Biodiveristy and Ecosystem Loss in Jamaica's Environment

8/12/2019 Biodiveristy and Ecosystem Loss in Jamaica's Environment

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Dale F. Webber

The James Moss-Solomon Professor

of

Environmental Management

UWI Mona


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Lecture outline

24 Global Environmental Issues

Definitions of Biodiversity & Ecosystem

Caribbean Biodiversity

Jamaica

State of the Environment Report 2011

Biodiversity

Climate change and Jamaicas biodiversity


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24 Global Environmental issues

3

1. Climate change

Global warming Global dimming Fossil fuels Sea level

rise Greenhouse gas Ocean acidification Shutdown of

thermohaline circulation Environmental impact of the

coal industry Urban Heat Islands

2. Conservation

Species extinction Pollinator decline Coral bleaching

Holocene extinction Invasive species Poaching

Endangered species

3. Energy

Energy conservation Renewable energy Efficientenergy use Renewable energy commercialization

4. Environmental degradation

Eutrophication Habitat destruction Invasive species

Professor Dale Webber UWI


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Global Environmental issues continued

4

5. Environmental health Air quality Asthma Electromagnetic fields

Electromagnetic radiation and health Indoor air quality Lead poisoning Sick Building Syndrome

6. Genetic engineering

Genetic pollution Genetically modified foodcontroversies

7. Intensive farming

Overgrazing Irrigation Monoculture Environmentaleffects of meat production Slash and burn Pesticidedrift Plasticulture

8. Land degradation Land pollution Desertification

9. Soil

Soil conservation & erosion Soil contamination Soilsalinization



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10. Land use

Urban sprawl Habitat fragmentation Habitatdestruction

11. Nanotechnology

Nanotoxicology Nanopollution

12. Nuclear issues

Nuclear fallout Nuclear meltdown Nuclear power Nuclear weapons Nuclear and radiation accidents Nuclear safety High- level radioactive wastemanagement

13. Overpopulation

Burial Water crisis Overpopulation in companionanimals Tragedy of the commons GenderImbalance in Developing Countries Sub-

replacement fertility levels in developed countries

14. Ozone depletion

CFC Biological effects of UV exposure



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15. Pollution

Nonpoint source pollution Point source pollution Light pollution Noise pollution Visual pollution

16. Water pollution

Environmental impact of the coal industry Acidrain Eutrophication Marine pollution Ocean

dumping Oil spills Thermal pollution Urbanrunoff Water crisis Marine debris Microplastics Ocean acidification Ship pollution Wastewater Fish kill Algal bloom Mercury in fish

17. Air pollution

Environmental impact of the coal industry Smog Tropospheric ozone Indoor air quality Volatileorganic compound Atmospheric particulate matter

18. Resource depletion

Exploitation of natural resources Overdrafting



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19. Consumerism

Consumer capitalism Over-consumption20. Fishing

Blast fishing Bottom trawling Cyanide fishing Ghost nets Illegal,unreported and unregulated fishing Overfishing Shark finning Whaling

21. Logging

Clearcutting Deforestation Illegal logging

22. Mining

Acid mine drainage Mountaintop removal mining Slurryimpoundments

23. Toxins

Chlorofluorocarbons DDT Endocrine disruptors Dioxin Toxicheavy metals Environmental impact of the coal industry

Herbicides Pesticides Toxic waste PCB Bioaccumulation Biomagnification

24. Waste

Electronic waste Litter Waste disposal incidents Marine debrisMedical waste Landfill Leachate Incineration Great PacificGarbage Patch Exporting of hazardous waste



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WHAT IS BIODIVERSITY?

Coined from the phrase Biological Diversity

Defined by UNEP as:

the variability among living organisms from all sources including,terrestrial, marine and aquatic systems and the ecologicalcomplexities of which they are a part.

The variety of life on earth,

expressed through ecosystems,

goods and services that sustain

our lives (CBD).

3 components of Biodiversity

Genetic or hereditary diversity

Taxonomic or species diversity

Ecosystem or habitat diversity Photo: Ramsar Convention Secretariat


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BIODIVERSITY DEFINITIONBiodiversity has a variety of meanings:

1) The number of different native speciesandindividuals in a habitat or geographical area;

2) the variety of different habitatswithin an area;

3) The variety of interactions that occurbetween

different species in a habitat; and

4) The range of genetic variationamong individualswithin a species.


