Jamaica To Celebrate National Environment Awareness Week: June 4 to 9

I attended the launch of National Environmental Awareness Week on May 25, which included the launch of Green Business Jamaica (about which I will update you in a separate post). Here is the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) press release on the week (June 4 – 9) when various activities are planned. More details to follow!

Jamaica To Celebrate National Environment Awareness Week: June 4 to 9

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has announced the observance of National Environment Awareness Week 2017 (NEAW) under the theme “Protecting Paradise.” The theme coincides with the United Nations designation of 2017 as the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development, and highlights the protection and responsible use of the island’s natural resources as critical for the sustainable development of the tourism industry.

At the launch held on Thursday, May 25 at Eden Gardens Wellness Resort and Spa, Honourable Daryl Vaz, Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, with responsibility for the Environment, highlighted the symbiotic relationship between environment protection and tourism.

“We would not be able to showcase our famous 7 mile beach in Negril, Dunn’s River Falls in Ocho Rios or our UNESCO Heritage site – the Blue and John Crow Mountains Heritage Park – if we had not previously linked an appreciation of biodiversity to our tourism product. However, there remain numerous opportunities for us to respect the environment and maximize our tourism potential,” he said.

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, with Responsibility for the Environment, Honourable Daryl Vaz delivers the Keynote address at the recent launch of National Environmental Awareness Week 2017. (Photo: NEPA)

The Minister highlighted that the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park is a wetland which records on average 1.8 million visitors per year. Jamaica is home to several wetlands, four of which are recognised under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and are part of the global network of more than 2,200 Wetlands of International Importance, which are used and managed sustainably. Against this background, he stated: “Jamaica is in a perfect position to expand our eco-tourism offerings”.

The Minister further stated that the observance of Environmental Awareness Week 2017 is about encouraging people to remember the extraordinary benefits that a healthy natural environment offers for economic development, specifically tourism.

Several activities have been organised to mark the week, including a World Environment Day Expo in Ocho Rios, a Policy Dialogue on National Guidelines on Coastal Management and Beach Restoration in Montego Bay on World Oceans Day, an Enviro’ Talk with students at the Swallowfield Primary School and a hike of the Blue and John Crow Mountains for high-school students in collaboration with the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust.

Mr. Peter Knight, Chief Executive Officer of NEPA, in discussing the strategy behind this line- up of activities stated, “Simply put, our aim is getting people excited about and involved in the sustainable use of the environment. The observance of Environmental Awareness Week 2017 is a critical tool in achieving that aim.”

NEPA’s activities for NEAW have received widespread support from entities across the private and public sectors. Stakeholder partners for the week of activities include: The Tourism Product Development Company Ltd., The Social Development Commission, The Montego Bay Marine Park Trust and Wisynco.