With joint financing from The United Nations Development Programme and the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica, and technical support from the Forestry Department, the Trust launched the Dolphin Head Project in 2000. Under this project, numerous assessments were conducted to quantify the unique features of the Dolphin Head Forest Reserve and its environs, signaling the onset of one of the most aggressive and practical conservation campaigns in Jamaica.
Within two years, biological and social assessments had been completed, establishing the Dolphin Head Forest Reserve as one of the richest floral communities in the entire West Indies and promoting the Reserve's ranking within the National Biodiversity Strategic Action Plan to that of a "Priority 1 - High Ecological Value" site. Upon completion, the project was heralded as a best practice model by the Forestry Department, while the Reserve was considered for additional protection as a National Park under the NRCA Act.
Specific activities and accomplishment of the Dolphin Head Project, included:
- Assessment of plant and animal biodiversity, as well as Forest Inventory, Fluvial and Ecological studies, which are available to registered guests for download.
- Identification of sustainable income generating activities based on abundant natural resources in the area.
- Development of a website with maps and photo-inventory of plant species.
- Community strengthening through the capacity building through visioning, priority setting and consensus building .
Preliminary Outcomes from the Stakeholder ConsultationsBetween 2000-1, Ms. Arlene Dixon was involved in very intensive interface with the primary stakeholders residing in the buffer communities along the access roads to the Dolphin Head area. Numerous community visioning meetings and focused group meetings were held in the Project area over the eight month period. This , to ensure that community stakeholders weree equal participants in the design and implementation processes. Community Strengthening and capacity Building were at the forefront of activities with a view to identifying, alternative sustainable livelihoods among the stakeholders and incorporating positive community options into the overall project.
Recommendations from preliminary Stakeholder Consultations
- Set up equity and management plan so that community can participate in proposed business ventures.
- Implementation of a Co-management arrangement- Recommendations from parish development committee is to broaden the scope of the Dolphin Head project area into a regional parish plan that will be driven by economic priority and considerations. Regional subsystems will be more effectively protected, the greater the bioregion that is protected.
- Integrated Development Plan for Lucea (with Dolphin Head Area being the focal point) Some outcomes of preliminary studies show that there will be huge down stream impact as the result of a combination of poor farming practices and slope instability (local area predisposition to landslides).
- Regulatory framework, Training for Forest wardens/rangers
- Institutional Strengthening and capacity building. Institutional building between relevant agencies (i.e. Jamaica Promotions Company Jampro/National Environmental and Planning Agency- NEPA). Localizing the various environmental protocols. Boosting the upstream/downstream institutional relationships.
- Alternative Sustainable Livelihood Strategies- Development of Cottage Industries (microenterprise) Eco-tourism and community tourism development. Develop prospectus and management plan for the develop ecotourism, Ongoing Scientific Monitoring and Research (Research Tourism) Training in the production of bamboo furniture, houses and craft, Training as tour guides.) Education and training for sawmill operators. Develop a prefeasibility plan for community enterprises.
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