Adapting to a Changing Environment

Bluefields People's Community Assiciation (BPCA)

Bluefields, Jamaica

An Overview Of Our Solution

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

Endereço

Belmont Fishing Beach
Bluefields
Jamaica

E-mail

wolde99@yahoo.com
Problem

População impactada

10000

Tamanho

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

Principais ocupações

Fishing, Farming and Tourism

Recursos locais dos quais a comunidade depende e com que finalidade

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

Ameaças locais aos recursos

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

Perigos climáticos

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

Nível de sensibilidade

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

Nível de capacidade 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

Custos 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

Benefício 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 Econômicos usados para medir o benefício

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

Custo comunitário/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.

Benefício Social/Comunitário

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 comunitários/sociais usados para medir o benefício

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.

Custo Econômico

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.

Benefício 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 usados para medir o benefício

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.

Quais foram/são os desafios que sua comunidade enfrentou na implementação desta solução?

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

Action

Descreva o processo baseado na comunidade usado para desenvolver a solução, incluindo ferramentas e processos usados

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.

Perigo climático preocupante

Sea level rise

Como sua solução reduz a exposição e amortece/protege o ecossistema afetado?

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.

Como sua solução reduz a exposição e amortece/protege as comunidades afetadas?

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

Como sua solução reduz a sensibilidade das comunidades afetadas?

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

Como sua solução aumentou a capacidade das comunidades locais de se adaptarem a possíveis mudanças climáticas?

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

Esta solução pode ser replicada em outro lugar?

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