Report Contents
All CEP Technical Reports

CEP Technical Report No. 36 1996: Status of Protected Area Systems in the Wider Caribbean Region
Country Profiles

JAMAICA

Area 11,400 sq. km.

Summary Table

Policy and Legislation

Jamaica became an independent state with its own constitution within the Commonwealth on 6 August 1962. At present, no overall environmental policy is applied, nor is there a co-ordinated set of policies related to biodiversity conservation or the preservation of ecosystems and ecological processes. Although a Green Paper on a Policy for Jamaica's parks and protected areas system is open for public debate after island-wide public presentations. It is in the final stages of becoming a policy. The Jamaica Environmental Action Plan, while not an environmental policy, outlines the approach the government has towards environmental management in Jamaica.

The forest policy, issued over 30 years ago, includes provisions for "Protection and development of the Islands' natural forest resources", but there is no policy for the establishment and management of a system of protected areas (see comment above). In addition, some policies have a potentially negative impact upon forest ecosystems. These include the Idle Lands Declaration (under the Land Development and Utilisation Act), under which private lands, which have been set aside to protect natural vegetation may be declared "idle"; in such a case the owner has to "develop" them or be subject to compulsory acquisition by the government (Anon. 1989).

Interest in natural resource protection was initiated in 1904 with the enactment of the Morant and Pedro Cays Act controlling resource exploitation on the Morant and Pedro Cays. This was followed by a series of pieces of legislation, such that by June 1991 there were 11 types of protected areas controlled by 10 acts, involving six agencies, several statutory bodies, and four ministries. This complex situation, with overlapping and conflicting responsibilities of agencies involved, has been one of the major impediments to the development of a workable system of protected areas.

The Forest Act 1937 (Annex I), provides for the establishment of forest reserves where access and exploitation can be controlled (public recreational use is one purpose of such areas, in areas classed as "recreation parks"). The establishment of protected areas on private lands is also provided for under this Act. In 1984 a new model Forest Act was drafted, but this has not been enacted (Walters et al., 1989).

The Wildlife Protection Act (1945) provides for the establishment of game sanctuaries and game reserves; the Beach Control Law 63 (1955) provides for the declaration of "protected areas" to control exploitation and development; the Town and Country Planning Act (1957) provides for "green area" conservation; the Watershed Protection Act (1963) provides for the control of land use within designated watersheds; the Fishing Industry Act (1975) provides for the establishment of fish sanctuaries. The Jamaica National Heritage Trust Act (1985) provides for the declaration of protected national heritage sites and national monuments by the prime minister, of which a number of small cultural sites have been designated (NRCD and Field 1987).

The passage of the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act 1991, and the National Parks Regulations (1993) and the Marine Parks Regulations (1992), Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park Order and the Montego Bay Marine Park Order which was done under Phase I of the PARC Project has established the legal declaration of national and marine parks. Protected areas regulations have not as yet been written.

The Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act of June 1991 established the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) as the primary government agency with responsibility for environmental management in Jamaica (IRF 1992). The Act gives provision for the designation of national parks, protected areas and marine parks. Regulations to the Act are the Natural Resources Conservation (Marine Parks) Regulations which provide system-wide regulations for the establishment, management and operations of marine parks; and the National Parks Regulations which provide system-wide regulations for the establishment, management and operations of terrestrial national parks. These Regulations and orders designated the Montego Bay Marine Park and the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, the only existing parks in Jamaica.

International Participation

Conventions & Treaties

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992)

Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention, 1983)

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (LOS, 1982)

Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (Migratory Species, 1972)

Convention concerning the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage (World Heritage, 1972)

Programmes & Associations

Caribbean Conservation Association (CCA, 1967)

Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP, 1981) and its Specially Protected Areas & Wildlife Programme (SPAW, 1990)

Latin American Network for Technical Co-operation in National Parks, Protected Areas & Wildlife (LAN-NPPAW)

FAO Tropical Forestry Action Plan (TFAP, 1985)

Administration

A provisional National Parks Committee was established in 1970 in the Forest Department, following a recommendation in the National Physical Plan (1970-1990). Activities of the Committee were to include identification of areas suitable for national parks and to initiate their development. In 1972 the Committee was moved to the Ministry of Mining and Natural Resources, and in 1975 was reformed as the national parks branch of the Natural Resources and Conservation Division (NRCD) of first the Ministry of Agriculture, and later the Ministry of Development, Planning and Production.

