Developer wants to make Falmouth ecotourism hub

WESTERN BUREAU In a groundbreaking move towards sustainable tourism, stakeholders behind the Sea The Change Foundation are seeking to have 385 acres of pristine beachfront property it owned in Falmouth, Trelawny, transformed into a vibrant eco-protected area that will attract both local and internal environmentally friendly travellers. This ambitious project aims to blend environmental conservation with community engagement, promising to make Falmouth a beacon of ecotourism in Jamaica. With a heavy focus on preserving marine ecosystems and promoting climate action, the eco-park is poised to become a hub for education, recreation, and sustainable development, attracting eco-conscious travellers from around the globe.“We are working with the Forestry Department to have this property, which is 385 acres, declared as a protected area here in Falmouth,” said Mikhail Jobson, the executive director at Sea The Change Foundation which is carrying out the development of the Jobson Bay Eco-Beach Park in Trelawny.Jobson further noted that work is also being done with the Scarlet Hall, Salt Marsh, and Half Moon Bay Fishers Associations, and the Oracabessa Marine Trust to have a marine protected area established in Falmouth by 2025. Headlines Delivered to Your Inbox Sign up for The Gleaner’s morning and evening newsletters. “So, we’re going to be having a mangrove-protected area, as well as a 432-hectare fish sanctuary adjacent, so we’ll have a large area of the environment and ecosystem protected here in Falmouth,” said Jobson. “The aim and objectives of the foundation are to increase community involvement in environmental programmes and to establish a way for the younger generation, women, and marginalised disabled people to have access to environmental activities and programmes.”Jobson said a project is now being done to establish the beachfront property as a nature park and a hub for environmental spotlight and ecotourism. “We are hoping to establish a community group with a steering committee dedicated to exploring ecotourism options and finding ways to implement them so that the community of Falmouth can benefit more from the tourism that is here,” stated Jobson.Jobson said when the facility reaches its full status as a nature park, plans are in place to establish nature trails along its six kilometres of shorelines and will also include boat tours.“There is a small island inside the peninsula that hosts pretty much all the coastal birds in that area, and it’s a beautiful sight to behold, all those birds in one location, which is now called the birds’ island,” said Jobson. “We want to have tourists visiting our bird island, and we will be exploring different options such as a botanical garden.” editorial@gleanerjm.com