The Urban Development Corporation’s (UDC) designated area of Hellshire Hills located in St. Catherine, following its selection by the National Ramsar Committee, the local representative for the international intergovernmental body of the Convention on Wetlands, the Ramsar Committee/Convention; hosted the national celebration for this year’s World Wetlands Day 2018, on Friday February 2, 2018.
The national event hosted in partnership with The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), was held under the theme “Wetlands for a Sustainable Urban Future” and attracted teachers, community members and over 100 students from schools such as Braeton Primary, Naggo Head Primary, Jones Town Primary, McCauley Primary and Bustamante High School, who participated in a host of wetland themed exercises intended to increase their knowledge of the benefits of wetlands and other marine life.
The activities which got on the way at approximately 10:00 am included a physical tour of a section of the Hellshire Wetlands, exhibits and displays from agencies such as the UDC, NEPA, Forestry Department, Natural History Museum of Jamaica and the Caribbean Coastal Area Management (CCAM), as well as Wetland and Environmental Talks and games. According to Dr Damian Graham, General Manager of the UDC, “the Corporation was indeed honoured to partake in an event of this nature; not only was it aligned with our mandate which ensures the conservation of Jamaica’s natural resources, inclusive of wetlands, but it also
afforded a unique opportunity to cultivate the right attitude towards our wetlands and natural resources in the minds of the future generation.”
Danaë Vaccianna, Environmental Coordinator of the Natural Resources Management and Environmental Planning Department of the Corporation noted that the positive impact the event has had on the students, teachers and community members in attendance is what keeps the Corporation along with other members of the Ramsar Committee fervent in their participation in the celebrations on a yearly basis. She expressed that all that has been accomplished would not have been possible without the support and sponsorship provided by NEPA, Wisynco Group, Tastee Jamaica Limited and all Ramsar members including Institute of Jamaica (IOJ), Caribbean Coastal Area Management (CCAM), Water Resources Authority (WRA), the Negril Environmental Protection Trust (NEPT) and the Forestry Department.
The World Wetlands Day celebration held at the UDC’s Hellshire Office is one of several activities organised by the Ramsar Committee geared towards the celebration of the global event.
For further information contact:
For further information, please contact
The Corporate Relations and Marketing Department
Urban Development Corporation
12 Ocean Boulevard
Kingston, Jamaica
Tel: (876) 656-8031
Email cr@udcja.com
www.facebook.com/urbandevelopmentcorporation
February 12, 2018