with Kim Ber Ley Sponsored by: Instyle Grooming
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Panos Caribbean and Associates make move to educate the media on issues of Bio diversity and climate change in Mocho, Clarendon; A Caribbean Story’s Kim Ber Ley reports... Mocho, Clarendon holds the evidence of the damages of climate change and its effects on biodiversity. A workshop hosted by Panos Caribbean and its associates along with NEPA, the MCDA and NEEC themed “communicating climate change and biodiversity.” The 15 month project - a phase two of voices for climate change project - will work to sensitize stakeholders in the Caribbean about climate change and biodiversity issues while helping to promote sustainable conservation and preservation of marine and forest ecosystems. The workshop held on March 29th, 2011 in Mocho, Clarendon, was used as a forum to allow representatives from integral organizations to present to media personnel, the issues, the expectations and the plans as put forward by Mr. Devon Brown, chairman of the Mocho Community Development Association
(MCDA);
“To
tackle
the
monster, one community at a time” Brown says.
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The workshop, while targeting the media, was set to educate the public about biodiversity, the diversity of life in all its forms and climate change within the Caribbean. On Tuesday, Jamaica was the main island highlighted, but as put by National Environment Protection Agency representative, Natalie Fearon, “It (climate change and loss of biodiversity) is a global problem, it is a regional problem, it is a Jamaican problem.� Remarks were made on the work of the GEF hosted by SGP and the EFJ by representatives. Three presentations were made during the workshop by Tess Cieux, United Nations Environment Programme under the Caribbean Environment Programme as well as Natalie Fearon, of the National Environment Protection Agency and Kimberly Stephenson, Climate Studies Group, Mona, UWI. The presentations sought to shed light on the issues of pollution, giving sources of pollution and other causes of loss of biodiversity, removal of key eco-systems (forests, coral reefs, etc.) needed to inhibit and protect against extreme weather events caused by climate change. It was noted that 85% of pollution in the Caribbean Sea, which is the main area being looked at by the UNEP, is land based pollution caused from sewage, (industrial and domestic) waste water from development and garbage from recreational activities.
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Plans for changing or starting a change, first through education then by work, are in place according to Panos Caribbean but proper media coverage is desired. The Voices for Climate Change programme, has been aided by 24 Jamaican artistes, who were trained on climate change and biodiversity issues for 2 years. This project, aimed at educating others about climate change puts on concerts as an effort of Panos Caribbean and its associates as a way to break the issue down in an acceptable, easy to understand and remember medium. Excerpt from Voices for Climate Change theme song “See the signs, they all reveal, that global climate change is happening now. Sea levels are rising globally; we’re losing our beaches constantly, summers are shorter than they used to be, stronger hurricanes more frequently, severe flooding, longer droughts. We’ve got to do what we have to do. We’ve got to prepare, start being aware.” Written by Lloyd Lovindeer
Excursions were made to view the reality. The hosts of the workshop took those in attendance to view actual crop damage from harsh weather conditions and speak to several farmers. Crops were burnt, wilting, or dead from sunlight exposure and windy conditions.
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Gaulia Reeves, a farmer in Mocho, said, “The plants dry up as soon as the drought begins. Good farming area is scarce. Before the bauxite mining, land/farming was good. Farmers used to use the slash and burn method to clear the land but now they use chemicals.” When asked what she planted. Reeves said, “fruit trees, I plant a little of every kind but mostly all the big trees, and when the dry weather come they take care of themselves.” Intercropping is dominant. It is used in order to increase productivity as well as at times protect each other from disease and the weather.“At times when we ask farmers to stop certain practices we fail to provide them with the means to stop certain practices. We fail to provide them with the means to create something sustainable.” Hyacinth Douglas, of GEF/SGP stated. A look at Jackson bay was also taken. Debris litters the beach which according to fisherman Keith Myrie was not there before the passing of hurricanes Ivan and Dean. “The sand from Jackson bay washes and come settle here, this used to be all mud and mangrove.” The beach, dubbed “new beach” has cut off the mangrove from the sea and stagnation is evident, myrie also pointed out that that fish were scarce as the mangrove were often used as nurseries for fish which were no longer
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available. “I’ve been fishing here since I was nineteen years old and I am now fifty-nine years old. The fishing used to be good, but now
its
not. The fishermen need bigger, better boats to go out further to catch fish” he continues.
Loss
of
the
coral
reef/shelves is also a problem as coral can be seen on the beach. “All the sea grass that used to be there washed away in the hurricanes. Fish used to breed there but not any is left.” remarked Myrie. “The amount of reef used to be out in this area, too much dynamite and climate change just killed them off.” “The Caribbean sea is a hot spot for endangered biodiversity.” Says Tess Cieux, UNEP.
Climate change and loss of biodiversity is evident in the Caribbean. There are organizations that are trying to help, however they need assistance. Panos Caribbean offers a fellowship grant to media companies/personnel who are willing to bring this issue to the public. “Hopefully the fellowship will peak interest and promote the quality research into the problem. This is the first of several outreach programs that Panos will be doing, with the aim of planting seeds in fertile grounds.” Andrea Downer from Pans Caribbean stated. “There was a good turnout, the main
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issue of beginning dialogue was overcome and now we are hoping, expecting coverage of this major issue.� said Indie Lafayette, President of Panos Caribbean.
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