The NRCD carried out extensive resource inventories during the mid-1970's. The ecological branch subsequently took the first steps towards protected areas establishment in 1979 with the help of the Organisation of American States. Surveys identified Canoe Valley as the NRCD's priority choice for Jamaica's first national park. However, Canoe Valley was never legally declared a national park or protected area. In the late 1980's, activities were focused on the establishment of the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park and of the Montego Bay Marine Park. These were not implemented until the 1990's.

In 1991 the NRCD was replaced by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA), a statutory body currently falling within the portfolio of the Ministry of Housing and the Environment, but was initially wthinin the Ministry Planning, Production & Development then transferred to Ministry of Tourism and Environment then the Ministry of Public Service and the Environment. The establishment of the NRCA allowed for the establishment of national parks and protected area legislation as it was contained in the Act that established it. It was then possible to write the regulations and orders for the parent legislation.

Under the NRCA Act, the authority is responsible for the management of such national parks, marine parks and protected areas as may be prescribed. To date the provisions of the Watershed Protection Act, the Wildlife Protection Act ,the Beach Control Act , the Marine Parks Regulation and the National Parks Regulation are the responsibility of the NRCA. A National Park and Protected Areas Unit within the NRCA was created in 1993. The NRCA also has the authority to delegate this function to other institutes and organisations.

The Forestry and Soil Conservation Department (FSCD), within the Ministry of Agriculture, is responsible for administration of the Forest Act. Activities relevant to protected areas include forest protection and conservation and watershed management. The FSCD had responsibility for the development and management of Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park identified under the PARC project until September 1992 when the management was taken over by the NRCA. Expenditure for the FSCD in the financial year 1989/1990 included US$4.89 million recurrent (forest administration and soil conservation) and US$2.50 million capital (forestry, watershed management and conservation (Anon. 1990b).

The National Forestry Action Plan was drawn up during the financial year 1989/90 in co-operation with FAO. The NFAP was implemented as a government executed project, and the Planning Institute of Jamaica (PIOJ) was designated as the executing agency (Anon. 1990a).

In February 1986, the Ministry of Tourism established a Marine Parks Action Committee (MPAC) to investigate ways of implementing effective administration and management of marine parks already designated by legislation. The Committee's primary aim was to develop a funding proposal to manage a Montego Bay Marine Park then a Marine Protected Area under the Beach Control Authority Act which was administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Division the precursor to the NRCA. Attention was also given to the need for improved legislation to protect, develop and manage proposed marine parks.

Following on from the Country Environmental Profile prepared by NRCD and Field (1987) the Government of Jamaica and USAID designed the PARC Project which acted on the recommendations to establish a protected areas system for Jamaica. On 28 August 1989, USAID and the government of Jamaica signed a project agreement resulting in implementation of the Protected Areas Resources Conservation Project (PARC), designed to promote the conservation of biological diversity by integrating it with sustainable development. Phase 1 of the project, which terminated in October 1993, was designed to contribute to the establishment of an effective National Parks and Protected Areas System for Jamaica.

Two sets of activities were involved: the immediate initiation of protected areas activities in the two pilot areas (Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park and Montego Bay Marine Park), and building the policy, legal, financial and institutional framework for a national system of protected areas. The framework includes:

the establishment of a Conservation Data Centre - Jamaica (CDC-J) at the University of the West Indies to provide planners and managers with a comprehensive base of scientific information.

the preparation of a System Plan for development of a parks and protected areas system for Jamaica.

the establishment of a Jamaica National Parks Trust Fund (JNPTF) by the first debt-for-nature swap in the English speaking Caribbean. The fund is operated as an endowment and is expected to contribute to the financial resources required to run the Jamaican protected area systems.

the drafting and passage into Law of the National Parks and Marine Parks Regulations, and the Orders that would declare the two pilot parks as legally designated Parks.

