THE Forestry Department, in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), has opened a discovery centre in this rural community, as part of their effort to manage the resources of the biodiversity-rich Cockpit Country.

The Cockpit Country, home to the Leeward Maroons of Jamaica, is considered one of the island's more important ecological and cultural assets. It is also home to 27 of Jamaica's 28 bird species, as well as the giant swallowtail butterfly. In addition, it accounts for a significant amount of forest cover on the island.

United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forests representative Carla Cuhaney, looks at one of the exhibits mounted at the Cockpit Country Discovery Centre in Wait-A Bit, Trelawny two Fridays ago. (Photo: Mark Cummings)

"The centre is a repository of information for the community on the protection of the biodiversity of the area," said Judith Blake, project manager for the centre. "It is an education centre, which will also house the secretariat for the local forest management committees".

Dubbed the 'gateway to the Cockpit Country', the centre, was built at a cost of US$700,000 with funds from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), under its Parks in Peril programme.

The building will also house offices of the TNC, as well as the new regional office of the aForestry Department.

"Here they (the public) will learn about the importance of water, the species of birds that needs to be protected, the importance of caves; inappropriate agriculture clearing, mining. Generally speaking, information will be designated at the centre about what the threats are and what strategies are in place to protect the biodiversity," Blake said.

Agriculture Minister Dr Christopher Tufton, who declared the centre opened, said the facility is a timely initiative on many levels.

"This is your facility. This facility represents your interest, our interests as a country, and you are perhaps going to be the most critical stakeholder in ensuring its sustainability," he told the gathering at the brief opening ceremony two Fridays ago.

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