Protecting biological diversity : Jamaica case study

This report reviews the achievements, impact, and effectiveness of the project. Key achievements of PARC included: creating Jamaica's first system of national parks under the aegis of the newly established Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA); creating two pilot parks -- Montego Bay Marine Park (MBMP) and Blue and John Crow Mountain National Park (BJCMNP); helping to establish an endowment fund for conservation efforts, as well as a Conservation Data Center; fostering the involvement of national and local NGOs in biological conservation and of local participation in pilot park planning and management; introducing rapid ecological assessment techniques; introducing boat mooring buoys to protect coral reefs in MBMP; heightening public awareness of the importance of biodiversity conservation; and generating employment. The impacts of these interventions have been mixed, however. While PARC has generally reduced illegal fishing, farming, and logging by local populations, it has had only a limited effect on reducing practices of polluters outside the parks: coral reef and forest habitat degradation persist in the new national parks. In addition, the economic opportunities provided by increased tourism must be balanced against negative impacts on local spear and trap fishers. All in all, PARC has not yet proven to be a cost-effective way to protect and restore Jamaica's biological resources, and neither the NRCA, nor the politically dominated local committees, nor the endowment fund, as currently constituted, provide for the park system's long-term sustainability. PARC demonstrates the need for (1) clear goals and visions and a long-term commitment to biological diversity conservation programs, and (2) complementing the establishment of parks with measures to address external threats to park resources. Appendices include profiles of the new parks, indicators for monitoring the impact of park management, and a bibliography.