Jamaica

The Institute of Jamaica celebrated the International Day for Biological Diversity through a daylong series of lectures at the Lecture Hall of the Institute of Jamaica. This daylong event took place on the 22 May 2007 starting at 0930 and ending around 1400.

In keeping with this year’s theme, the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) focused their celebrations on showcasing the value of biodiversity, while highlighting the impacts of climate change on all living things. Consequently, NEPA was involved in a number of activities to mark the day.

The Agency collaborated with the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT) to host a workday to remove Ginger Lily in a section of Holywell, Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park (BJCMNP). The Ginger Lily is an invasive species, which stifles the growth of native plants. Its removal is an important activity and will support the conservation campaign for the national park, which is managed by the JCDT on behalf of NEPA.

Other activities included displays at the Kingston and St. Andrew Parish Library and the Holywell Resource Centre, placement of radio commercials to send messages on climate change, the creation of a webpage on NEPA’s website and new posters dedicated to information on biodiversity and climate change.