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What is an Ecosystem?

A functional, interacting entity including

all the living organisms (a community)

and the abiotic environment of a

particular area.


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Caribbean Biodiversity (UNEP 2002).

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The region contains a wide variety of ecosystem types.

Tropical moist and dry broadleaf forests - 43% of the territory; Grasslands and savannas- 40.5%;

Deserts and scrub 11%;

Temperate forests and tropical and sub-tropical coniferous

forests 5%;

Mangroves 0.5% The Caribbean contains 7% of the world's coral reefs (about 20

000 km2) which contain a great array of marine biodiversity

(UNEP 2002).

Seven of the world's 25 biologically richest terrestrial eco-regions

are found in the region, containing more than

46 000 vascular plant,

1 597 amphibian,

1 208 reptile,

1 267 bird and 575 mammal s eciesProfessor Dale Webber UWI


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Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund Country/ territoryKey Biodiversity Areas

Netherlands Antilles 7

Puerto Rico (to USA) 28

St. Barthlemy (to France) 4

St. Kitts and Nevis 1

St. Lucia 6St. Martin (to France) 1

St. Vincent & the Grenadines 7

Turks & Caicos Islands

(to U.K.) 11

Virgin Islands (to U.K.) 7Virgin Islands (to USA) 13

TOTAL Key Biodiversity Areas290

Anguilla (to U.K.) 6

Antigua and Barbuda 10

Aruba (to Netherlands) 1

Bahamas 26

Barbados 4

Cayman Islands (to U.K.) 8Cuba 28

Dominica 4

Dominican Republic 35

Grenada 9

Guadeloupe (to France) 8

Haiti 17

Jamaica 38Martinique (to France) 8

Montserrat (to U.K.) 3

12Professor Dale Webber UWI


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Map of Key Biodiversity Areasand Corridors

Bird Life International et al.


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THREATS : CEPFAverage prioritization score

(on a scale from 14)Invasive Species 3.7

Residential, Commercial Development 3.5

Severe Weather, Climate Change 3.3

Human Disturbance 2.8

Agricultural Expansion, Intensification 2.7

Over-exploitation 2.7

Mining, Energy Production 2.6

Pollution 2.4Transportation 2.3

Geological Events 1.2



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Change in coastal land use

Demographic Urbanization

Climate variability and

damage

Economic trade

Technology adaptation

Species introductions and

pollution

Economic/ Trade

Pollution (Land based) Sociopolitical (Regional

Coordination & governance)

Pollution (Marine)

Species introduction

Rank =1 (Urban sprawl & habitat

loss) Rank = 1 (Coastal development)

Rank = 2 (Hurricanes & sea temp)

Rank = 2 (Tourism development)

Rank = 2 (Fish Harvest)

Rank = 3 (River discharge, ballast)

Rank = 3 (International shipping)

Rank = 3 (Untreated Sewage) Rank = 3 (large # ind. Jurisdictions)

Rank5 (Oil and sewage)

Rank = 5 (Aquaculture/Mariculture)

Drivers affecting Caribbean Sea (Agard et al 2007)



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0

100

200300

400

500

600

700

Barb

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Puerto

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St.

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St.Vincent

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.

Montserra

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Bahamas

Turks

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Is.

Population Density

per sq. km


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JAMAICAthe Island


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ST.ANN

CLARENDON

WESTMORELAND

HANOVER

TRELAWNY

ST.ELIZABETHMANCHESTER

ST.JAMES

ST.THOMAS

ST.MARY

ST.CATHERINE

ST.ANDREW

KINGSTON

PORTLAND

Marine territory isnow approximately

161,000 Km2i.e. 24 times the land

area of mainland

Jamaica

JAMAICAan Island?


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Small Island s): Big Issues Freshwater resources (overexploited/Polluted) Natural disasters (Hurricanes, earthquakes etc)

Waste management (solid, sewage & indust.)

