Programmes

C-CAM manages the following projects designed to protect and conserve the Portland Bight.

 

  • Biodiversity Conservation Programme

    Most of the PBPA is either being used or is of great utility to people, but the PBPA is one of the most threatened protected areas in Jamaica. It is C-CAM’s belief that any approach to managing the PBPA should aim at protecting the biodiversity and natural services of the area while increasing its contribution to the local economy and the quality of life of residents and visitors.

    A panel of experts selected nine conservation targets to represent the full array of plants, animals and ecosystems found within the PBPA. Targets were telected based on rarity and global conservation status among other factors, but representativeness was one of the major ones. The experts assumed that improving the status of these targets would benefit the biodiversity of the entire PBPA. Conservation planning was carried out using a participatory aproach, which means that stakeholders were consulted throughout the planning process

    Problems

    Each conservation target has its own specific issues, but the general problems affecting conservation targets fall under five major categories:

    1. Resource Management
      • poor management of water resources
      • poor fishing practices
      • charcoal burning and harvest of posts and sticks
      • illegal hunting and collection of natural resouces
    2. Climate Change & Natural Disasters
      • hurricanes and storms
      • sea level rise
      • increasing temperatures
      • flash flooding
      • changes in rainfall patterns
      • fire
    3. Unsustainable Development
      • expansion of housing and urban areas to unsuitable areas
      • expansion of industrial areas to unsuitable areas
      • fish and shrimp farms
      • badly sited quarries, quarry zones and infrastructure
      • poor agricultural practices
      • shipping lanes
      • expansion of unsustainable tourism and recreation
    4. Waste Disposal
      • water pollution
      • solid waste
    5. Invasive Species
      • invasive alien species

    Ongoing Measures

    Each specific target has its own measures.

  • Caves Conservation Programme

    There are 53 known caves in the PBPA, with 21 found in St. Catherine and 32 in Clarendon. Only one known cave, the Two Sisters Cave, has been commercialized and community members report several caves which are not on record.

    Many of the PBPA’s caves are very important, containing fossilized remains and ancient artifacts and supporting lifeforms such as bats, which provide important economic and ecological functions for Jamaica. One good example is the Jackson’s Bay Cave, one of the largest known cave systems in Jamaica. The Jackson’s Bay Cave is one of the few known locations of the Portland Ridge Land Frog, and the only known location of an unknown blind cave fish which was spotted in the 1960s.

    Problems

    Human visitors interfere with the PBPA’s caves by:

    • extracting bat guano, disturbing both bats and fossil records in the process
    • using bottle torches, which introduce harmful funes to cave fauna
    • stealing Taino artefacts
    • introducing alien species such as the American Cockroach, which threatens native cave invertebrates, and the Chytrid Fungus, which threatens the lives of cave dwelling amphibians
    • clearing forested areas at the mouths of caves, which robs the cave animals of food and other life support functions

    Ongoing Measures

    1. Identification and Assessment
      • development of caves database to identify priority caves and their specific requirements
      • carrying out of detailed baseline studies of Jackson’s Bay caves
      • search for Jackson’s Bay blind cave fish
    2. Management and Conservation
      • development and application of criteria for identifying important caves
      • assessment of the management of Two Sisters Cave to ensure maximum benefits to cave fauna
    3. Protection of Important Caves
      • determination of ownership of caves and their resources
      • requiring permits for guano harvesting
  • Climate Change Adaptation Programme

    The impacts of climate change are already affecting the PBPA in the form of floods, droughts and hurricanes of increased power. Immediate measures that are needed include increasing awareness, especially of the importance of natural ecosystems such as forests and mangroves in reducing climate change impacts.

    In 2009, C-CAM implemented a pilot project which included piloting a variety of approaches such as rainwater harvesting, developing materials for use in schools,and the creation of a manual for community leaders involved in the review of Environmental Impact Assessments and other activities.

