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Bridging the COVID funding gap to maintain the Portland Bight Protected Area

Marine Protected and Conserved Areas Terrestrial Protected Area Key Biodiversity Area

Livelihoods Governance Management Effectiveness

Local communities Farmers/Fishermen Women

Enforcement Capacity Building Participation

Jamaica; Caribbean 15/2/2021 -14/2/2022

Protected and conserved area(s) concerned

Portland Bight Protected Area

The BIOPAMA AC Objectives addressed

Enhance the management and governance of priority protected areas by addressing existing limitations.
Enforce the legal framework required to achieve effective biodiversity conservation in protected areas.
Support the local communities’ initiatives aiming to enhancing the livelihoods of local people whilst effectively contributing to protected areas management.

Priority need addressed

To bridge shortfalls in salaries, operating costs and maintenance budgets to facilitate continued patrol and monitoring activities as well as vehicular and building maintenance.
To make The Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM) and its main office, field station and Portland Bight Discovery Centre COVID-19 compliant, purchase supplies, provide training in compliance for staff and community guides and provision of communications equipment. Funds will support the health of staff, and allow for the limited reopening of facilities, generating revenue for The Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation and community members (mostly vulnerable women).
To support the adaptation and continuation of the community monitoring programme.
To develop strategies for adapting to the new realities through updating Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation’s strategic plan (including financial planning).
To complete financial audits for 2020 to maintain transparency.

Project activities

This BIOPAMA Rapid Response Grant will address directly the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on Portland Bight protected area. The grant supports the following activities:

Continued enforcement through monitoring and patrol of the fish sanctuaries to reduce the level of poaching through training of C-CAM staff, partners and community members (e.g., Fisheries law and SMART technology) and covering the costs of equipment, salaries and fuel. The funds will be utilized to reduce the potential negative impact of COVID-19 on C-CAM ‘s operations and upgrade the field station office with sanitization spaces, signage and support staff training.

Updating C-CAM’s strategic and financial plans will include planning for future potential shocks to move the organization towards sustainability. C-CAM will also be installing appropriate signage throughout the PBPA to continue the public awareness activities which are key to providing information about no-take areas or where endangered species (e.g., crocodiles) inhabit. The funds will also be used to undertake the audit to maintain C-CAM’s financial transparency and assist in its ability to continue to attract financial support

The change the project implementation will bring for the protected area(s)

The project will help to maintain enforcement and monitoring operations in the Portland Bight Protected Area at usual levels despite COVID -19 and budget cuts. This will be achieved through the provision of training and equipment, including mobile phones and two-way radios, equipment maintenance, and the installation of signage which will improve the team’s capacity for protected area management. The involvement of community monitors, volunteer game wardens and partner agency representatives in the training aims to improve the overall management of the protected area while ensuring stakeholder buy in and collaborative monitoring with community members seeks to ensure project sustainability.

Making C-CAM’s offices COVID-19 adapted which will ensure safe space for staff and visitors which facilitate continued working operations.

The strategic and funding plans will be updated to include COVID-19 implications which will improve sustainability planning to look at long term supported for protected areas management. The financial audit report for 2020 will allow C-CAM to maintain transparency in managing the Portland Bight Protected Area to include reporting to stakeholders and donors.

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Bridging the COVID funding gap to maintain the Portland Bight Protected Area

Protected and conserved area(s) concerned

The BIOPAMA AC Objectives addressed

Priority need addressed

Project activities

The change the project implementation will bring for the protected area(s)

Implementing organisations

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