Mangrove Educational Boardwalk

Location: Community Center at Belmont Square, Bluefields, Westmoreland, Jamaica

Within the center of Bluefields is a Community Center, located in Belmont Square, right along the main road. Since 1988, and under the watchful eye of the Bluefields Bay Fishermen’s Friendly Society (BBFFS) and the Bluefields People’s Community Association (BPCA), it has become a hub for creating income and educational support to many, with a focus on economic and ecologic sustainability.

The Community Center building and grounds are used for educational workshops for adults and children on various topics, plus provide a place for entrepreneurs to run their small businesses, and for the fisherman to launch out from and find support in their trade. And, as part of their goal to be self-sufficient and income-generating, the Center’s building and grounds are also available to rent for community events, reunions, parties, and weddings.

In other words – the Center is a very important piece of Bluefields!

In the past, we completed a major upfit of the Community Center building, but more recently, we rebuilt a boardwalk that weaves through the mangroves on the grounds.

The original boardwalk had become rotten after years of salty air and flooding in the area and was very unsafe. As a team of sponsors, donors, organizers, and the incredible volunteers from the Bluefields community, we were able to purchase the materials and rebuild the boardwalk back to it’s original state.

The new boardwalk is now being used to host people of all ages to learn about the importance of the mangroves to the ecosystem, and why it’s important to care for and protect the environment. In addition, it creates a path for anyone who wishes to “walk through the mangrove” without having to trod through swampy ground and disturb the ecosystem within, and special tours can be arranged for those who wish to have a more in-depth learning experience. Learn more about the ecological importance of mangroves here.

Jah Works Project Funding Total: $4,142 USD