Mona GeoInformatics aims to strengthen coastal resilience
JAMAICA’S MONA GeoInformatics Institute (MGI) has partnered with the Dutch research firm Deltares to strengthen coastal resilience in the Caribbean region.
The Deltares-MGI partnership is expected to add to the economic investment potential of the region through research that enhances tourism, shipping, fisheries, and deep-sea exploration.
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) for cooperation was officially entered into on October 4 during Deltares 10-year anniversary celebration in Delft, Netherlands.
Deltares is an independent institute for applied research in the field of water and subsurface with their main focus being on deltas, coastal regions and river basins. They bring the latest in applied research to the Caribbean, aiming to improve the resilience of livelihoods, industries, and populations that rely on our coastal areas.
NEEDED PARTNERSHIP
Given the increasing impacts of global warming – 2017 being one of the worst years in the region’s history, with much loss of life and property from natural disasters – such a partnership is much needed to facilitate longterm development and management of our coastal zones and resources.
Commenting on the recent partnership, Director of MGI Dr Parris Lyew-Ayee, Jr said, “With most populations of Caribbean countries located in coastal areas (70 per cent of Jamaica’s population, for example, work or live in coastal communities), our resources remain exposed to direct threats from adverse effects of storm surge, tsunami, sea-level rise, beach erosion, and poor water quality. Deltares has proven its success in being a tremendous resource to the governments of the Netherlands, other European countries and many others worldwide, for coastal solutions.”
After 10 years in existence, the firm continues to expand its partnerships around the world by entering into MOUs such as this one with the MGI to foster common goals of developing scientific and technological cooperation, building human and technological capacity, and strengthening national and regional development.