A long term goal of the PARC project is for the park system to become self-sustaining. The JNPTF is capitalised at about US$1 million at present, and the Government of Jamaica continues to contribute significantly to the project. USAID funds have been lower than projected because of cut backs in the amount of funds in their bi-lateral programme. Commencing in 1990, the PARC project had an operational budget of US$2.05 million provided by USAID for a three year period. Phase II is focused on the establishment of institutional and financial stability and to establish a self-sustaining system of national parks and protected areas by 1997. For a second phase, ending in 1997 an additional US$3.4 million is provided by USAID.

An evaluation report of the project was prepared in June 1992, which includes recommendations for inclusion in phase II of the programme. The report points out that one of the major components for the successful establishment of the two national parks is the involvement of local advisory committees (LAC). Currently, several LACs, which consist of local residents and interest groups, participate in the management of the national parks. For Phase II of the PARC project it is recommended to continue support and involvement of LACs in the establishment of proposed protected areas (IRF 1992). The report also points out that the establishment of a highly professional cadre of protected area specialists resulted from the project which contributed to its success and bode well for future implementation of the system. It also credited the PIOJ with shrewd Project Management as a major factor in the project's success.

Priorities for development of a parks and protected areas system, outlined by NRCD and Field (1987), emphasised the need to establish and develop an independent, not-for-profit National Parks and Protected Areas Trust. It was regarded that the establishment of the Trust would ensure enactment of parks and protected areas legislation, be instrumental in establishing the institutional framework, and also establish the process for selection of areas to be included in the system. The Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT), an NGO dedicated to the creation and financing of national parks, was formed in 1987. The JCDT also has two other areas of focus: environmental education, and advocacy on environment and development issues.

The trust has received support from The Nature Conservancy and the Caribbean Conservation Association. The JCDT has been identified by USAID as a suitable non-governmental organisation capable of exerting leadership responsibilities under the PARC project. Specifically they were responsible for the production of a Jamaican National Park System Plan and setting up a National Park Trust Fund. They handled the details of a debt-for-nature swap engineered by The Nature Conservancy, with assistance from the USAID and the Puerto Rico Conservation Trust (IRF 1992). This swap was finalised in 1992 and since March 1993 park staff is paid through the Trust Fund. In the long term it is expected that the maintenance of the entire national parks and protected areas system will be significantly financed by the Trust (PIOJ 1993). The JCDT also completed a second debt-for-nature swap with the Smithsonian Institution which further endowed the Trust Fund and supports research in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park.

Many national and local NGOs committed to conservation have developed over the past years. Most of the NGOs are unified by the National Environmental Societies Trust (NEST) which seeks to improve communication and collaboration among its members and to establish an institutional framework within which to encourage actions in defence of the conservation, protection, management and enhancement of the natural environment. The NRCA currently takes into consideration the possibility of delegating the responsibility for the management of protected areas to single NGOs and community groups.

Biodiversity

The landmass of Jamaica, which emerged from the ocean in the mid-Miocene, has never been connected to any other landmass. The central spine of the island is mountainous and reaches 2,256 m at Blue Mountain Peak. It is surrounded by a flatter coastal strip, which is narrow in the north. The southern coastal plains are broad, and include flat alluvial areas, swamps, and dry hills. The land surface is two-thirds limestone, the rest is composed of igneous rocks, sedimentary shales and alluvium. Mean annual rainfall varies from less than 750 mm to more than 7000 mm per annum (Anon. 1989).

Jamaica was almost entirely forested before human settlement in the 1st century AD. Now, only the most remote and inaccessible forests may be considered relatively untouched. Most forests have been radically affected by clearing, fire, and introduced species, the most acute effects having occurred in the last 350 years. By 1983, less than 67,000 ha (6%) of the country was covered in undisturbed natural forest. It was ranked as the country with the greatest deforestation rate by the World Resources Instituite in 1995. Three broad groups of forest occur: limestone forests of the John Crow Mountains, central and western Jamaica, predominantly shale forests of the Blue Mountains and Port Royal Mountains, and alluvial and wetland forests of the coastal plains.

The original lowland forest has been almost entirely replaced by plantations and artificial savannahs (Anon. 1989). In addition, there are small areas of mangrove and herbaceous swamp (Braatz 1982). The north coast is fringed by a narrow system of well developed, spectacular and diverse reefs. Reef development on the south coast is not continuous but is more diverse than on the north coast (UNEP/IUCN 1988). The southern island shelf extends out to about 12 nautical miles and is much larger than the shelf in the north.

