Organization: Beausejour Eco-Development Association (BEDA)

Organization Legal Name: Beausejour Eco-Development Association Inc.

Type of Organization: Community-Based Organization

Establishment: October 2019

Location: Happy Hill, St. George

Amount Awarded: US $ 15,000.00

Project Team:

• Project Lead: Ms. Deborah Charles
• Technical Support: Mr. Michael Jessamy, Mrs. Merina Jessamy and Ms. Roxie Hutchison
• Administrative Support: Mr. Dudley Antoine

Duration:  12 months

This project highlights the GSDTF’s efforts to support community-led Eco-Tourism Opportunities and Development.

Meet the Beausejour Eco-Development Association Inc., a Non-Government Organisation established in 2016 and grantee of the GSDTF whose project focused on developing an Eco-Tourism Product inclusive of the Visitors Management Plan for “Dragon Bay” in Grenada and a historical trail tour product.

Beausejour, St. George is a large village on the is- land’s western coast. Associated with the village are Beauséjour Bay and Beauséjour Point. It was established as a French settlement in October 1649, the first expansion of the original settlement meant to relieve the cramped conditions at the “Grand Fort” in the Lagoon and may have begun at what is today Molliniere (see Plan de l’avenue et du port de la Gre-nade, 1670 that identifies “Chapelle de Beau Sejour” at Moliniere Pt, just north of “Ance de GrandMasle”). Translated from the French beau séjour means “beautiful place/stay.”

The primary objective of the project was to maintain the historical sites such as the Fedon Rebellion Site and the Amerindian settlements developing an eco-tourism product in the vicinity to provide visitors with a historical tour sharing the chronology of the area’s rich history and events.

As a starting point, a series of informational signs were produced and will be installed along a nature trail spanning Beausejour to Dragon Bay to facilitate guided tours in the future. If you want to donate to the conservation and financial sustainability of this forest reserve email us at [email protected] for more information.

 Financial Sustainability

This project will be a living assignment that can be adjusted over time. Financial sustainability lies with the fees generated from the diverse activities available at the location.

Collaborative Opportunities

As a sole community-based organization, members of the community will receive capacity-building workshops in areas of soft and practical skills (tour guide training and certification) to improve service provision.

With a variety of historical sites and marine protected areas in neighbouring communities, the Organization intends to collaborate with community groups to preserve and maintain its natural resources through the project initiative.

Replicability

This project also provides opportunities to develop standards associated with terrestrial area management which can be adopted and or adapted and applied to other similar localities.