Residents Encouraged to Boost Skills at Eco-Tourism Workshop

Residents and stakeholders connected to the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park (NDNP) are invited to take part in a free Eco-Tourism Workshop hosted by the non-profit Integrated Health Outreach Inc. (IHO) on Saturday, August 23, 2025.

The workshop, which will be held at the John E. St. Luce Financial & Conference Centre, will cover cultural heritage preservation, environmental education, conservation, eco-friendly business models, green procurement, and waste management. It is part of IHO’s ongoing project to strengthen community resilience through ecosystem restoration and sustainable livelihood practices.

Britney McDonald, Lead Facilitator and Social and Climate Specialist, encouraged eligible participants, especially young people, to attend. “We want people to walk away being able to apply what they learned and to use it as a basis to strengthen sustainable tourism practices that promote conservation and adaptation. The impact on our communities has continued to be a reality with growing concerns. Anyone who is eligible should seize the opportunity to participate in this free workshop, especially our youth.”

The workshop builds on IHO’s previous EcoTourism Livelihoods Course, which has already benefited over 40 participants in NDNP communities. This session aims to reach more residents, with a focus on youth seeking to expand their skills and career opportunities in tourism.

Residents and business owners from NDNP communities, including English Harbour, Cobbs Cross, Falmouth, Spring Hill, Patterson, Fishers, Doigs, Barters, Cherry Hill, and southern Liberta, as well as surrounding buffer communities, are encouraged to register online here.

The workshop is part of a regional climate resilience project, “Strengthening regional climate resilience and supporting green economic recovery through ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) and sustainable livelihoods in the Dominican Republic, Antigua and Barbuda, and Jamaica” Funded by the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF) and co-financed by Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI), the project is implemented by UNEP-WCMC, Oracabessa Marine Trust, IHO, Consorcio Ambiental Dominicano, and INTEC.