The Portland Bight Discovery Centre, on the fringe of wetlands at Salt River in Clarendon, is the "HQ" of environmental education for the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM). I have attended several activities there, during which community members and schoolchildren of all ages were involved and enjoying the process of learning. As I myself have experienced over and over again, it is a place where you always discover something new - hence the name!
C-CAM recently held its first Youth Forum at the Centre, with the marvellous podcaster and climate activist Dainalyn Swaby ("Global Yaadie") there to inspire the young people and spur them into action. Here's more details below from C-CAM.
Participants engaged during the Youth Forum hosted by the Caribbean Coastal Area
Management Foundation (C-CAM) at the Portland Bight Discovery Centre. (Photo: C-CAM)
C-CAM launches its inaugural Youth Forum in March
On Wednesday, March 27, 2024, the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM) launched its first youth forum, sponsored by The Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), at the Portland Bight Discovery Centre in Salt River, Clarendon under the theme "Invest in our youth, invest in the PBPA." [PBPA : Portland Bight Protected Area].
Some 20 young persons from various areas in Clarendon turned up to participate in an exciting environmental "Jeopardy" game, problem-solving competition, interactive discussions, a tour of the Portland Bight Discovery Centre and a Career Day workshop.
"The goal of the forum was to empower and educate the youth of the PBPA to take practical sustainable actions in their environment through participation and education and this was certainly a start in the right direction," stated Communications Consultant, Suwannee Caine. "Of course, we want to extend these discussions to other communities and many more young persons in the coming year."
The day was quite action-packed, with participation from partners and affiliates from the National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA), Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA), The Forestry Department and National Fisheries Authority (NFA), who all participated in booth discussions during the Career Day workshop. Members of communities such as Mitchell Town, Lionel Town and Salt River were present.
Climate activist and guest speaker, Ms. Dainalyn Swaby, engages her audience at the Youth Forum; assisting in her presentation was Public Education Officer, Akeem Kennedy. (Photo: C-CAM)
The main presentation came from climate activist and podcaster of Global Yaadie, Ms. Dainalyn Swaby. She rallied the young persons to pursue options in climate change and sustainable living such as Sustainable Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Environmental Policy, and Eco-Entrepreneurship. Her message to the youth was:
"Continue being concerned for your communities to lead you to find solutions to the problems. Gain your strength in numbers, raise awareness, and do more for your communities such as promoting preservation of endemic species in the protected area. Make sure you align future career interests with current needs of the communities."
Dainalyn Swaby
As part of CEPF's initiatives to ensure critical stakeholder engagement in the PBPA, this youth forum represents one of the first actions slated by C-CAM this year. Also, on the upcoming agenda includes a Journalists Day and Green Run Day, celebrating Earth Day 2024, which coincides with C-CAM's 25th anniversary. C-CAM and its sponsor CEPF are ready to engage the youth as stewards of the environment to guarantee they have a voice and are represented on all the key issues.
Trishauna Barclay of NEPA (left) makes a presentation to one of the workshop participants. (Photo: C-CAM)
About The Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM) and PBPA
C-CAM was established in 1997 to promote coastal conservation in Jamaica. It is an NGO registered in Jamaica as a limited liability company and charity. Under an agreement with the Natural Resources Conservation Authority, the organization is the declared steward of the Portland Bight Protected Area (PBPA), ensuring sustainable development through stakeholder participation in the planning, implementation and management of programmes and projects. This includes executing livelihood enhancement activities for stakeholders as well as establishing a sustainable financing programme for C-CAM. It currently manages three Special Fishery Conservation Areas (SFCAs) on behalf of the National Fisheries Authority (NFA). C-CAM's remit is not confined to the PBPA; the past they have also managed an SFCA at Bird Cay, Pedro Bank.
The PBPA is the largest protected area in Jamaica. With substantial marine and terrestrial areas, hosting industry, commerce, and human settlements in close proximity to wilderness ecosystems, the PBPA is a microcosm of an island state in urgent need of sustainable development. It is home to approximately 50,000 people, with the highest concentration of fishers in Jamaica. Most of the residents live below the poverty line in rural communities.
Communications Consultant for C-CAM Suwannee Caine and her daughter Savannah Stewart pose for a moment at the inaugural Youth Forum sponsored by CEPF on March 27, 2024. (Photo: C-CAM)
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