[ad_1]
STACIE and IDB hold transformation training workshop to improve mangrove ecosystems
Release after receiving – June 18, 2024
St. Augustine
During the field survey, Mr. Hamish Asmath, Geospatial Consultant for the IDB MRV project, pointed out some key unique characteristics of Jamaica’s mangroves that brought nuances to data collection.
St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago. June 18day 2024 – The University of the West Indies (UWI) St. Augustine Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (STACIE), in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), recently enhanced the capacity of key Jamaican environmental stakeholders and beneficiaries by training them in advanced blue carbon measurement protocols. The workshop was part of the ongoing regional Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) programme of the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ Blue Carbon Fund, which is managed by the IDB. In 2022, STACIE received technical assistance from the Fund to establish a standardized and regional MRV mechanism for blue carbon capture in mangroves for projects in Latin America and the Caribbean.
This transformative Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) training workshop was held in Jamaica from 3 to 7 June 2024, bringing together practitioners from the Jamaican government, academia and NGOs working in mangrove management, conservation and restoration. The workshop follows a similar training event held in Panama in May 2024.
The training programme kicked off with an opening ceremony attended by Jamaican government officials including Senator Matthew Samuda from the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Mr. Kadim Griffith-Reid, First Secretary for Access to Climate Finance at the British High Commission in Jamaica, Mr. Lorenzo Escondell, Head of Operations at the Inter-American Development Bank Jamaica, Dr. Graham King, Director of STACIE at the University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Professor Terence Forrest from the Solutions Centre for Developing Countries (SODECO) at the University of the West Indies, and non-governmental organizations.
In his opening remarks, Senator the Honourable Matthew Samuda focused on the anthropogenic impacts of climate change on coastal systems and highlighted Jamaica’s efforts to restore these systems. Mr. Griffith-Reid stressed the need for restoration, highlighting the profound impacts on biodiversity, poverty, and basic resources such as food and water. He commended the close partnership between the University of the West Indies and the Inter-American Development Bank and highlighted the role of the workshop in supporting these restoration efforts.
However, the IDB raised the issue of limited local and regional capacity to monitor these ecosystems, but stressed that the timeliness of the training could fill this gap and provide necessary new information for regional restoration efforts. STACIE’s Dr. King highlighted the importance of the project, stressing: “This project lays the foundation for a coherent approach to quantifying and tracking carbon stored in mangroves, which will be applied around the Caribbean Basin.”
Participants simultaneously processed data on various mangrovesLift
The workshop focused on hands-on training by Mr. Hamish Asmath, Geospatial Consultant for the IDB MRV Project. He provided detailed field and classroom training on the TLS methodology, emphasizing the importance of accurately estimating carbon emissions and best practices for using digital technologies. The workshop discussed key unique characteristics of Jamaican mangroves, including the impact of hurricanes on mangrove communities and subdivision development, and the challenges of soil surface penetration for adequate scanner installation.
During the five-day workshop, participants participated in scanning, data processing and fieldwork, demonstrating their enthusiasm and willingness to incorporate these learnings into their ongoing work. Collaboration between Jamaica and various natural resource management entities in the region is expected to make a significant contribution to the Blue Carbon MRV project.
About the University of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies has been a key force in all aspects of development in the Caribbean and has been at the heart of all efforts to improve the well-being of the people of the region for 75 years.
UWI began as University College London in Jamaica in 1948 with 33 medical students. Today, UWI is an internationally renowned global university with nearly 50,000 students and five campuses: Mona from Jamaica, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Mountain in Barbados, The five islands of Antigua and Barbuda and Global Campusand A global center established in partnership with universities in North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa and Europe.
The University of the West Indies offers more than 1000 Certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options exist Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences and Sport. As the Caribbean’s leading university, it has access to the largest pool of BroadCast Unitedlectual and professional knowledge in the Caribbean, working to address critical issues in our region and the wider world.
The University of the West Indies is consistently ranked as one of the best universities in the world by the most reputable ranking agencies. Times Higher Education). Since UWI first appeared in the Times Higher Education rankings in 2018, it has performed well in several categories, including the World University Rankings, the Golden Age University Rankings (50 to 80 years old), the Latin America Rankings and the Impact Rankings, which are noted for their response to the world’s greatest concerns, as outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including good health and well-being, gender equality and climate action.
to know more information www.uwi.edu
[ad_2]
Source link
