The National Environment & Planning Agency
(NEPA) recently met with the Management Committee of the Hills United
Development Organization (HUDO) along with representatives of the Rural
Agricultural Development Authority (RADA); the Forestry Department; Social
Development Commission (SDC); Jamaica Bauxite Mining Ltd.; Friends of the
Sea (FOTS) and Local Initiative for Urban Environment (LIFE) to finalize
HUDO's action plans and project ideas for the Dunn's River Watershed.
The world-famous Dunn's River Falls, one
of Jamaica's most popular attractions, is neighbour to the communities of
Parry Town, Snow Hill and Pimento Walk from which HUDO membership comes. It
is often not realized that activities upstream can affect the quality of the
water downstream. With this in mind the three communities recently formed
the community based organization HUDO with the aim of ensuring the
sustainable use of the Bogue property (part of the Dunn's River Watershed)
as a national watershed, while promoting alternative livelihood activities
for community members.
Over the past 4 years Friends of the Sea,
a non-governmental organization based in Ocho Rios, has been working with
these communities with the aim of protecting our water resources. This
latest initiative is a continuation of its work, spearheading major
reforestation of the Bogue property. Youths have been trained as Junior
Forest Wardens and others have been selected as Community Animators for a
public environmental awareness programme. NEPA applauds and supports
community efforts of this nature and its Community Animator Onyije Chigozili
will assist with training the local animators. The proposed projects
discussed by HUDO and its partner agencies include craft training and
enterprise; bee keeping, organic farming; a nature trail with bird-watching
and the upgrading and regulating of Irie Beach. The activities have a skills
training component and will be implemented over the next two years.