There are an estimated 3,000 flowering plants, 784 (27%) of which are endemic. In addition, there are 5,500 species of fern (including 82 endemics) and 300 species of moss (Johnson 1988). Twenty-six species of endemic birds occur (more than any other oceanic island in the world), five endemic mammal species, and 20 endemic amphibians (Anon. 1989).

Management

With the exception of the two parks established and managed under PARC Phase I, management of protected areas is hampered by inadequate legislation, and a lack of enforcement. Staff shortages in relevant agencies are acute. Fines for violators of the several acts following successful prosecution are minimal.

Protected Areas cover nearly 130,000 ha (12% of the landmass of Jamaica), of which more than 50% are national parks (Summary Table and Annex II). The first protected areas, Morant and Pedro Cays established in 1904, were followed by Clydesdale and Hardware Gap Forest Reserves in 1937 in the Blue Mountains. Another 60 forest reserves were designated in the 1950's, the first in 1950 and the last in 1955. No recent information is available concerning the status of forest reserves, or about which areas of them are covered by natural forest or plantations, or leased for coffee, pines or occupied by squatters (Anon. 1989).

The first nature protection areas were Mason Wildlife Reserve, established in 1944, Ocho Rios Protected Area in 1966, followed by Bogue Estate Game Reserve in 1963 and Kingston and St. Andrew Game Reserve in 1971. The most recently established protected areas include Stanmore Hill Game Reserve in 1988, and the re-designed Montego Bay Marine Park in 1991 (originally set up in 1974 as a small protected area). Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, which covers an area of 77,000 hectares, was established in 1993. The Park contains seven distinct forest types and has one of the highest levels of endemism in higher plants (50%) in this hemisphere.

Numerous reports have been produced stressing the need for the development of an effective protected areas system. Six obstacles to the development of a park system are noted in Thorsell (1981): low level of public awareness and political support; lack of protected areas legislation; lack of comprehensive park system policy statement; need for definition of priority areas; restrictions of management capacity and limited involvement in international and regional conservation agency programs.

NRCD and Field (1987) identify thirteen potential national park sites, enumerate the benefits of an effective national system of protected areas, and also identify a range of problems and issues affecting the establishment and management of protected areas. In particular, they list pressures through development of both industrial and agricultural nature, vegetation clearance, poor land use practices and uncontrolled use of resources, as typified in the Negril area.

A wide range of parks, recreation and conservation areas was included in the National Physical Plan of 1970-1990, which stated the need for "an integrated regional system of a wide range of parks, recreational and conservation areas reflecting Jamaica's social needs and natural environment". The subsequent National Physical Plan (1978-1998) recommended that national parks be legally designated and priority areas selected for implementation. However, despite this the level of implementation is still low. Allen (1990) reviews these previous reports, and outlines the aims of the PARC project. Other relevant reports include: Braatz 1982, Clark 1987, Cotterell 1977, Mailer 1982, 1984, WWF 1982, 1985, and Worthington 1970.

Under the PARC project, the JCDT prepared the latest plan for a system of protected areas. The plan was approved by the NRCA in 1992 and has formed the basis of the Green Paper on Parks and Protected Areas policy . Out of 130 proposed sites 15 areas, considered as highly valuable, were selected for the inclusion in the plan. Preparation has started for the establishment of the Black River area and the Cockpit Country as national parks under Phase II of the PARC Project. The system plan includes suggestions for a mechanism for the implementation, management and financing of the proposed sites (PIOJ 1993).

Management constraints include cash flow problems at the Forest Department. Park staff were trained and the rangers are legally gazetted as policemen. van't Hof (1993) reported that management of Montego Bay Marine Park is considered effective, but conflicts between NRCA and Local Advisory Committee concerning management responsibility remain unresolved despite its policy of delegation.

