The acronym LFMCBS is used when we want to shorten the group’s name. The full name of the group is Sawyers Local Forest Management Committee Benevolent Society.
The Sawyers Local Forest Management Committee Benevolent Society is a non-profit organization located in the cockpit country of Trelawny that was registered in the year 2016. The group operates through projects and funding from donors as we strive to achieve sustainable livelihoods and increase the household income of community members by preserving natural resources and promoting economic resilience.
Major stakeholders for the group are the; Forestry Department, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA, Social Development Commission (SDC) and TPDCo.
Sawyers local forest management committee is registered as a benevolent society which is a non-profit organization. It is a community group that engages both youth and elders and we do give back to the community in a charitable manner, but we are not considered to be a charity organization.
The group along with community members engage in group meetings, workshops and skills trainings that helps to create sustainable livelihood opportunities so that member can increase their household income through good environmental and agricultural practices.
Honey is harvested using an equipment called an extractor. Once extracted from the frames they are strained and bottled for use.
The group has produced products such as: honey, scotch bonnet pepper, sweet pepper, pineapples, sweet potatoes, seasoning. We have also planted trees such as cedar and timbre and produced craft items such as screen-printed shirts and bags, and we have created bags and pouches using thatch material.
The Sawyers LFMCBS do assist surrounding communities as most of our activities are spread across the communities around Sawyers, so we do not just focus on the Sawyers community, but it is the focal area for all projects.