    Problems

    Impacts of climate change that are already affecting Portland Bight include:

    • sea level rise
    • increased severity of storms and hurricanes
    • changes in the amount and intensity of rainfall leading to increased floods and droughts
    • increased temperatures
    • increased vulnerability to storm surge

    Despite several information programmes, awareness of issues and the importance of strategies to reduce the effects of climate change remains low. This is particularly evident in land use planning. In particular, there are proposals for an industrial zone in western Portland Bight, which is one of the most vulnerable coastlines in Jamaica.

    Ongoing Measures

    1. NEPA and PIOJ are implementing a climate change project, which will fund the installation of marker buoys in Salt Harbour and Galleon Harbour SFMAs as well as the placement of Wave Attenuation Devices (WADs) within Old Harbour and NEPA mangrove replanting at Portland Cottage.
    2. A climate change strategy for the PBPA is being developed under the Critical Ecosystems Partnership Fund project.
    3. A Livelihood Baseline Assessment and Disaster Risk Analysis has been funded by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
  • Columbid Gamebirds Management

    The PBPA includes some of the most important areas in Jamaica for hunting of gamebirds. These birds are hunted in specified areas based on anual agreements with landowners and include the Whitecrowned Pigeon, White-winged Dove, Zenaida Dove and Mourning Dove.

    The PBPA includes 5 Game Reserves as well as two forest reserves. Some areas, such as the Brazilletto Mountains, have seen a drop in the population of gamebirds, due to overhunting and a decline in the quality of the birds’ natural habitats. The Columbid Gamebirds Management Programme aims to increase the size of gamebird populations in problem areas and ensure the overall sustainability of the resource.

    Problems

    Some areas, such as the Brazilletto Mountains, have seen a noticeable decrease in the size of their gamebird populations. This is mainly the result of:

    • declining habitat quality due to misuse of forest resources
    • excessive hunting of gamebirds due to inadequate enforcement of hunting season regulations

    Ongoing Measures

    1. Habitat Restoration: PWD and Jackson’s Bay Gun Clubs have been controlling access and planting feeding trees on Portland Ridge. As a result, the gamebird populations seem to be stable in that area,. in contrast to the Brazilletto Mountains).
    2. Research: At least one researcher has prepared a thesis on the theme of gamebird management in the PBPA Training: C-CAM and other stakeholders held joint training workshops for HGWs. C-CAM developed training materials.
  • Dry Forest Conservation Programme

    Jamaica’s dry forests are found on limestone hills all around the island but the most extensive areas are in the PBPA, specifically in Hellshire Hills, Portland Ridge, the Brazilletto Mountains and Kemps Hill. Remnants of dry forest are also found on some of the Portland Bight Cays (including Big Pelican and Big Half Moon). Originally the alluvial plains were densely forested but the fertile lands were cleared for agriculture and this forest type appears to have totally disappeared from Jamaica.

    The Hellshire Hills provide one of the best examples of dry forest on limestone in the Caribbean. They support at least 271 plant species including 53 endemic species. They also support the last remaining population of the Jamaican Iguana (a separate conservation target) as well as many other endemic amphibians and reptiles, including the Portland Ridge Land Frog and possibly the last remaining population of Jamaican Skink. New species of amphibian are still being discovered in the area.

    It is no wonder that the Forestry Department has recommended that all remaining dry forests islandwide should be set aside for uses compatible with conservation and forest restoration.

