area including field trips to key biodiversity sites.
4. Expand the navel string programme to include 300 students planting at least 2 trees each.
5. Conduct Cockpit Country biodiversity awareness programmes with at least 10 public meetings in the major communities.
6. Arrange 3 community livelihood development workshops including small crafts, construction of hive bodies to support beekeeping, entrepreneurship/ business management and agro processing.
7. Increase in tree cover in the forests, community and local biodiversity.
8. Forest and environmental awareness among students and community members.
9. Increased Expansion of livelihood options in communities and development of Cockpit Country businesses.
10. Greater institutional capacity and financial sustainability of the CCLFMC.
11. Exhibits and sale of products including honey and other bee products.
Despite its importance, the area is subject to various threats/depletion of several endemic/endangered species such as invasion/spread of non-native species (e.g. Ferns) over the past two (2) decades also conversion to agriculture, mining and yam-stick cutting. Environmental risks of deforestation and accompanying problems (water shortage, land slippage, soil erosion). If these on-going problems are not addressed, then the Cockpit Country, one of the world?s most recognized biodiversity hotspots will lose its characteristics (biodiversity) including some the endemic species of flora and fauna as the habitats would be destroyed through loss of the forest ecosystems. Some of these victims are: The plain pigeon, the crested tail dove and the land snails which are some of the critically endangered species prevalent in Cockpit Country and are classified as forest dependent species. Endangered bat species such as artibeusflavescens roost in trees in the forest. Other key endangered species in the forest reserves of Cockpit Country includes, the yellow boa snake, bromeliad frogs, Jamaican iguana, black and yellow billed parrots. Jamaican phyllanthusaxillaris snoring frog, Jamaican blackbird ring-tailed pigeon and the giant swallowtail butterflies (animals) wild pimento, , guettardalongi flora (flora) (Source: IUCN)
The project will seek to mitigate some threats and help to preserve biodiversity in Cockpit Country through reforestation, public awareness and diversification of livelihoods. Reforestation activities will entail maintaining and increasing suitable habitat hectares through reforestation, also inter planting forest gaps to mimic small natural gaps to help maintain and preserve biodiversity as recommended in the Local Forest Management Plan 2012, published by; Forestry Department. To get a change of practices to improve biodiversity will necessitate a strong education and demonstration component, as a culture change is required for adoption on a scale that would be significant. School program and Navel String programme will highlight the importance of forest, reforestation and tree planting. The project encourages alternative livelihoods training and job creation in bee keeping, bee care and honey production. Medicinal and root plants propagation will expand the demonstration plots already established under the PARE/TNC project, to mobilize more members and communities to be innovative and independent, by giving an alternative to the traditional yam cultivation. Both the Cockpit Country forest and communities will benefit from sustainable timber resources and livelihoods in forthcoming decades
Expected Results
To replant 20 acres of steep exposed crowns with native and endemic species to restore forest cover and preserve key biodiversity areas. The below activities will lead to the achievement of the expected results
1. Provide 10 hives and train 30 persons in bee keeping and honey production.
2. Secure participation of 40 farmers in agro-forestry planting fruit and timber seedlings.
3. Continue biodiversity awareness programme to include at least 20 schools in Cockpit Country area including field trips to key biodiversity sites.
4. Expand the navel string programme to include 300 students planting at least 2 trees each.
5. Conduct Cockpit Country biodiversity awareness programmes with at least 10 public meetings in the major communities.
6. Arrange 3 community livelihood development workshops including small crafts, construction of hive bodies to support beekeeping, entrepreneurship/ business management and agro processing.
7. Increase in tree cover in the forests, community and local biodiversity.
8. Forest and environmental awareness among students and community members.
9. Increased Expansion of livelihood options in communities and development of Cockpit Country businesses.
10. Greater institutional capacity and financial sustainability of the CCLFMC.
11. Exhibits and sale of products including honey and other bee products.
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
Cockpit Country Local Forest Management Committee Limited
Country:
Jamaica
Area Of Work:
Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Biodiversity
Grant Amount:
US$ 50,000.00
Co-Financing Cash:
US$ 137.00
Co-Financing in-Kind:
US$ 10,779.00
Project Number:
JAM/SGP/OP5/2/STAR/BD/13/04
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
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Project Characteristics and Results
Emphasis on Sustainable Livelihoods
Members/farmers would be trained about crop management and ten (10) hives for honey/production would be established as an
alternative livelihood model (modelled on the Dolphin Head biodiversity/reforestation project) This is expected to see Dolphin Head acting as mentors for the group and share experiences, guidance and best practices.
Inovative Financial Mechanisms
Sharing new ideas and strategies is on-going among Cockpit Country LFMCs at bi-monthly LFMC meetings. These meetings are open to the public and group members encourage other persons to join the group. As outlined in the methodology, there will be presentations at schools and CBO?s, community meetings and on the established website. Close ties with SDC, RADA, the schools in the community, Forestry Dept. and other civic organizations is an asset to our organization and helps with our information sharing and membership drive. Information sharing will also come in the form of meeting reports, community plans, brochures, media interviews and press releases.
To effectively capture, share and disseminate the knowledge, lessons learned and good practices gained through the implementation of the project the members would generate detailed reports outlining the successful aspects of the project as well as lesson learnt and challenges faced.
Brochures, posters and flyers would be developed; workshops and training sessions would be conducted; and members would have the opportunity to go on field trips and site visits where first hand experience would be captured, recorded and shared with community members.
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SGP Country office contact
Ms Hyacinth Y Douglas
Phone:
(876) 978-2390-9 ext. 2030
Email:
Ms. Faradaine Forbes-Edwards
Email:
Address
1-3 Lady Musgrave Road
Kingston 5, LA and the Caribbean
Kingston 5, LA and the Caribbean
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