PRESS RELEASE - June 19, 2008

Communities in the Drivers River Watershed in the parish of Portland are being offered $US100, 000 in support of sustainable use of natural resources found within the watershed. 

Community based organizations and non-governmental organizations in the Watershed which spans from Folly Point in the west to Amity Hall in the east including communities such as Manchioneal and Hope Bay are expected to benefit from the support of grants offered by a project being implemented by the National Environment Planning and Agency (NEPA). The Global Environment Facility - Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas Management (GEF-IWCAM) Project is a Regional endeavour with 13 participating countries. The Jamaican Demonstration Project acts as a pilot site, focusing on sustainable environmental practices in the Drivers River Watershed, as well as the development of a model watershed management model for Eastern Portland, which will later be implemented throughout the other 25 Jamaican Watershed Management Units as well as the other 12 participating Small Island Developing States (SIDS). 

The deadline for the submission of proposals is June 20, 2008 and the lifespan of the selected projects will be 9 months (August 2008 to April 2009).  

Areas of possible support are: Improved community solid waste management, waste water treatment and solid waste management in schools, protection of river and waterways, protection of mangroves and marine resources, environmentally sustainable programmes e.g. agro forestry, environmental monitoring, training and capacity building, environmental awareness programmes and any other project that supports overall sustainability of the environment within the Drivers River Watershed.  

Application forms for the grant funding are available at the NEPA office in Port Antonio, 5 Smatt Road, at the Social Development Commission office in Port Antonio, in Kingston at 10
Caledonia Avenue, Kingston 5 and at the NEPA website:
www.nepa.gov.jm/adverts/IWCAM-GRANT-APPLICATION-FORM.pdf