    Problems

    1. Forest Clearance and Disturbance
      • charcoal burning
      • extraction of lumber and sticks
      • felling of palm trees to collect thatch to make brooms
      • clearing of forests for agriculture and housing
    2. Climate Change
      • changes in rainfall patterns
      • changes in humidity
      • changes in evaporation and transpiration rates ( transpiration is the movement of water through plants and its rise into the atmosphere from leaves and stems as water vapour)
      • changes in temperature
      • increasing damage to trees from hurricanes and storms
      • an increase in the frequency and intensity of fires
      • changes to microclimates (this could affect the survival and distribution of forest species)
    3. Invasive Alien Species
      • logwood, which rapidly spreads and is dominant in in many limestone foothills and alluvial areas (areas where soil is loose)
      • pigs and goats, which feed on plants on the ground, interfering with natural forest regeneration processes and altering species composition (Goat Island in particular has been very badly affected by goats which have almost entirely removed the plant life growing beneath the forest canopy)
    4. Roads and Trails
      • roads constructed to support quarries in the Northwest of Hellshire
      • driving roads (a new road was constructed by the Jackson’s Bay Gun Club into the forest on the south side of Portland Ridge)
      • extensive networks of trails used by pig hunters and coal burners
    5. Limestone and Marble Quarries
      • large areas in the Hellshire Hills and Brazilletto Mountains legally designated as quarry zones
      • continued prospecting for additional quarries in all areas
      • a proposal from CEMEX, a prominent global cement company, to establish a limestone export port at Rocky Point with a beltline carrying limestone from the core of the Brazilletto Mountains to the coast (this, along with other proposals from unknown entities, could lead to a rapid increase in limestone mining activities in the Brazilletto Mountains)
    6. Solid Wastes
      • garbage dumped along remote trails and roads

    Ongoing Measures

    1. Enforcement: The Urban Development Corporation employs 30 rangers to enforce laws in Hellshire Hills. PWD Gun and Jackson’s Bay Gun Clubs control access to the area although they do not have any rangers. NEPA enforces the Wild Life Protection Act’s provisions regarding bird shooting and general game reserves. There is currently no enforcement in the Brazilletto Mountains.
    2. Research (in the Hellshire Hills): The University of the West Indies Life Sciences Department and the Jamaican Iguana Recovery Group are studying and conserving the Jamaican Iguana in the Hellshire Hills. Dr. Kurt Mclaren is implementing various studies of dry forest ecology. The Forestry Department has an on-going programme of research and monitoring.
  • Fisheries Management Programme

    There are 3000-4000 fishers in the PBPA, with an unknown number also coming in from Kingston, Port Royal and the North Coast to use the area. Other persons also benefit from the fishery including fish vendors, fish cleaners and restaurants.

    Fishers have reported a decline in the fish stock since the 1980s. This is believed to be caused, among other things, by bad fishing practices, pollution and invasive animal species. The Fisheries Management Programme aims to produce measurable signs of recovery in the PBPA’s fisheries by 2020.

    Problems

    1. Bad Fishing Practices
      • the use of crankshafts attached to chains that are drawn over reefs, breaking up the coral and scaring the fish
      • the use of dynamite on the reefs and in the mangroves
      • the use of fish pots and with mesh smaller than the legal size
      • the use of beach seines (wide area fishing nets that hang vertically in the water with their bottom edges held down by weights)
      • spear fishing at night (which is actually illegal)
    2. Pollution
      • high nutrient levels, agricultural chemicals and sewage in freshwater outflows from rivers, streams and springs (including large numbers of submarine springs)
      • seawater that travels westwards from Kingston Harbour along the coast
      • oil pollution resulting from spills from the undersea pipeline between Old Harbour Bay and Port Esquivel as well as from tankers carrying oil to Port Esquivel
      • chemical pollution from accidents with boats carrying chemicals to Port Esquivel
      • bilge water (stagnant water trapped in the bottoms of ships)
      • silt from dredging of the shipping channels and deposition of dredge spoil at sea (dredging involves digging up soil at the bottom of the ocean in one location and depositing it in another)
      • garbage carried to the sea by rivers and gullies
    3. Coral Reef Decline
      • as a result of pollution, overfishing, algea overgrowth and storm damage
    4. Overfishing
      • removes fish that would otherwise help sea urchins keep the reefs clear of algae
    5. Disease and Damage
      • the death of a large number of Diadema sea urchins as a result of disease in the 1980s, from which sea urchins are only slowly recovering
    6. Invasive Alien Species
      • Lionfish
      • Green Mussel (which is present up-current in Kingston Harbour)
    7. Consumer Pressure
      • shift in demand from sliced fish to “plate-sized” fish
      • shift in demand from jacks, snapper and kingfish to parrotfish
    8. Climate Change
      • which impacts on sea temperatures, freshwater outflows, sea levels and the frequency of storms, all of which are making it harder for the fisheries to recover
    9. Coastal Development
      • the proposed construction of a cement factory and an LNG plant
      • expansion and other proposed activities that directly or indirectly affect reef
    10. Unmanaged Fisheries Resources

