Adapting to a Changing Environment

Bluefields People's Community Assiciation (BPCA)

Bluefields, Jamaica

An Overview Of Our Solution

Who is this solution impacting?
Ecosistema
Oceans
Oceans/Coasts
Tipo de comunidad
Suburban
Suburban
Rural
Rural
Additional Information
  • Population Impacted:
  • Continent: North America
General Info

Dirección

Belmont Fishing Beach
Bluefields
Jamaica

Correo electrónico

wolde99@yahoo.com
Problem

Población impactada

10000

Size

6 miles radius (Bluefields, Mearnsville/Auldayr, Cave/Cave Mountain and Beeston Spring)

Ocupaciones principales

Fishing, Farming and Tourism

Recursos locales de los que depende la comunidad y con qué propósito

Land, Bay, Tourism for farming, fishing and tourism.

Amenazas locales a los recursos

hurricane, storm surges, flooding, landslides, tourists stop coming to the community

Riesgos climáticos

flooding, storm surges, sea level raises, hurricane ( 1979 June Flood, In 1988 hurricane Gilbert, 2004 hurricane Ivan)

Nivel de sensibilidad

Beach erosion, land-slippage, damage to housing, coastal roads collapsing, lost of livelihood for economic sustenance.

Nivel de capacidad adaptativa

Disaster Risk Management Plan and Community Development Committee (CDC) make recovery easier and more efficient.
Solution

Upgrading of our Schools and Teachers, Fishery Protected Area, Organic Farming, Craft Development, Tourism Development (birdwatching, Hiking, Nature Walk, Marine Tours and accommodations).

Results

Costos ecológicos

There are over 300 fishers fishing in no-take zone which is putting pressure on marine life and eco-sysyem. Hence, we are putting in measures to reduce the level of overfishing and destruction to marine life by establishing alternative livelihood such as

Beneficio ecológico

Since the establishment of the Bluefields Bay Fish Sanctuary. There is a vast increase in the fish population. Fishers are adhering to best fishing practices

Indicadores económicos utilizados para medir el beneficio

hence reducing the use of dynamite and destruction of the coral reefs and sea bed grass.

Costo comunitario/social

Area of no-take zone is 61/2 miles long 3,054 acres of sea grass bed and coral reef and 5 miles of healthy mangrove coastline.

Beneficio comunitario/social

Fifty percent (50%) of the time needed for the Twenty four hours patrol three hundred and sixty five day for the year is done on a voluntary basis. Also, all meetings and workshop are done voluntarily. Three to five years is needed for fishery recovery.

Indicadores comunitarios/sociales utilizados para medir el beneficio

The Bluefields People' Community Association/The Bluefields Community Development Committee, The Westmoreland Organic Farming Society Limited,The Bluefields Bay Fishermens Friendly Society, Reliable Adventure Jamaica/RAJ Tours, Other CBOs such as churches, schools and youth groups.

Costo económico

Work with Community Based Organization (CBOs) and Businesses and having a 50% membership attendance at meetings. Persons from these CBOs and Businesses earnings come from farming, fishing, tourism, teaching, and small entrepreneur ventures.

Beneficio económico

It Cost 10 million Jamaican Dollars per year to run the Marine Protected Area, Community Meetings cost $20,000.00 and for Job Training $150,000.00 per workshop per twenty five persons.

Indicadores ecológicos utilizados para medir el beneficio

The marine protected areas and other protection areas are providing steady employment for fishers who became wardens and community persons. Alternative livelihood through tourism arrival increase earnings from eco-tours, marine tours, craft sales, accommodations, agro-processing products and catering services. This increases the purchasing power of persons who are generating funds from the above mentioned opportunities.

What were/are the challenges your community faced in implementing this solution?

Whenever a group of fifteen tourists come into the community each one is spending a minimum of US$1,000.00

Action

Describa el proceso basado en la comunidad utilizado para desarrollar la solución, incluidas las herramientas y los procesos utilizados.

We meet as a council at least once per month to reach a consensus on the important issues: These meetings include representatives from the various Community Based Organizations (CBOs). Since we started in 1988, we have being meeting to come up with our five year development plan and have identified the four developmental goals which are: Education for All, Food for All, Jobs for All and the protection of our resources. We have also agreed to use Geo-Tourism to be the main community development driver. We have the Bluefields 20/20 vision plan. We also engaged partner such as Government, Universities, research organizations and funding agencies.

Peligro climático de preocupación

Sea level rise

¿Cómo reduce su solución la exposición y amortigua/protege el ecosistema afectado?

The marine protected area is aiding in the protection of shoreline and fisheries, Organic Farming is protecting the land while Geo-Tourism is proving alternative livelihood.

How has your solution increased the capacity of the ecosystem to adapt to potential climate changes?

Having the Marine protected area , sea grass beds, coral reefs and shoreline are more intact and stable. The Organic farming reduces landslide, flooding, less use of chemicals in growing land produce and the poisoning of our waters.

¿Cómo reduce su solución la exposición y amortigua/protege a las comunidades afectadas?

The marine protected area and the organic farming are reducing storm surge, less flooding, lost of land, pollution of our rivers and underground water.

¿Cómo su solución reduce la sensibilidad de las comunidades afectadas?

The Marine protected area in allowing for the regeneration of the fisheries which is seeing fishers catching more fish and having more marine life to show visitors coming to the area. Those who live on the shoreline are better protected because mangroves and other plat lives are encourage to grow. Residents have also been prepare to move to higher ground when building new residences and accommodations

¿Cómo ha aumentado su solución la capacidad de las comunidades locales para adaptarse a posibles cambios climáticos?

With the implementation of our programs and projects the community is better prepare to protect our resources and are intentionally creating alternative livelihood in aggro-processing, craft development and Geo-tourism reduce the pressure natural environment which make the community more safe.

Scale

¿Se puede replicar esta solución en otros lugares?

Resistance from fishers who continue to poach in the Marine Protected area and lack of adequate resources. Constant dialogue with Government, Funding Agencies, to increase resources and enforcers. Meeting with Fishers and community stakeholders to increase awareness which is contributing to greater compliance.

Overview
Solution
Scale