Record number of entries in Earth Day competition

St Andrew High School for Girls, Waterford and Mount Alvernia High copped the top prizes in the 2011 Natural History Museum of Jamaica (NHMJ) annual Earth Day Essay, Poster and Photography competition awards ceremony from a record of 29 schools with 115 entries. The ceremony took place on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at The Institute of Jamaica lecture hall.

This year's competition was a partnership between the Forestry Department and the NHMJ, focusing on the theme 'Forests for Life', in recognition of the United Nation's declaration of 2011 as the International Year of Forests to raise awareness and strengthen sustainable forest management, conservation and sustainable development of all types of forests for the benefit of current and future generations.

Speaking at the launch, Marilyn Headley, CEO and conservator of forests at the Forestry Department, decried the fact that human interference in nature has almost caused an entire generation of children to lose out on seeing and enjoying for themselves many of the things that made Jamaica beautiful.

However, she said that all hope is not lost, noting that the competition entrants are "Jamaica's future environmental leaders; the driving forces behind the policies and programmes that will be developed or continued, to protect our natural resources, in particular, the forest environment".

The winners were Mellisa Douglas of St Andrew High School for Girls in the essay category, Alexis Fallon of Waterford High in the poster category and Carissa Gardner of Mount Alvernia High in the photography section.

This year was the 12th staging of the competition. Since 1990, the Institute of Jamaica, through the NHMJ, has been involved in various activities to highlight Earth Day, which is celebrated worldwide on April 22. These activities have included exhibitions, concerts and poster campaigns. The competition is open to secondary-school students from grades 7-11.

Sponsors of this year's compe-tition included Jamaica Public Service, Digicel, Carlong Publishers, Kingston Bookshop, Pesticides Control Authority, Chukka Caribbean Adventures, CARIMAC, Hyltons Trophies Ltd and Continental Baking Company (National Bakery).

Contributed photos