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JAMAICA Research Institute (ESRI) (ESRI) Institute Research MAP 1 1 MAP Source: Environmental Systems Environmental Source 2 parish capitals are located along the coast and represents the main population centres. LOCATION MAP OF JAMAICA Research Institute (ESRI) (ESRI) Institute Research MAP 1 1 MAP Source: Environmental Systems Environmental Source: National Strategy and Action Plan on Biological Diversity in Jamaica MAP 2 POPULATION DISTRIBUTION MAP N National Strategy Action on Biological Diversity JamaicaNational Plan in and LEGENDLegend · EachEach dotDot Rrepresentsepresent 1 10000 Pe personsople Parish Boundary Parish Boundary Scale 1:900000 Source: National Atlas of Jamaica, 1989 3 4 1.1.3 Economic Development coastal areas between 1943 and 1975. Planned and unplanned urbanisation and informal (squatter) Natural resources have played an important role settlement construction have resulted in the loss in Jamaica’s development in both the pre - and of prime agricultural land. In addition, alteration post-colonial periods. The island’s major economic and destruction of coastal and marine ecosystems sectors, agriculture, tourism and mining, are all are jeopardising biodiversity in these areas and based on natural resources. beyond. The pattern of economic development and urbanisation 1.2 Jamaica's Biodiversity-Biological and has contributed substantially to the destruction of Other Natural Resources biodiversity. Initially, the increasing demand (in Europe) for sugar led to the development of estates Jamaica’s biodiversity is influenced by a variety of for the cultivation of sugar cane in the lowland physical factors such as topography, geology, areas of the island. Later, agricultural production terrain and climate. expanded to include crops such as bananas, coconuts, coffee and citrus. This agricultural development 1.2.1 Physical Diversity required the clearing of primary forests and was ecologically very destructive. Jamaica has an exceptionally broad diversity of topography, geology and climate (Map 3). While the main impact of sugar cane and banana cultivation may have been confined to lowland 1.2.1.1 Topography areas, coffee cultivation has caused substantial deforestation of the upland areas mainly as a result The country’s topography consists of a highland of the felling and clearing of forest vegetation in interior, formed by a backbone of peaks, hills and preparation for planting coffee. In addition, the plateaux running the length of the island, which is effects of chemical fertilisers and pesticides used surrounded by flat coastal plains. The highest in crop production have implications for the viability peaks are to the east, with the Blue Mountain of non-target populations including crop pollinators. peak reaching a maximum height of 2,256 m. The The impact of harmful agricultural chemical residues central and western parts of the island are mainly in surface and ground water on coral reefs is also limestone hills and plateaux. of concern. The plateaux are dissected by faults and have The discovery of commercial deposits of bauxite been karstified to varying degrees. The most in the 1950s triggered a major change in the developed karst topography is in the Cockpit pattern of resource exploitation. Large areas of Country. It is an important ecological area of the vegetation were cleared to allow ore extraction country and is still relatively undisturbed. and construction of the necessary physical infrastructure to support mining operations and Elsewhere, the karst is less developed and the transport of products. Mining and processing of terrain generally comprises rolling hills, sinkholes, bauxite ore also contribute to land degradation, ridges and caves. and air and ground water pollution. The coastal plains are narrow on the north coast During the 1950s, the Government provided incentives and tend to be wider along the south coast. These to encourage foreign investments through the include alluvial areas such as the plains of “Industrialisation by Invitation” programme. By the Clarendon, St. Catherine and St. Andrew. There 1970s, this led to the transformation of the main are some extensive wetlands on the coastal urban areas into centres with industries of plains. These include the Black River Upper and considerable size. Hotel construction proceeded Lower Morasses, the St. Thomas Great Morass, rapidly in coastal locations such as Montego Bay West Harbour and the Negril Morass. In addition and Ocho Rios. The need for land to support the to coastal lowlands, there are three interior growing manufacturing and tourism sectors contributed valleys. The coastal plains and the interior valleys to the destruction of forest and mangrove biodiversity. are the prime agricultural areas. Air, ground and coastal water pollution also occurred. 