Overexploitation (forest, fisheries, mines)

Global Climate Change & Sea Level Rise

Invasive species (goats, mongoose, Cherax,lionfish)

Soil Erosion Pollution

PADH(Physical alteration and destruction of Habitats)


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NEED FOR MEDICAL WASTE DISPOSAL SYSTEM

GOVERNMENT LAND SETTLEMENTS SPRAWLING INTOSETTLEMENTS INSTEAD OF BEING USED FORFARMLAND PURPOSES AS HAD BEEN DESIGNATED

NEED FOR PROMOTING/INCREASING AWARENESSOF JAMAICAS FLORA AND FAUNA

DOWNTOWN KINGSTON - NEED FOR REDEVELOPMENT

SAND MINING AND QUARRYING

IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF SOLIDWASTE

SQUATTINGON HILLSIDES, RIVER BANKS, GULLY BANKS

INDUSTRIAL CHEMICAL COMPANIESSTACK EMMISSIONS, INDUSTRIAL EFFLUENT

NEGRILLOSS OF WETLANDS DOLPHIN HEADENDEMIC PLANTS THREATENED

FALMOUTHTHREAT TO HISTORICAL VALUE(GEORGIAN ARCHITECTURE) FROM DEVELOPMENT TRENDS

NEED FOR REGULATION OF THEHARVESTING OFSOME WILD LIFE IN PARTICULAR, MARINELIFE

ERADICATION OF SOME INVASIVE SPECIES

DEER, MANGOOSE AND RED CLAWED LOBSTERS ETC.

NEED FOR CONSERVATION OFAGRICULTURAL AREAS

DEFORESTATION

IMPROPER DISPOSAL OF WASTEBY LARGE AGRICULTURAL ESTATES

POOR OR IMPROPER AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES

INADEQUATE / LACK OFLAND USE PLANNING

FONT HILL AND PARROTTEECROCODILES,WETLANDS LOSS, POLLUTION, DEVELOPMENT

These are urgent environmental issues in Jamaica currently


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SOE Report 2010SynopsisWatersheds

Pressures:

- Poor agricultural practices

- Improper Land Use

- Illegal logging

- Development activities

- Extreme climatic events


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Dea

nsValle

yRiv

er

Oracabe

ssa-P

ageeRiver

Pencar-BuffBay

River

Sp

anishRiver

Swift

Riv

er Drivers

Riv

PlantainGardenRiver

Black RiverRio Cobre

Rio Minho

Rio Bueno - White River

Milk River

Martha Brae

MorantRiver

Gut-Allig

atorH

ole

RioG

rande

Monteg

oRiver

GreatR

iver

HopeRiver

Lucea River

Wag

water

River

Cabarit

aRive

r

Yalla

hsR

iver

RioNuev

o

0 10 20 30 405

KilometersLegend

Rivers

Jamaicas Watersheds


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State:

SOE Report 2010SynopsisWatersheds


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Pressures:

- Land based sources of pollution

- Development activities

- Over fishing

- Hurricanes/Storms

- Climate Change

SOE Report 2010SynopsisCoastal resources


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Ocean and Coastal Resources

Current levels of coral cover contrast with thesituation in the 1970s.

In the late 1970s, 9 reefs on the north coast hadlive coral cover averaging 52% at 10m depth, butthis declined to 3% in the 1990s.

Percentage of live coral cover in 2008-13.7%.

While the situation has improved since the 1990s,the islands reefs still remain under threat.

No. of fish kills: Fairly constant with

4 - 5 fish kills reported per yearin Kingston Harbour.


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Pressures:

-Sewage effluent

- Industrial effluent

- Urban run-off

- Agricultural run-off

SOE Report 2010SynopsisWater Quality


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SOE Report 2010Synopsis Water Quality- Riverine

State:

Source: NEPA


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Sewage pollution

Coliform levels at many of the operating treatmentplants have often exceeded NRCAs (now NEPAs)sewage effluent standards (ECD 1997)

Widespread discharge of high volumes of untreated

sewage from on-shore, and visiting marine vessels haslead to abnormal growth of algae on coral reefs

This has assisted in diminishing their productivity andintroduced human health risks

Studies of Kingston Harbour have revealed that themajor sources of pollution are sewage and industrialeffluent discharged directly into the Harbour, or intothe gullies and rivers that enter it.