Over 1 million tourists visiting Jamaica every year put the natural resources, mainly along the north coast, under enormous pressure. With the establishment of the Montego Bay Marine Park and proposed protected sites in the Negril and Ocho Rios area it has been stated that the selection of protected areas has been made on grounds of proximity to tourism interests without reference to their environmental importance as these areas have experienced heavy impacts from sewage, sedimentation and over-fishing (Goreau et al 1990). However, if the goal is to link the protection of biodiversity to sustainable development initiatives it is likely that these areas will have higher priority in terms of implementation as tourism plays a large part in the island's economy. This has been the norm in the Caribbean (CCA 1996).

The PARC project aims with the new system plan to protect the island's biodiversity and to encourage ecotourism Although absence of adequate legislation has hindered protected area development, according to Allen (1990), the fundamental reason for the lack of environmental protection in Jamaica is rooted in its pervasive poverty.

Contacts

Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA), 53 Molynes Road, KINGSTON 10 Tel: (809) 923-5155 (809) 923-5166 (809) 923-5125 Fax: (809) 923 5070

Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Marcus Garvey Drive, PO Box 470, KINGSTON

Department of Forestry and Soil Conservation, 173 Constant Springs Road, KINGSTON 8

Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT), 95 Dumbarton Avenue, PO Box 1225, KINGSTON 8 Tel: (809) 960-2848 (809) 960-2849 Fax: (809) 960-2850

National Environmental Societies Trust (NEST), 95 Dumbarton Avenue, PO Box 1468, KINGSTON 8 Tel: (809) 960-3316 Fax: (809) 968-5872

Ministry of Environment and Housing, 2 Hagley Park Road, KINGSTON 10 Tel: (809) 926-1590 to 9 Fax: (809) 926-2591

References

Allen, B. (1990) National park planning in Jamaica: a project in sustainable development and conservation. Paper presented to the Association of Caribbean Studies Conference on the Caribbean Environment, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 22 pp.

Anon. (1989) Conservation of Forest Ecosystems. National Forestry Action Plan Jamaica. Report co-ordinated by C. Weber. 75 pp.

Anon. (1990a) National Forestry Action Plan. Main Report with Project Profiles and Budgets. 65 pp.

Anon. (1990b) Department of Forestry and Soil Conservation; budget notes and annual report, 1 April 1989-31 March 1990. Department of Forestry and Soil Conservation, Ministry of Agriculture, Kingston. 12 pp.

Braatz, S.M. (1982) Draft Environmental Profile on Jamaica. Prepared for USAID under contract with US-MAB.

CCA (1996) Economic and financial evaluation of Buccoo Reef Marine Park: Management options. Prepared by Simmons and Associates for the Caribbean Conservation Association. 88pp.

Clark, J.R. (1987) Coastal and marine parks in the Caribbean - Jamaica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. National Park Service, Washington DC.

Cotterell, C.C. (1977) Proposed national parks and other protected areas in Jamaica. Presented at the International Seminar on National Parks.

Eyre, L.A. (1987) Jamaica: test case for tropical deforestation? Ambio 16(6):338-343.

Goreau, J.T. & Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory (1990) Jamaican Parks and Protected Areas: Urgent Need for Environmental Monitoring. Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory.

IRF (1992) Evaluation Report of Protected Areas Resource Conservation Project (PARC) Jamaica [PARC Project No.532-0148] 71 pp.

Johnson, T.H. (1988) Biodiversity and Conservation in the Caribbean: Profiles of selected islands. ICBP Monograph 1. ICBP, Cambridge, UK.

Mailer, S.R. (1982) The development and management of a marine park system in Jamaica. 1. Montego Bay Marine Park survey and management plan. Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory.

Mailer, S.R. (1984) The development and management of a marine park system in Jamaica. 2. Ocho Rios underwater park survey and management plan. Discovery Bay Marine Laboratory.

NRCD and Field, R.M. Assoc. (1987) Jamaica, country environmental profile. Natural Resources Conservation Division, on behalf of International Institute for Environment and Development, Kingston and Ralph M. Field Associates Inc. 362 pp.

PIOJ (1993) End of Project Report-PARC Project. Project Management Unit, PARC Project, Special Projects Division, Planning Institute of Jamaica.

Thorsell, J.W. (1981) Towards a national park system for Jamaica. Natural Resources Conservation Department, Ministry of Mining and Energy.

