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One more Jamaican protected area was added to the
Ramsar’s List of Wetlands of International Importance; bringing to two
the total number included in the international directory. The
Palisadoes-Port Royal wetlands which is scheduled to be designated on
Earth Day, Friday, April 22, was acknowledged by the Ramsar Convention
for its unique characteristics.
The Palisadoes-Port Royal wetlands host a
variety of wetland types, currently under-represented in the Ramsar
List. A number of endangered and vulnerable species including, the
American Crocodile, the Green and Hawksbill Sea turtles, the West
Indian Manatee and the Bottlenose Dolphin are to be found in the area.
The Palisadoes-Port Royal wetlands are also high in endemism. To date
twenty-six endemic new species have been discovered in the area.
The National Environment and Planning Agency
(NEPA), which also has management responsibility for the new Ramsar
Site and Protected Area made the request for designation. A management
plan for the area was developed under the Development of Environmental
Management Organizations (DEMO) Project (1994-98) of the Natural
Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA). It is currently being revised
and updated.
The Ramsar Convention, in communicating the news
to Parties, had high praises for Jamaica’s efforts to preserve its
wetlands.
The Palisadoes-Port-Royal wetlands which
features cays, shoals, mangrove lagoons and islands, coral reefs, sea
grass beds and shallow waters is located on Jamaica’s southeastern
coast, south of the capital city Kingston. It covers approximately
7,523 hectares.
The historic and cultural values of the wetlands
are also very high, as the site includes forts on the dunes and the
city of Port Royal, reported to have been the wealthiest city in the
Americas. Part of the city sank during the 1692 earthquake and is now
a unique under-water archaeological treasure.
The first Jamaican wetland to be included on the
Ramsar list was the Black River Lower Morass in 1998. |