    Ongoing Measures

    1. Portland Bight Fisheries Management Council

      This was established in 1995,with the objective of improving fisheries management by involving fishers’ organizations in the process. Its role and responsibilities include:

      • seeking representation from all groups involved in the marine sector in the PBFMC
      • reviewing relevant legislation (existing and proposed)
      • reviewing management plans for the fisheries d. informing stakeholders on matters to do with fishing and marine resource
      • assisting with enforcement of marine legislation.
    2. Special Fisheries Management Areas

      In 2010, the Fisheries Division established three SFMAs in the PBPA, in the expectation that this would help fish stocks to recover. C-CAM is managing the SFMAs under a memorandum of agreement with the Ministry of Agriculture, with a budget that supports a part-time Fish Sanctuary Manager, up to 6 full time Conservation Officers, and the cost of boat patrols and basic equipment. C-CAM has prepared and is implementing management plans for these sanctuaries.

    3. Education & Awareness

      C-CAM received funding from the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) for an education programme to support the implementation of the SFMAs, which has included the development of a schools programme, banners and an educational video.

    4. Enforcement

      The Marine Police have recently established a base in Old Harbour, with 16 officers. Baseline Surveys A baseline survey of coral reefs was carried out in the 1990s. Studies of post-hurricane coral reefs were carried out by the Jamaica Coral Reef Monitoring Network (JCRMN) in 2003-4. C-CAM currently has funding from the EFJ for a national baseline survey of SFMAs. Monitoring The Fisheries Division carries out monitoring of fishing efforts at the fishing beaches. C-CAM monitors the SFMAs. Artificial Reef Windalco is funding the creation of an artificial reef in Three Bays Sanctuaries.

  • Jamaican Iguana Conservation Programme

    The Jamaican Iguana, found only in the Hellshire Hills, is one of the two most endangered lizards in the world. It was classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as critically endangered and was ranked among world’s 100 most endangered species in 2012.

    The Jamaican Iguana could not be nested under the Dry Forest Conservaiton Programme because of the very specialized and intensive programmes for its conservation. It has therefore been identified as a separate conservation target.

    Problems

    The main threats to the survival of the Jamaican Iguana are:

    • predation by mongoose, cats, dogs and pigs
    • destruction and disturbance of habitat by charcoal burners and other forest users
    • lack of genetic variation in the population

    Ongoing Measures

    The Jamaica Iguana Recovery Group has been successfully implementing programmes for many years and has drafted a recovery action plan. The specific objectives set out by the JIRG are as follows:

    • continuous predator removal trapping programme in Hellshire Hills
    • expansion of existing trapping grid through the addition of 200 new mongoose/cat traps and deployment of 12 dog/pig traps in core iguana area
    • collect DNA samples for determining genetic structure and variability of iguana population
    • locate new iguana nesting sites and, if possible, collect new genetic material to invigorate the existing captive population
    • daily monitoring of known iguana nesting areas to assess nesting composition and nest position
    • erect nesting site enclosures to protect and collect hatchling iguanas
    • daily monitoring of nesting areas, processing of hatchlings and transfer of 40 hatchlings to the Hope Zoo headstarting programme
    • continuation of annual pitfall trap surveys to index abundance of terrestrial vertebrates and large arthropods in core iguana area
    • continue baseline, pre-eradicaiton surveys of the Goat Islands, including the establichment of vegetation plots to monitor post-eradication responses
  • Management of Forest Resources

    The forest resources of the PBPA include the dry forests of Hellshire Hills, Brazilletto Mountains, Kemps Hill and Portland Ridge. Also included are the mangroves that fringe most of the coastline. There are two Forest Reserves, Hellshire and Peake Bay. The forested areas contribute to underground water resources and are used by charcoal burners, timber extractors, beekeepers, and collectors of thatch, orchids and medicinal plants.

