Coastal Community to Benefit from Land Rehab Project

The coastal community of Old Harbour Bay, in St. Catherine is set to benefit from an initiative by the Jamaica Red Cross Society, through international partnerships. The Eco-Disaster Risk Reduction project, (Eco-DRR) seeks to increase the resilience of communities facing natural hazards.

The greening Red Cross and Red Crescent Disaster and Risk Reduction Project also referred to as ‘the Eco-DRR project’ is on a quest to save lives working with nature. In a collaborative effort with the International Federation of Red Cross & Red Crescent Societies and United States Agency for International Development (USAID) the project will bring together environmental experts and members of the Old Harbour Bay community to fortify the coastal community to withstand natural disasters.

During the virtual launch of the Eco-DRR, it was explained nature-based methods such as mangrove restoration will be used. Other solutions include restoring coral reefs and seabed spreads to shure up the coastal area in Old Harbour Bay.

Director General of the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management, (ODPEM) Richard Thompson, commended the timeliness of this project, especially after Jamaica weathered the effects of Tropical Storms Grace and Ida. This is the first of three communities being targeted in the 3-year span of this project. Set to begin on September 7, and end in September 2023. Two new vulnerable communities will be selected while the project continues in Old Harbour Bay.

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