May 6, 2010

Proposed Development of Key Coastal Habitat in SW Jamaica

This from Peter Marra of the National Zoo (US) -- followed by the Jamaica Labour Party reprint of a Jamaica Information Service press release from 26 April (evidently this is a big snooze in Jamaica, eh?,) and a copy of the site picture from Google Maps. . .

Peter Marra's alarum:

Folks;

I was just made aware of some horrible news (see link below). The Font Hill Nature Reserve on the south coast of Jamaica is being sold by the Jamaican Government to a Spanish Hotelier.

For those of you who don’t know Font Hill, it contains remarkable pristine habitats including Black Mangrove Forests, scrub and beaches. It should be a world Natural Heritage site!

It also has a spectacular population of endemic Jamaica species, as well as Crocodiles, Whistling Ducks and large populations of various migratory birds.

It has also hosted a large and productive research program for US and Jamaican scientists for the last 25 years that has resulted in over 100 scientific publications on the non-breeding ecology of migratory birds as well as several papers on Jamaican habitats and other wildlife.

The research on the winter ecology of migrant birds has no parallel anywhere in the world. We need your help in developing a strategy to try and combat the destruction of yet another gem in the Caribbean. Please contact me with ideas on how best to proceed.

Pete Marra

http://www.jamaicalabourparty.com/base/content/font- hill-property- be-divested

<http://www.jamaicalabourparty.com/base/content/font-hill-property-be-divested>

Peter P Marra | Smithsonian Institution
Research Scientist
Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute
Migratory Bird Center, National Zoological Park PO Box 37012 MRC 5503, Washington, DC 20013-7012 (Fed-Ex and UPS deliveries: 3001 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, DC 20008)
T 202-633-1594| F 202-673-0040 | Email marrap@si.edu
www.si.edu/smbc

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The press release

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Font Hill Property to be divested

Release Date:

Monday, April 26, 2010

MANDEVILLE, (JIS):
Monday, April 26, 2010

Minister of Mining and Energy, Hon. James Robertson, has announced that the Government will be divesting the Font Hill property in St. Elizabeth to facilitate development.

Minister Robertson spoke with JIS News while touring a section of the 3,000- acre property in Crawford, in the parish on Friday (April 23), accompanied by Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, and Member of Parliament for South West St. Elizabeth, Hon. Dr. Christopher Tufton, along with Member of Parliament for South East St. Elizabeth, Mr. Frank Witter.

In outlining the development possibilities that exist for Font Hill, which is owned by the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), Mr. Robertson said, "The Font Hill property is ideal for a high-end tourism and new town development, with beach front, golf courses, and air-strips. But the surrounding communities will have to be accommodated. Minister Tufton has been telling me of a sport complex, with a vision of a stadium for the community. The area sits on the edge of the Font Hill property, and the development of a sport complex would not affect the value of the property, so I am in support of it".

Meanwhile, Dr. Christopher Tufton said, "we are committed to working together to ensure that the property is developed, it will create jobs for the people of the area, and the recreation requirements. When the development takes place, there is going to be a greater demand for housing, and recreation. The anticipation in the medium term is, we will see this area more populated, in a way that creates value for the people".

Mr. Witter agreed, remarking that the divestment and development of the Font Hill property will add to, and create more opportunities for residents of St. Elizabeth. "For a very long time we have been trying to develop South coast tourism and the Minister's plan is in the right direction. Investment in tourism will bring greater opportunities for the people of the entire parish," Mr. Witter said.

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The site

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Posted by Bruce Potter

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about 2 years ago Bruce Potter responded:

Latest update is this comment from an anonymous Jamaican:
Hi Pete,
I have been out in the field all week and my colleagues just informed me of the news. I understand the hotel group is Fiesta. This is the same hotel chain that did the development on the north coast near Lucea called Grand Palladium Lady Hamilton. This new development is dubbed Fiesta 2.
I heard that ministers of government and hotel developers did a tour of the area that was shown on the news stating that Font Hill will be the site for Fiesta 2. It is quite unfortunate that the government has done this, considering no application or inquiry was sent to NEPA. A bold step like that on the part of the government is sending a message that this development will take place despite what NEPA has to say.
I recall the work you did in Font Hill and [local Jamaican researchers] did quite some work there as well. This area, in my opinion, was one of the best habitats for the endangered American Crocodile, West Indian Whistling Duck, nesting sea turtles and one of the most pristine mangrove forest and beach left on the island. I recall doing a crocodile survey and counting numerous hatchlings from atop a mangrove tree in the water only to realize that i was closely watched by the adult female almost invisible in the water among the roots of the tree I was in. That day I passed a pair of Nurse Sharks mating in only a few feet of water very near to the shore. Then after turning a corner on the beach, I surprised 3 crocs that were sunbathing on the sand; they quickly rushed off into the sea. All this occurred in 1 day and I remembered joking to my colleague that we should enjoy this moment because we might return another day and see tourists sunbathing on the beach instead. That day seems to be fast approaching.
The Font Hill Wetlands is one of the most pristine stance of mangroves and wetland habitat on island. The type of development i envision for this area (if there needs to be one) would be an expansion of the existing beach park to include a trail and board walk through the mangroves, and retain its status as a nature reserve.
I can tell you without a doubt that based on the ecology and importance of this area, [government bureaucrats would not endorse] such a development in the area. This development however, seems very politically motivated and [is likely to be approved.]
… I believe swift action is needed.
Regards,
[name withheld by me]

about 2 years ago arlewin (Twitter) responded:

Did the last development show benefits to the community as it states in the statement above?

about 2 years ago (Facebook) responded:

Dear Friends,
This most recent news of yet another short-sighted tourism development disaster of a project in the Caribbean is indeed sad news and quite disturbing. So much natural beauty and health of this Font Hill Wetlands site in Jamaica, including its mangroves and rich biodiversity, will be wasted and its natural resources bankrupted by this heedless investment in yet one more "destination resort." I wish one day those intended high-end tourists would gather themselves together in some form of intelligent and visionary alliance and demand that no more wealth of nature be sacrificed for their sun bathing beaches and golf courses, their fancy yacht clubs and restaurants. When will they ever learn? The real value of these lands and waters is never man-made. The beauty that draws them to pick the rose soon kills the flower that attracted them in the first place. Where is the wisdom in such actions, when will they see the folly? How long can we who know better stand idly by and wait for them to learn the lessons that seem so obvious?
Alfredo Quarto,
Executive Director
Mangrove Action Project
www.mangroveactionproject.org