Partners
Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation
Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (C-CAM) is a Jamaican-based NGO and charity established to promote coastal conservation and sustainable development. A crucial area of focus is the Portland Bight Protected Area, where the organization restores their marine ecosystems and conserves threatened species. C-CAM helps the community stay involved and educated through its various programs and events, such as coral reef gardening, coral reef ecology education programs about restoration and artificial reefs, and volunteering opportunities. A priority within C-CAM’s organizational missions is to ensure that all Jamaican citizens can enjoy their environmental rights— from having a clean and healthy environment to having access to sufficient information to participating in the environmental decision-making process.
***Communities, Conservation, Education, Equity
National Organizations
Alligator Head Foundation
The Alligator Head Foundation seeks to protect the coastal and marine ecosystems within Jamaica. The foundation manages a “no take zone” – a protected marine environment area that cannot be fished – known as the East Portland Fish Sanctuary. Within this area, Alligator Head monitors and nurtures threatened coral, fish, and sea turtle populations in the hopes that the success of these species will eventually return to the ocean as a whole. Beyond the management of this area, the foundation works to educate young Jamaicans on the importance of maintaining healthy marine life through a program called Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves in Nature (J.A.M.I.N). Additionally, Alligator Head promotes ocean awareness through economic development by offering job opportunities in no-cost lifeguard training and ecotourism.
Caribbean Youth Environment Network
Since their founding in 1993, the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) has been working to improve the quality of life of young people in the region. The organization helps them with personal development, education, leadership and activism opportunities. In 2020, CYEN launched the Caribbean Youth Climate Reporters program, which empowers young people to dive deep into climate change issues, and gain experience with reporting and community education. The organization also places a large emphasis on addressing plastic waste through participation in International Coastal Cleanups and its Plastic Tide Turners initiative, a series of challenges to help youth think more consciously about what plastics they use, and how they dispose of them. In collaboration with UNICEF and other local organizations, CYEN founded the Stay Alive and Thrive initiative, a large-scale climate action campaign working to raise public awareness about the need to minimize and adapt to the effects of climate change, with a specific focus on the Caribbean. The Jamaican chapter is working on an initiative called Teaching Climate Justice and Resilience through Ancestral Plant Heritage, conducting workshops to spread knowledge on the topic.
**Individuals, Youth, Education
CaribShare
Founded in 2016, the not-for-profit organization CaribShare operates Jamaica’s first organic waste recycling program. Donated waste from seven major hotels in the country is recycled in the form of fertilizer and then given to a local farming community in Braco, Trelawny to nourish their soil. Beyond the operation of a plant, CaribShare developed and hosted Jamaica’s first food waste conference in 2021. Seeking to educate Jamaicans on more perspectives regarding food waste, the organization also runs a blog with a wide range of topics all centering on the management of organic waste.
Environmental Foundation of Jamaica
The Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) is a non-governmental organization that is the largest grant maker in Jamaica. The organization was established to provide aid to other community-based or non-governmental organizations in the country to enact changes in environmental conservation and child development space. Since its establishment in 1993, it has approved over a thousand projects and granted over J$2 billion to hundreds of beneficiaries. The EFJ aims to conserve the natural resources and environment of Jamaica through wildlife studies, monitoring surveys, and education programs. Its other main objective is improving child survival, welfare, and development through building repairs, various clubs for children with disabilities, and accessible infrastructure.
***Communities, Conservation, Education, Youth
Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust
The Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT) is a non-governmental organization and charity founded by a group of professionals who believe in environment protection and its connection to benefit the people and the country. Established in 1988, the JCDT has over 30 years of experience in overseeing environmental projects in environmental conservation and sustainable development. Its main focus now is managing and maintaining the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park in Eastern Jamaica, including invasive species control, plant nursery maintenance, park boundaries establishment, and natural resource monitoring. JCDT also works closely with the Maroons community and allows the public to stay involved with the organization through training programs, school outreach programs, and sustainable community tourism.
***Communities, Conservation, National Park
Jamaica Climate Change Youth Council
As an affiliate of the Jamaican Climate Change Advisory board, the Jamaican Climate Change Youth Council (JCCYC) seeks to educate and mobilize Jamaicans between the ages of 15-35 to act on the climate crisis. The Council works to raise awareness about the damaging effects of climate change within Jamaica through the operation of four committees— Project Planning, Research & Policy Development, Outreach & Recruitment, PR & Communications, in addition to a blog. Recently, the JCCYC received a grant to sustainably develop a growing neighborhood in Jamaica named Albion Heights. The Council plans to create a model for a sustainable community within Albion Heights through the installation of resource-saving measures.
Jamaica Environment Trust
The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) was formed in 1991 and focuses on environmental education, law, advocacy, and conservation. Environmental education is at the top of the list as this organization has the longest running program for environmental education in Jamaica. JET is the national coordinator of the International Coastal Cleanup Day and also maintains a recycling depot in which citizens are encouraged to recycle.
National Organizations