1.2.1.2 Geology The negative impact of tourism and manufacturing on Jamaica has an igneous and metamorphic core, biodiversity has been exacerbated by the unprecedented covered to a great extent by limestone deposited urban growth and unplanned developments in the during periods of marine submergence. National Strategy and Action Plan on Biological Diversity in Jamaica 5 AMAICA J MAP 3 TOPOGRAPHY MAP OF OF MAP 3 MAP TOPOGRAPHY Source: Information Technology Branch, National Environment and Planning Agency Planning and Environment National Branch, Technology Information Source: National Strategy and Action Plan on Biological Diversity in Jamaica 6 Approximately 70% of the island’s surface area is covered by limestone. The remaining 30% is covered by igneous and metamorphic rocks, shale, and alluvium cover. The soils of the country are a reflection of the geology. In the upland plateaux for example, soils are formed from weathered limestone and constitute approximately 64% of the island’s soil, while the alluvial soils of the flood plains, river terraces, inland valleys and coastal plains, constitute approximately 14%. ©Krishna Desai 1.2.1.3 Climate Banded Coral Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) Jamaica has a tropical maritime climate which is 1.2.2.1 Terrestrial Animal Species influenced by northeast trade winds and land and sea breezes. In the cooler months of January and At least six species of terrestrial vertebrates are February, the average temperature is approximately thought to have become extinct in Jamaica in the 25° Celsius (C). Temperatures in the warmest months, last 150 years, and many more species are considered July and August, range from 28°C to 30°C. Temperature endangered, threatened or rare. Species diversity is significantly affected by altitude. In the higher in Jamaica is well documented for vertebrates, as elevations of the Blue Mountains and some plateaux, shown in Table 1. temperatures may be as much as 15 degrees cooler. Table 1 Species richness and endemism of selected Rainfall is marked by monthly, annual and spatial invertebrates and vertebrates (excluding fish) of Jamaica variability, with the average annual rainfall for the Total Number of country being approximately 200 cm. Terrestrial Number of % Endemic Endemic Fauna Indigenous Species Species The northeast portion of Jamaica receives the Species highest annual rainfall, which is in excess of 330 Rotifers 211 <21 <10 cm. Areas in the southern coastal plains receive Land Snails 514 505 98.2 less than 127 cm annually and water shortages Grapsid Crabs 9 9 100.0 are common occurrences, especially along the Jumping 26 20 76.9 southern coastal plains. The rainfall pattern is Spiders bimodal with peaks in May and October. Heavy Fireflies 48 45 93.8 rainfall associated with passing storm systems Butterflies 133 20 15.0 may also occur during the annual hurricane season Ants (June to November). Other natural phenomena, 59 6 10.3 which affect the island’s biodiversity, include Amphibians 22 22 100.0 hurricanes, earthquakes, floods and droughts. Reptiles 43 33 76.7 Shore and Sea 39 1 2.6 1.2.2 Species Diversity Birds Land Birds 67 30 44.8 Jamaica has been rated fifth in islands of the Bats 21 2 9.5 world in terms of endemic plants. As illustrated in Other 2 2 100.0 Table 1, there is also a high level of endemism for Mammals many species of animals including snails, terrestrial Source: Terrestrial Animal Assessment Report, 1999 grapsid crabs, amphibians, reptiles, and land birds. 1.2.2.2 Marine Animal Species The status of species of fungi, bacteria, viruses and some invertebrates is not yet well known. According Jamaica enjoys a rich diversity of marine species to Jamaica’s Conservation Data Centre database which includes species of fish, sea anemones, black (CDC), at least 221 endemic species are classified corals, stony corals, sea fans, molluscs, turtles, and as ‘critically imperilled’ and ‘especially vulnerable to marine mammals including whales, dolphins and extinction’. However this database is incomplete. manatees. National Strategy and Action Plan on Biological Diversity in Jamaica 7 The main fisheries resources include: coral reef Research results in several new species of plants fish, Spiny Lobsters, Queen Conch, small coastal being discovered each year. Species richness and pelagic finfish, and large offshore pelagic finfish. endemism are shown in Table 2. The reef fish of major economic importance in Jamaica The status of Jamaica’s terrestrial plant species is include representatives from the families: Mullidae poorly documented as the only published assessment (goatfish), Haemulidae (grunt), Serranidae (grouper), of levels of threat is based on the World Conservation Acanthuridae (doctorfish), Lutjanidae (snapper), Union (IUCN) system, which is more than ten years Carangidae (jack), Holocentridae (squirrelfish), old. Holacanthidae
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