Summary of Jamaica’s Third National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity 2003 - 2004 Prepared by NEPA, January 2010 under the Assessment of Capacity Building Needs, Preparation of the Third National Report (CBD) and the Clearing House Mechanism Project, funded by the Global Environment Facility through the United Nations Development Programme Table of Contents Overview............................................................................................................ 1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 1 Species................................................................................................................ 1 Habitat................................................................................................................ 4 Conservation.................................................................................................... 4 Terrestrial Ecosystems and Protected Areas ........................................ 5 Marine Ecosystems......................................................................................... 5 Alien Invasive Species................................................................................... 6 Climate Change............................................................................................... 6 Research............................................................................................................. 7 Public Outreach and Education................................................................. 8 Appendix: Some Endemic Jamaican Animals and Plants............... 9 i Overview Jamaica’s Third National Report to the CBD was prepared by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) in association with the Office of the Prime Minister. Input on components was obtained from academia, and the relevant ministries associated with land, environment, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries. The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) acknowl- edges the technical and financial support of the UNEP/GEF and the CBD Secretariat in the preparation and submission of the Third National Report, as well as initiatives to ensure appropriate public consultation. Jamaican Tody (Todus todus) Photo credit: NEPA Introduction This represents a summary of the key Jamaica became a signatory on June 11, 1992, elements in Jamaica’s Third National Report and a party to the CBD on January 6, 1995.The to the Convention on Biological Diversity CBD has the following three main objectives: (CBD). The information presented relates to 1. To conserve biological diversity the status as at the end of 2004. It also sets 2. To use biological diversity in a out the context of the report in terms of the sustainable fashion International Convention on Biodiversity and 3. To share the benefits of biological the country’s National Strategy and Action diversity fairly and equitably Plan on Biological Diversity (NBSAP) which was prepared in July 2003. Species The island of Jamaica is rich in biodiversity. The NBSAP proposed and outlined 37 project Terrestrial endemism as rated by the United concepts which charted the priority actions Nations Environment Programme is high. A for monitoring, managing and using biologi- number of the plants and animals present are cal resources in a sustainable manner. Of indigenous (originating and living or occur- these project concepts, 17 were identified ring naturally in an area or environment) while priority projects for implementation over the a large number are endemic (found no where next five to seven years, and eight were else in the world). The Appendix shows some designated highest priority for the next two of Jamaica’s endemic species. The table below years. These span the three objectives of the shows the species diversity in Jamaica. convention. Each project concept outlines information on Species Diversity in Jamaica specific activities and/or policies required Fauna and Flora Total Number for implementation; partner organisations, number of of institutions or agencies and the sub-compo- Indigenous Endemic nents and sub-projects which make them up. Species Species The main Jamaican priorities agreed in rela- Rotifers 211 <21 tion to the main Articles of the Convention are in the areas of: Land Snails 514 505 1. General measures for conservation Grapsid Crabs 9 9 and sustainable use Jumping Spiders 26 20 2. In-situ conservation Fireflies 48 45 3. Management of alien invasive species 4. Public education and awareness Butterflies 133 20 5. Handling of biotechnology and Ants 59 6 distribution of its benefits Amphibians 22 22 6. Management of Forest and Marine and Coastal biodiversity Reptiles 43 33 1 and research/revisions, collecting trips,botan- Fauna and Flora Total Number number of of ical research, and species annotations. The Indigenous Endemic organization also maintains and updates a Species Species database. Access to its herbarium is widely Shore and Sea available to local and overseas researchers.In Birds 39 1 2004, the IOJ collaborated with the Natural Land Birds 67 30 History Society of Jamaica to produce the Bats 21 2 book “Endemic Trees of Jamaica”. This project, Other Mammals 2 2 which involved extensive field work, was fund- Bromeliads 60 22 ed by the Environmental Foundation of Orchids 230 60 Jamaica (EFJ). Ferns 579 67 Cacti 20 10 The Forestry Department through the Trees for Palms 10 7 Tomorrow Project (supported by the Canadian Grasses ~200 1 International Development Agency) published the book “Manual of Dendrology Jamaica” in Source: NBSAP,2003 2003. It provides a reference to a number of There are approximately 130,000 botanical the endemic, indigenous and introduced tree specimens in the Institute of Jamaica’s (IOJ) species to be found in Jamaica. Herbarium (representing over 3,000 higher plant species and 600 fern species) and over There are no specific programmes related to 80,000 zoological specimens. In addition marine biodiversity. However under , the there are over 30,000 botanical specimens Centre for Marine Sciences-University of the housed in the University of the West Indies West Indies and the Jamaica Coral Reef Herbarium. Monitoring Network (JCRMN), Jamaica has been conducting video-monitoring of select- The IOJ builds on previous publications1 on ed coral areas since 1998.The JCRMN has con- Jamaica’s flora through ongoing field work ducted ‘Reef Check’ monitoring of estab- lished sites inclusive of bleaching events since 2003. The aim of the exercise to measure the resilience and status of these resources. In addition, a species list of marine fauna and flora was created. Guidelines for the introduction of endemic and threatened species have been drafted and are being reviewed. The Jamaican Iguana (Cyclura collei), Giant Swallowtail Butterfly (Pterourus homerus), orchids and endemic cacti are the subject of activities to restore and maintain taxa. Game bird populations (doves and pigeons), winter migrants, conch, finfish, and orchids continue to be monitored regularly. The Giant Swallowtail Butterfly, an endemic species, is the largest swallowtail butterfly in the Western Hemisphere. It was listed in the world's top 12 endangered species of all categories by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). The host plant for the Giant Swallowtail larvae is the endemic Water Mahoe or Water Wood (Hernandia Phyllanthus sp. catalpifolia). To aid in the protection and con- Photo credit: Laura Ogle servation of the species, the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT) 1“The Flowering Plants of Jamaica” by C.D. Adams (1962), has established a nursery to grow the plant at and “Ferns of Jamaica” by G.R. Proctor (1985). Millbank in the Blue Mountains. 2 University of the West Indies, and the Hope Zoo where the programme is conducted. A selected number of hatchlings were collected Giant Swallowtail Butterfly (Pterourus homerus) Photo credit: Vaughan Turland Headstart Facility Sign at the Hope Zoo The habitats of the endemic Jamaican Iguana Photo credit: Laura Ogle in the dry limestone Hellshire Hills are and raised until large enough to defend them- protected and managed. In their native habi- selves against their main predator, the Indian tat, the resident population is monitored and Mongoose. Through various ex-situ and in-situ an eradication programme for the predatory programmes more persons are aware of the invasive Indian Mongoose (Herpestes aurop- species and the need for their preservation. unctatus) is conducted. There appears to be population recovery underway for this endemic species which was once thought to be extinct. Jamaican Iguana (Cyclura collei) Photo credit: Laura Ogle Euphorbia alata at Plant Conservation Centre Photo credit: Laura Ogle A small population of Jamaican Iguana was removed and introduced to the Hope Zoo in The Plant Conservation Centre housed at the 1991 for the purpose of establishing a Hope Botanical Gardens has approximately headstarting programme. This programme 170 taxa in its collection, of which 65 species is conducted by NEPA in association with the are native and 40 endemic to Jamaica. 3 Habitat coastal mandate of CWIP into upland areas. The project addressed the degradation of watersheds in Jamaica by improving and sus- taining the management of natural resources in targeted watershed areas that are both environmentally and economically significant. This has been an important initiative in partial- ly addressing some of the gaps and challenges identified in the areas