World Wetlands Day To Be Celebrated On Feb. 2

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will be celebrating World Wetlands Day on February 2 under the theme, “Wetlands for Our Future: Sustainable Livelihoods.”

The focal point for the national activities is the Palisadoes-Port Royal Protected Area and Ramsar site.

Manager of Public Education and Corporate Communication at NEPA, Dionne Rose told JIS News that a number of activities have been planned, and will include all areas of the society.

“We have a photo competition open to the public of all ages to take a picture of the wetlands depicting the theme…wetlands as a source of income, as eco-tourism, as a habitat and nursery and wetlands as a source of food. This competition opened on January 12 and ends on February 21. We will also be having school outreach presentations and Library displays,” she stated.

Other activities include a World Wetlands Day display at the Norman Manley International Airport put on jointly with the Urban Development Corporation (UDC), Forestry Department, Fisheries Division and Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT).

Presentations about World Wetlands Day will also be staged at the Centre for Marine Sciences in Port Royal.  A tour will also be held and a display will be mounted by the UDC, JNHT and the Forestry Department.

There are also plans to have a boat tour at the Galleon Harbour Fishing sanctuary; a Mangrove replanting and beach clean-up in Montego Bay; and a school/family based series of activity for schools in Westmoreland and Hanover.

Miss Rose also stated that a community exposition is being organized for Portland, while the Institute of Jamaica is to host a set of activities at Mason River in Clarendon.

The Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (CCAM) will also be hosting a schools debate and mangrove replanting exercise.