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Marine Water Quality

SOE Report 2010SynopsisWater Quality- Marine

State:

Source: NEPA


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Aerial View of Portmore Sewage Treatment

Ponds


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KSA - Sewage & Wastewater Treatment32

H.G.M.

Population served: 768,000

Design flow: 225,000m3

/day

Stage-3


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Jamaicas Biodiversity at a glance.Over 8,000 species recorded

Ranked 5thamong worlds islands in endemic species

Group No. of Species Endemics

Plants (Flowering

/ferns/lichens)

>6000 28%

Butterflies >120 15?

Frogs 19 17

Breeding birds

Migrant birds

113

100

28

Mammals 22 (21 bats) 4?


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Diverse Jamaican community types

1. Wet Limestone Forest

2. Dry Limestone Forest

3. Thorn Scrub

4. Cactus Thorn Scrub

5. Strand Woodland

6. Lower Montane Rain Forest

7. Montane Mist Forest

8. Elfin Woodland

9. Montane Sclerophyll

10. Herbaceous Swamp

11. Mangrove Woodland

12. Marsh Forest


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Port Royal and environs

P t R l d i


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Port Royal and environsover 1000 species recorded

Taxon Number of Species

Macroalgae 98+

Porifera 54+

Cnidaria 156+Ctenophora 4

Platyhelminthes 3+Annelida 26+

Crustacea 158+

Mollusca 295Bryozoa 18+

Chaetognatha 3Echinodermata 81

Hemichordata 2

Chordata 228-278+ Goodbody, 2004


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Value of Mangrove Biodiversity

Ecological value Sediment trap

Purification (sewage,fertilizers)

Shoreline and infrastructureprotection

Nutrient release

Nursery ground

Habitat for other species

Refuge during hurricanesand severe storms

Exploitable resources

Medicinal

Food

Timber cutting

Tannins


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Mangrove Prop roots

Prop roots hang into the water and provide firm substrate for the

attachment of sessile organisms


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Prop root habitat- Large # of species (high

biodiversity)

A mangrove Root

with high diversity

marine animals.

Water cleaning filter

feeders

Number of species

~ 50 with a wet

biomass of ~2 kg.


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Sessile Organisms

Sponges

Bryozoans

Bivalves

Algae Echinoderms

Ascidians


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OPPORTUNITIES

Ecteinascidia turbinata


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NEW SPECIES

Haliclona portroyalensis n.sp Jackson, C.P.J., De Weerdt, W. and Webber, M.K. 2006.


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Threats to Mangrove Biodiversity

Pollution from spills

Solid waste disposal

Cutting for timber and

charcoal Reclamation for

development, informalhousing

Drainage alteration Invasive species

Lack of enforcement


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What can be done to preserve

mangrove biodiversity?

Education and Public Awareness


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Outreach- Workshops for users & stakeholders


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UWI/EFJ PRML Biodiversity Centre

Biodiversity Centre Launch- Jan 26 2010


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Biodiversity Centre Launch- Jan. 26, 2010


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Enforcement

Existing laws and regulations

Strengthen existing regulatory andenforcement agencies

Encourage voluntary compliance

Environmental assessment

Ecosystem restoration and

rehabilitation Compensatory restitution


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FORESTS AND CLIMATEVulnerability 30% of Jamaicas land area

is forest

Provide a wide variety of

goods and services

Home of several endemicplants and animals

Small changes intemperature andprecipitation havesignificant effects on forestgrowth

Jamaican Tody (Todus todus)

One of the many endemic birdsfound in Jamaican forests

Photo: Wingsbirds.com


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Forests The actual rate of deforestation is 0.1 per

cent per annum.

The extent and rate to which forest cover

and biodiversity is being degraded as a

result of disturbance is unknown. Since 2007 the Forestry Department has

been producing an average of 250,000

seedlings per year.

The Forestry Department planted 102.7 ha

and 69.7 ha on public lands during the

financial years 2007/2008 and 2008/2009,

respectively.


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Blue & John Crow Mountains


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Blue & John Crow Mountainsover 1000 species recorded

Group No. of Species Endemics

Plants (Flowering

/ferns/lichens)>500 240

Orchids >200 65

Snails 100 ?

Breeding birds 50 22

Invertebrates >200 ?

