Using tourism to conserve the mist forests and mysterious cultural heritage of the blue and John crow mountains National park, Jamaica

Abstract

The Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park protects internationally significant biodiversity components and rich cultural heritage. Inside the park, two recreation areas are managed, and outside, sustainable community tourism is being developed. Tourism contributes to Aichi Targets by: (1) raising public awareness of the values of biodiversity, (2) engaging local communities in biodiversity awareness-raising and skills training, and (3) facilitating ecologically sustainable, income-generating activities for poverty reduction. Tourism and community engagement activities are part of the effort to reduce threats to forests through unsustainable livelihoods such as slash and burn, shifting agriculture. Community tourism activities have been established in a few communities while others are at various stages of planning. Several community members are now employed as National Park Rangers or otherwise assist in park management. Benefits to biodiversity conservation have been realised through local capacity building for sustainable tourism.