JPS Foundation partners with NEPA and Forestry Department to clean up Parottee wetlands
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Parottee wetlands were treated to a clean-up by the JPS Foundation and its partners to celebrate World Wetlands Day last month.
Marking the February 2 observance, the Jamaica Public Service (JPS) Foundation partnered with the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and the Forestry Department to restore and clean up the wetlands located in St Elizabeth.
The initiative brought together members of the JPS Volunteers On Location To Serve (VOLTS) network and friends of VOLTS to help remove debris and support the recovery of sections of the wetland following the passage of Hurricane Melissa.
Head of the JPS Foundation, Sophia Lewis, highlighted the critical role wetlands play in protecting island nations like Jamaica from increasingly severe weather events.
“Wetlands are an important natural defence against flooding, storm surges and coastal erosion. As we face stronger and more frequent natural disasters, restoring and preserving these ecosystems is essential to building climate resilience and protecting our communities,” Lewis said.
The activity formed part of the JPS Foundation’s ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship and partnerships that support climate resilience and sustainable development across Jamaica.