Blue mountain guide, 1993


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Forest conservation

3 D organization important (timber 25%less volume than natural)

Conserved forests must be large,undisturbed and numerous for effectiveconservation. (low density, low fertilization, high endemism)

Fauna & humidity loss = lowerregeneration

Research, seed banks, institutionalapproach needed


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Importance

High biodiversity-Over 271 plant specieshave been reported from the HellshireHills, including 53 species endemic toJamaica (Espeut 1999).

Multiplicity in habitat

Rare endemic and endangered species

Water and nutrient budget management

Inland protection from coastal storms


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Threatened species

Portland Ridge Frog

Logger head turtle

Hawksbill turtle

Green turtle

Jamaican slider turtle

Cricket lizard

Jamaican Iguana

Blue-tailed Galliwasp

Jamaican Boa

Jamaican Thundersnake

White Ibis

Glossy Ibis

WI Whistling Duck

Masked Duck

Black Rail

Clapper Rail

Caribbean Coot

Bridled Tern

Fish-eating Bat

Jamaican Hutia(Coney)


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The Pedro Cays and Bank

Major Issues on the Pedro Cays


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Major Issues on the Pedro Cays

and Bank1. Heavy population density and poor living conditions

2. Limited fisheries management & enforcement, heavyfishing pressure & unsustainable practices

3. Fishers not organized and have limited skills (limitededucation & job opportunities)

4. No formal biodiversity protection & increasing threats(e.g. habitat loss, poaching)

5. Poorly-defined institutional framework & limitedcapacity to effectively address issues


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CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACT ON JAMAICAS BIODIVERSITY Ecosystems most vulnerable to climate change impacts

include coral reefs, highland forests, and coastalwetlands (mangroves).

Jamaicas biodiversity already under stress from:

human impacts including land use change, pollution,

invasive species, and

over-harvesting of commercially valuable species.

Climate change is an additional stress with expectedprofound impacts on the islands natural ecosystems andtheir species.

G l j t d i t f li t h


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General projected impacts of climate change

on Jamaicas biodiversity

General impacts could be as a result of:

Increases in temperature on land.

Altered rainfall and runoff patterns.

Sea level rise.

Increase in sea surface temperature.

Altered intensity of hurricanes.


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Climate Change: A Threat to BiodiversityHigher Temperatures Change in species abundance &

distribution

Migration to higher altitudes

Genetic changes in species to new

climatic conditions Change in reproduction timings

(life cycle)

Increased sand temperatures, canlead to changes in sex ratios(reducing male turtle production).

Change in length of growingseasons for plants

Increase in extinction rate

Citrus Swallowtail (Papilio andraemon)Island Hop in Wind Currents

Photo: Catherine Levy


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Climate Change: A Threat to BiodiversityAltered rainfall runoff patterns

Drying of ecosystems leading to loss of species andchanges in community composition.

Changes in species distribution and ecosystem

composition.

Changes in the geographical extent of habitatsand ecosystems.

Flooding of nests of various species and death ofyoung individuals.

Climate Change: A Threat to Biodiversity


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Higher Sea Surface Temperatures Mild warming (+2oC), tropical near-shore communities will

change from coral-dominance to algal-dominance. Creates conditions that may be suitable for some invasive

species to become established in new areas

High temperatures lead to coral bleaching and even coraldeath

The elimination of coral reefs would have direconsequences. Coral reefs provide habitats and nurseryareas for numerous commercially important species

Healthy (Left) and Bleached (Right) Coral

Jamaicas coral reefs experience massive bleaching due to

high sea temperatures in years 1987, 1989, 1990 and 1998.


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Climate Change: A Threat to BiodiversityAltered hurricane intensity

Loss of vulnerable island species.

Changes in species competitive interactionsand species and community composition.

Changes in range of invasive species.

Increased damage to nests & nesting sites.

Increased destruction of sensitive habitats:

Coral reefs, Mangrove ecosystems

Terrestrial (esp. forest) ecosystems.


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Lecture recap

24 Global Environmental Issues

Definitions of Biodiversity & Ecosystem

Caribbean Biodiversity

Jamaica

State of the Environment Report 2011

Biodiversity

Climate change and Jamaicas biodiversity


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Documents

Biodiveristy and Ecosystem Loss in Jamaica's Environment