    Issues affecting the PBPA’s forests include badly sited woodcutting, bush fires, and the establishment and expansion of rock quarries. These can lead to all kinds of longterm problems such as flash flooding and the removal of the habitats of rare and endemic plants and animals. Management of forest resources involve the promotion of biodiversity conservation and sustainable use with the participation of stakeholders.

    Problems

    1. Badly sited woodcutting causes erosion of topsoil. This reduces soil fertility and clouds rivers and coastal waters. It can also increase the risk of flash flooding and rockfalls. Most extraction of resources from forests is done without permission from landowners by forest users who see Crown lands as an open-access resource. The dynamics and economic importance of these illegal activities have not been assessed.
    2. Bush fires in the forests, which are usually set by people, can destroy large areas of forest and regeneration can be slow. This is a particularly serious problem during droughts and after hurricanes.
    3. The establishment and expansion of quarrying could pose a serious threat to Brazilletto Mountains and Hellshire. The quarrying of limestone and marble requires the removal of the tree cover, and with it the habitats of rare and endemic flora and fauna (plants and animals). Quarrying also creates ugly scars amidst green wooded hillsides.
    4. The expansion of housing schemes threatens the northern and central parts of the Brazilletto Mountains and eastern Hellshire.
    5. The disruption of the ecology of the forests (through the removal of seed dispersers such as Whitecrowned Pigeons, for example) is another important threat.
    6. Invasive alien species including goats and exotic plants can interfere with the natural regeneration of forests.
    7. The export of charcoal can indirectly lead to the overuse of forest resources.

    Ongoing Measures

    Although forest resources are thought to be an important contributor to the local economy, most efforts have focused on enforcement and there are no other on-going programmes for active management of forest resources (except in relation to gamebirds). There has been a lot of discussion about the relocation of charcoal burners and the establishment of tree and fuelwood plantations. The Special Climate Change Fund tried to establish a trial tree nursery, but this was unsuccessful.

    There have also been discussions about some initiatives:

    • The Forestry Department and C-CAM have discussed the establishment of a permanent forest monitoring plot in the Peake Bay Forest Reserve.
    • An important new initiative is the work that is being done with charcoal burners in the western Brazilletto Mountains through the Clarendon Parish Development Commitee/Raymonds Citizens Association. They have started to organize the charcoal burners to form a Charcoal Burners Association and have been holding street corner meetings.
  • Watershed Management Programme

    Watershed management units in Jamaica support the cycling of Jamaica’s clean water supply. The water drains from the mountains, moving through streams, rivers and underground channels, making its way to the sea. Once there, it evaporates, returning later to the earth as rain to continue the cycle. The PBPA includes the lower halves of two watershed management units, the Rio Cobre and the Rio Minho, but most of its conservation objectives are directly or indirectly affected by activities in the upper watersheds in ways that are not all well understood or documented. The watershed management program aims to tackle the issues affecting Jamaica’s watersheds. Such issues include fires, flooding and soil erosion.

    Problems

    According to several studies, the main threats to the Rio Cobre and the Rio Minho are similar, and include:

    • cultivation on steep slopes
    • sheet erosion, gullying and landslips – grazing – fires – road construction
    • fertilizers
    • flooding in the coastal plains
    • extraction of sand and gravel

    Ongoing Measures

    NEPA has an ongoing watershed management programme and a climate change adaptation project which includes activities in the Rio Minho and Rio Cobre watershed.

    • The Clarendon PDC has a planning grant from the GEF for a rainwater harvesting project, and a tree planting project in Pleasant Valley, north of May Pen.
    • Mocho Development Council is developing a demonstration site with greenhouses, solar energy rainwater harvesting and recycling.

Research & Conservation