UNEP/IUCN (1988) Coral Reefs of the World. Volume 1: Atlantic and Eastern Pacific. UNEP Regional Seas Directories and Bibliographies. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland and Cambridge, UK/UNEP, Nairobi, Kenya. 373 pp.

Walters, L., Goldson, P., and McCalla, W. (1989) National Forestry Action Plan Jamaica. Legislation. Produced by Forestry and Soil Conservation Department, Ministry of Agriculture. 36 pp.

WWF (1982) A marine park in Jamaica. WWF Monthly Report. November.

WWF (1985) Survey for a marine park in Jamaica. WWF Monthly Report. January.

Worthington, E.B. (1970) Jamaica: Ecology and Conservation. Serial No. 2143/BMS.RD/SCE. UNESCO, Paris.

ANNEX I: LEGAL INSTRUMENTS

Definitions of protected area designations, as legislated, together with authorities responsible for their administration.

Title: Watershed Protection Act

Date: 1963

Brief description: Enabling legislation for the designation of watersheds.

Administrative authority: Natural Resources Conservation Authority

Designations:

Watershed Provides for the control of land use within designated watersheds (which cover more than 100,000 ha).

Source: Allen (1990)

Title: The Wild Life Protection Act

Date: 1945 (Amended 1991)

Brief description: Enabling legislation for the designation of game sanctuary or game reserves.

Administrative authority: Natural Resources Conservation Authority

Designations:

game sanctuary or game reserve

Source: Allen (1990), Original legislation.

Title: The Beach Control Law No. 63

Date: 1956

Brief description: Enabling legislation for the designation of "protected areas".

Administrative authority: Natural Resources Conservation Authority

Designations:

Marine park To control exploitation and development affecting the area.

Source: Allen (1990)

Title: The Fishing Industry Act

Date: 1975

Brief description: Enabling legislation for the designation of fish sanctuaries.

Administrative authority: Fisheries Division

Designations:

Fish sanctuary To control fishing in designated areas. These parks may include mangrove swamps and other coastal wetlands.

Source: Allen (1990)

Title: Morant and Pedro Cays Act

Date: 1904

Brief description:

Administrative authority: Fisheries Division

Designations:

Provides for control of access to cays and exploitation of their resources. However, enforcement of the provisions of the Act is difficult.

Source: Allen (1990)

Title: Forest Act

Date: 1937

Brief description: Provides for the establishment of forest reserves and protective areas. Forestry reserves were established mainly to conserve the natural hardwood forests on upper mountain slopes vital for soil conservation and watershed protection.

Administrative authority: Forestry and Soil Conservation Division

Designations:

Forest reserve The Act originally provided for forest reserves on any Crown land on the island. It provides for the establishment of forest reserves where access and exploitation can be controlled. Public recreational use is one purpose of such areas. Due to land characteristics, a section or a number of sections within a single forest reserve may be set aside for conservation, while other areas on the same reserve may be used for commercial forestry.

Protective area on private land Under Articles 10-15 the Minister may declare any lands other than Crown lands as a protective area. Regulations prohibit cultivation, cattle pasture, fire or other activities affecting soil conservation. If an owner does not comply with the regulations, the government may assume control of the land on lease.

Source: Original legislation

Title: The Jamaica National Heritage Trust Act

Date: 1985

Brief description: Provides for the declaration of protected natural heritage sites and natural monuments.

Administrative authority: Office of the Prime Minister

Designations:

Protected national heritage site

Protected national monuments

Source: NRCD and Field (1987); Smith, pers. comm. (1991)

Title: Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act

Date: 1991

Brief description: Provides for the management, conservation and protection of the natural resources and establishes a Natural Resources Conservation Authority

Administrative authority: Natural Resources Conservation Authority

Designations:

National Park Not available at present.

Marine Park Not available at present.

Protected Area Any area of land or water for the preservation of any object (whether animate or inanimate) or unusual combination of elements of the natural environment that is of aesthetic, educational, historical or scientific interest.

ANNEX II: JAMAICAN PROTECTED AREAS LIST

NP = National Park

MP = Marine Park

GR = Game Reserve

FR= Forest Reserve

Top of Page

Preface | 1. Introduction | 2. Relevant Issues... | 3. Status of Protected Areas Systems | 4. Conclusions... | 5. References | Country Profiles