STEA embarking on major reforestation ecotourism, development initiative
Published:Tuesday | September 23, 2025 | 12:08 AMLeon Jackson/Gleaner Writer
Western Bureau:
The South Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA) has forged a J$34-million partnership with the Belgium-based TUI Care Foundation, which will foster a major reforestation eco-tourism and development initiative in that section of the western parish.
Coral-Purvis Williams, the foundation’s local representative, is expressing excitement about the project, which has the potential to be both environmentally and economically friendly as it breathes new life into a section of the Cockpit Country, which is crying out for new economic opportunity for the people.
“TUI airlifts several visitors to the island weekly. All passengers contribute one euro from their ticket, which goes to the foundation,” said the foundation representative. “This is one of the avenues through which funding of projects is being undertaken.”
In giving an overview of the project, Mellisa Brown, a director of STEA, said that under the initiative, thousands of trees will be planted.
“We intend to plant 40,000 trees over two years. Of this amount, 32,000 will be native lumber like cedar and mahoe,” said Brown. “The other 8,000 will be agro forest to include breadfruit, mangoes and ackee.”
While the initiative is expected to be beneficial to the entire south Trelawny, which is predominantly known for yam farming, the communities of Rock Spring and Troy are slated to be the epicentre of the project.
Hugh Dìxon, the chief executive officer of the 29-year-old STEA, which has been spearheading an effort to bring eco-tourism to that section of the parish, creating attractions out of the numerous caves, springs, rivers and medicinal plants, is also excited about the project.
“We are planting trees to restore the forest reserve to its pristine condition. In the process, we will be addressing gaps caused by forest fires and the conversion of land for agricultural purposes,” said Dixon, who is bent on creating a nature-style tourism project to match the north of the parish, which is a hub for sea, sun and sand tourism.
“There will be employment opportunities for residents. There are going to find workers in land preparation and planting. There will be accommodation needs, transportation needs and of course the spin-off business for persons operating business in the area,” said Dixon. “We are yearning for the day when this section of the parish will be able to unleash it full tourism potential.”
It is expected that the plans for south Trelawny will be a fit for the growing number of European tourists who have been visiting Jamaica in increasing numbers in recent years. Unlike North American tourists, who seems to prefer the sea, sand and sun and entertainment-filled night life, the Europeans appear to prefer nature tourism – visiting farms, rivers, caves and mountain trails.