AS part of the global observation of Earth Day on Monday, April 22, the National Environmental Societies Trust (NEST) facilitated environmental awareness in Jamaica by sponsoring projects staged by member environmental non-governmental organisations (ENGOs) across the island.

This year NEST funded three projects at a total of $200,000. The Jamaica Conservation Development Trust (JCDT) received assistance to launch a phased environmental education project on Earth Day in the Rio Grande Valley.

Joining with local communities and other agencies, the JCDT cleaned riversides, demonstrated proper methods for washing in rivers, conducted water quality monitoring as well as showed environmental videos. Representatives from environmental agencies also made presentations.

On the North Coast, NEST Earth Day Project funding assisted the St Ann Environment Protection Association (STAEPA) to make the Seven Oaks Wildlife Trail a more educational and fun attraction for the general public. Activities done included maintenance of the nature trail, the identification of flora at the wildlife centre, and the installation of interpretive signs for parrots and plants.

In Kingston, NEST helped to fund the Jamaica Environment Trust’s (JET) Earth Time Now 2002 Youth Conference on ‘Global Warming’, which was held on Friday, April 26, 2002. Over 200 participants took part in this one-day conference at the Abe Issa Auditorium, St George’s College, geared at sensitising schools and communities about global warming to help stimulate global warming awareness campaigns. The minister of environment, Horace Dalley, officially opened the event and the keynote speaker was Dr Raymond Wright, group managing director of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica.

Last year NEST disbursed over $400,000, assisting a number of its member organisations to stage activities in recognition of Earth Day. This was conducted through funds facilitated through the Canada Green Fund.

Activities were diverse, ranging from garbage drum painting and poster competitions by the Negril Coral Reef Preservation Society, an environmental tour for students and teachers in St Thomas planned by the St Thomas Environmental Protection Agency to the Natural History Society of Jamaica’s annual public environmental seminar focusing on solid waste management.

Other activities included assisting JET in hosting a ‘Save the Harbour’ seminar as part of a series of activities in the ‘Save the Harbour’ campaign. The seminar sought to raise the awareness of participants and sought to find possible solutions to the problems associated with the harbour. Student participants formulated an action plan and listened to presentations by a number of key speakers. STAEPA received funding which helped them to improve the Seven Oaks Sanctuary for Wildlife by establishing a nature trail, installing new cages and repairing old ones as well as an open day for members and friends.

NEST congratulates its members on their success in stimulating environmental awareness and action on this 32nd observance of Earth Day. NEST also encourages all Jamaicans to continue to play their part in making this earth sustainable for future generations.