Environment in danger / Jamaica / tourism

-------- Original Message --------
>From: "Franklin McDonald"

>'Environment in danger'
>Daily Gleaner ...published: Friday | September 19, 2003
>
>By Claudia Gardner, Gleaner Writer
>
>WESTERN BUREAU:
>
>DIRECTOR OF Environment and Natural Resources at the United States
>Agency for International Development (USAID) Jamaica, Howard Batson,
>has warned the nation to take a responsible environmental approach
>to prevent the physical development of tourism from "severely
>straining the island's natural resources."
>
>Speaking at the Third Annual Environmental Exposition staged by
>Sandals Montego Bay on Wednesday for St. James-based schools, clubs
>and colleges, Mr Batson called for a paradigm shift towards
>sustainable tourism, diversification of the tourism product and the
>promoting of "Green Tourism" in Jamaica.
>
>"The tourism industry is indeed at the centre of growth and
>development in Jamaica," Mr Batson said. "It is ironic, however,
>that the tourism industry has reached to such a scale and scope that
>it threatens to destroy the very natural resources, culture and
>heritage on which it depends."
>
>"We should recognise that we have to be very careful how we proceed
>with tourism, as we need to protect these natural resources," Mr
>Batson declared. "Tourism generates foreign exchange and creates
>jobs, but tourism can strain the country's natural resources.
>Ecologically sound environmental practices are vital for the
>sustainability of the sector," the environmental expert reiterated.
>
>While appealing for a shift towards sustainable tourism in Jamaica,
>Mr Batson noted that Tourism would not be sustainable unless the
>major players in the industry worked with the people who are
>supposed to benefit from the industry.
>
>Mr Batson also indicated that the USAID was actively and
>successfully promoting sustainable tourism, collaborating in
>projects with Ridge to Reef, the Forestry Department, Rural
>Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and a number of hotels
>across the island.
>
>He encouraged the Green Globe certified hotels in Jamaica to market
>themselves as green hotels in order to diversify the island's
>tourism product.
>
>The exposition was staged by the Sandals Montego Bay's Environmental
>Department and saw displays from several Non-Government
>Organisations and government agencies, including the Dolphin Head
>Trust (DHT), Negril Environmental Protection Trust (NEPT), Montego
>Bay Marine Park, Rural Agricultural Development Authority, Forestry
>Department and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency
>Management (ODPEM).
>
><http://www.jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20030919/news/index.html>
Received on Sun Sep 21 20:33:00 2003