Earth Today | Grant-making entity gets stakeholder approval for tech-forestry initiative
Published:Thursday | February 8, 2024 | 12:07 AM
THE ENVIRONMENTAL Foundation of Jamaica has received the approval of local players in the environment sector, with news that it will support the application of technology to public education and awareness for forest ecosystems.
In its latest call for proposals, which comes out tomorrow, the EFJ is announcing the decision to provide grants for Apps and games that are developed for this purpose and with children as their target audience.
“The Agency [Forestry Department] is happy to note the inclusion of technology in support of awareness building about forests, their values, and functions as a part of the EFJ call. We believe this is an important step towards mainstreaming forestry as well as bringing attention to the role technology can play in sustainable management,” noted Ainsley Henry, chief executive officer and conservator of forests at the Forestry Department.
Indi McLymont Lafayette, a long-time climate justice advocate who has worked with children and youth in the environment, agreed.
“I think this is a move in the right direction. It is ensuring that the message of preserving our forest ecosystems gets to people in more relatable and engaging ways,” she said.
“This is particularly suited for the youth who need to be proactive about environmental conservation. They relate better to information through Apps and games. It also helps them to experience more of nature through virtual reality,” added Lafayette, who is also head of Change Communications Limited.
“Once the apps and games are developed and properly marketed, then it should be well received in Jamaica and even the rest of the Caribbean,” she said further.
In addition to ‘Education and Awareness’, the EFJ call, which closes on March 29, also offers grants across a number of other thematic areas, including ‘Alternative Livelihoods’ and ‘Eco-tourism Development’, as well as ‘Invasive Species Control’ and ‘Water Management’.
The EFJ is a grant-making entity that provides financial support to NGOs involved in issues of child survival and child development as well as the sustainable use and management of Jamaica’s natural resources.