North Eastern Wildlife Conservation Environmental Protection and Tours Inc. (NEWCEPT) is dedicated to promoting conservation in the North Eastern area of the Commonwealth of Dominica where community members can benefit economically, socially, and ecologically from their conservation efforts. NEWCEPT, a Non-Governmental Organization with roots dating to 2005, is a community-based organization headquartered in Wesley with membership in the communities extending from Calibishie to Marigot and is registered with the Registrar of Associations, Company #2118 on November 11, 2008
The properly finished Interpretation Welcome Centre with wheelchair access and adequate facilities and equipment will ensure protection of turtles, the conducting of tours and be an educational facility as well. Local and foreign visitors are welcomed at the Centre and until such time that a turtle comes up to nest they view presentations, purchase souvenirs etc and are part of a structured tour in an effort to ensure the safety of the turtles and the visitors.
Approved signage on the roadside and on the building is in itself a means of advertisement of the turtle tours when tourist go pass on the way to and from the Airport and also focuses on the GEF SGP programme and the Community group?s effort at alternative livelihoods.
The project meets the GEF/SGP Country Programme Strategy for species protection, rehabilitation of coastal environments, community-based, alternative livelihoods and gender balance.
10
Activity
Description
GEF/SGP
NEWCEPT
TOTAl
(USD$)
1
Completion of building
23,047.38
1,666.67
24,714.05
2
Furniture equipment signage
6,324.07
6,324.07
3
Beach/forest rehab/Tree plant
1628.55
3,703.70
5,332.25
4
Patrolling and protection
11,033.33
11,033.33
5
Public Awareness and Environmental Education
4000.00
4000.00
TOTAL
35,000.00
16,403.70
51,403.70
PROJECT OBJECTIVES AND EXPECTED RESULTS
This proposal seeks to meet the following objectives:
? To complete the concrete Interpretation Centre which will be utilized in the group?s capacity building development and which will, as a base for their eco-tourism turtle watching tours, provide for livelihood aspects of their continued community development.
? To minimize the threat to endangered sea turtle species and empower the members of NEWCEPT to promote and protect these sea turtles while developing turtle tours, a sustainable use of this resource that provides alternative livelihood opportunities.
? To protect, manage and rehabilitate the coastal ecosystem on the stretch of beach 300-400m on Londonderry resulting in the re-establishment of the Londonderry Beach to its original coastal and forest grandeur and an aesthetically beautiful beach front.
End Result:
The establishment of a community-based eco-tourism program that will establish NEWCEPT on the Londonderry Beach ensuring that NEWCEPT members and by extension the surrounding communities, will derive financial benefit from sea turtle conservation.
11
? A properly finished Interpretation Welcome Centre with wheelchair access and all other facilities and equipment to ensure protection of turtles, the conducting of tours and as an educational facility. Local and foreign visitors are welcomed at the Centre and until such time that a turtle comes up to nest they view presentations, purchase souvenirs etc and are part of a structured tour in an effort to ensure the safety of the turtles and the visitors.
? Approved signage on the roadside and on the building. This in itself is means of advertisement of the turtle tours when tourist go pass on the way to and from the Airport.
? A properly managed and rehabilitated Londonderry Beach coastal ecosystem on the stretch of beach 300-400m in the re-establishment of the Londonderry Beach to its original coastal and forest grandeur and an aesthetically beautiful beach front.
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES
Activity 1- The completion of the concete building
.
The detail activities for completion are as follows:
Completion of the roof by constructing the steps up to the roof, railings around the roof.
Construction of steps and wheel chair access to the main entrance at the ground floor
The plastering of the walls inside and outside of the building
Installation of Balusters around front porch
Electrical wiring installation
Construction of and installation of windows, doors, bolts, locks
Construction of Septic Tank ? digging of hole and concrete work
Installation of Water Tank
Tiling of floors
Painting of building inside and outside
Installation of toilets and sinks
Activity 2 - Purchase and installation of furniture and equipment and signage.
This will be done upon completion of the building. Purchasing and transporting of furniture and equipment will be done by NEWCEPT members.
Signage installation by NEWCEPT
Activity 3 ? Beach and forest Border rehabilitation and tree planting
The purpose of this activity is to rehabilitate the coastal eco-system on Londonderry beach.
12
Purchase of tools for rehabilitation of beach front and tree planting will be done as soon as funds become available.
This is already an ongoing activity and is expected to continue throughout as maintenance work will have to be done on a voluntary basis for the building and surroundings to remain aesthetically pleasing and inviting for this eco-tourism product to continue to be successful.
Specific to the tree planting ? preparation of planting material, preparation of the site, planting of the trees will be done by NEWCEPT and, young persons from the surrounding schools and community volunteers will be invited to participate.
Activity 4 Patrolling and Protection
This is an ongoing activity during the turtle nesting season March to November. All of the 15 members are involved; a roster is prepared and the necessary sighting forms of turtle activities are completed, turtles are tagged and measured and the data is later entered in the data base.
Forest tours are also conducted during the season and in the turtle off season. The turtle off season is also the tourist high season on Dominica. There is therefore the opportunity to have activities year round.
The structure will also be used for training sessions and workshops and is ideally located for eco- trainings/workshops.
Activity 5 Public Awareness and Environmental Education.
Public awareness and educational forums and activities. Promotional material including bill boards, booklets. Organised with schools, Community Groups, Public Neighbouring Communities, Visitors