National Parks , Protected Areas and Wildlife

Jamaica boasts a rich natural heritage that combines scenic beauty with a variety of ecosystems that includes wet and dry forests, rivers, caves, mineral springs, sandy beaches, rocky shores, mangroves, herbaceous swamps, swamp forests, salinas, mountains and plains. The island has an unusually high level of endemism and has been rated fifth in islands of the world in terms of endemic plant species.

In recent years, the biological diversity of terrestrial and marine ecosystems have been adversely affected by deforestation and consequent soil loss, contamination of soil and water resources from improper disposal of liquid and solid wastes, improperly planned urban developments, and wildlife harvests in excess of ecosystem carrying capacities. Underlying all of these factors has been the persistent problems of poverty and limited public awareness of the issues. The results of these actions are primarily evident in the increasing number of plant and animal species that are threatened, endangered, or extremely sensitive to further changes.

The documentation of the threat to natural habitats in the Country Environmental Profile of 1987 led to the launching of a USAID-funded Protected Areas Conservation Project (PARC) in 1989. The executing agency for the project was NRCA. Phase I of the Project was implemented over a three year period in collaboration with the Planning Institute of Jamaica which managed the project and the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT). Together, they successfully established the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park and the Montego Bay Marine Park, sensitized the Jamaican community about conservation and preservation of the environment, and provided the foundation for a National Parks and Protected Areas System. This Phase also saw the establishment of a Conservation Data Centre (CDC) based at UWI.

Phase II of the PARC Project will be conducted as a component of a broader USAID-funded project for Development of Environmental Management Organization (DEMO) which was initiated in October 1993. PARC II will provide further assistance for the establishment of two additional National Parks; the Black River Lower Morass National Park, and another to be determined. The two new Parks will form a corridor of protected areas. PARC II will also address institutional strengthening of the NRCA and the JCDT so that the System could be properly implemented. PARC II will also address the financial sustainability of the system through aggressive fundraising efforts. The Government intends to delegate the management of national parks to NGO's and will also support NGO in the establishment and management of additional national parks. Attention is being given to conservation within the context of botanical gardens, as well.

In addition to the activities of PARC II, Government over the next three years will develop a System Plan and initiate management plans for individual priority protected areas. The implementation of management plans will be pursued by granting contracts to NGOs, community groups and other capable institutions. Government will also put in place modalities for policy development, management plan reviews and the development and implementation of delegation instruments.

Over the next three years Government will provide adequate institutional capacity and human resources for the National Parks, Protected Areas and Wildlife branch of the NRCA, to regulate, monitor, facilitate and catalyze the development of the system.

The Government will develop and implement permit or licensing systems so as to have effective cost recovery for services rendered and benefits obtained from the use of Jamaica's natural resources.