Biodiversity & Eco-System Depletion

Treasure Beach Forum: TB Runnin's: Biodiversity & Eco-System Depletion
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Zed on Monday, October 04, 2010 - 07:23 pm: Edit Post

Oh JamRock, dem stripin yu...dem flayin yu beautiful bounty an yu rainbow colahs...mangrove gawn an di fish wid it.. dem sellin out the legacy dat di grannies might only whisper of the treasures dat may nebba be seen agin...dem pennin up di land lik some hoader nuh wan share...sea watta risin so wi luk agin fa di hi grund in di hills fa sum provisions lik mi daddy seh!

"National scientific data has shown that, despite a high level of biodiversity and endemism, a large number of plant and animal species have become extinct over the last century and that at least 221 endemic species are now classified as 'critically imperilled' or 'especially vulnerable'.

Executive Director of the Negril Area Environment Protection Trust, Maxine Hamilton, said loss of biodiversity, a large portion of which is caused by the expansion of tourism itself, will have serious implications for the future of the industry."

..."Tourists nowadays are looking for natural experiences and they also come to see the inner parts of the country. With continued biodiversity loss, we will lose that growing market. We will see a decline. It doesn't matter the amount of marketing you do," she said.

But Executive Director of the Jamaica Environment Trust Diana McCaulay says further tourism expansion by way of construction will continue to deplete Jamaica's biodiversity. McCaulay has long contended that Jamaica's accommodations sector has surpassed its carrying capacity.

"Any time there is a choice between biodiversity and any kind of development, be it tourism or otherwise, biodiversity loses. Biodiversity is sacrificed. Look at the Palisadoes-Port Royal protected area today. It is a RAMSAR site, protected under international convention, but it has been devastated by the construction of an unnecessary road," she said.

Wendy Lee, of the Northern Jamaica Conservation Association, says only lip service is being paid to the preservation of biodiversity in the island, by its officials.

"The tourists that visit care more about the natural environment and the flora and fauna than the tourism officials. Do our leaders have the slightest idea what biodiversity is? They don't have a clue. They have to celebrate the World Tourism Day theme 'Tourism and Biodiversity' because it is an internationally observed event. It is ridiculous. Do they have the slightest idea what the Environmental NGOs are doing to preserve biodiversity? Look at how they are destroying Falmouth," she said.

There are several negative environmental impacts associated with the growth in tourism. These include the concentration of infrastructure along the narrow coastal zone, destruction of wetlands and mangroves to facilitate hotel construction and erection of piers and marinas. There is the destruction of marine habitats due to dredging, sea grass removal, damage to coral reefs and discharge of sewage in offshore areas," the development plan said.


For more on the subject, see the Gleaner's Hospitality Section.

http://hospitalityjamaica.com/news1.html


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By axel on Wednesday, October 06, 2010 - 02:36 pm: Edit Post

check the article from todays Observer,the shoreline in Negril is more than in trouble,!!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Zed on Wednesday, October 06, 2010 - 06:28 pm: Edit Post

Thanks axel...there are some of us who actually remember when there was just one major hotel (the Sundowner) in Negril and fishermen ruled the roost.
Pristine & calm, then, has evolved into cheek and jowl human intervention that doesn't look much like Nature's Way now...in need of healing.

The Observer link:
www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/JET-concerned-about-Negril-shoreline