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CATADUPA  KEY  BIODIVERSITY  AREA
CONSERVATION  ACTIONS

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This set of thirty seven strategies and associated Actions was developed by a broad range of stakeholders as part of our CEPF-funded project "An Action Plan to Save Threatened Biodiversity in Catadupa" implemented between 2013 and 2015. These strategies are expected to mitigate the current threats to biodiversity in western Cockpit Country (the Catadupa Key Biodiversity Area).
Some Actions contribute to several strategies; for more info click here

Strategy #1: Advocate to have GoJ accept Public Consultation (2013) boundary

  • S1-Action step #1: Create a "No Mining in Cockpit Country" bumper sticker
  • S1-Action step #2: Organise community demonstrations
  • S1-Action step #3: Meet with Ministry of Mining & other GoJ Entities
  • S1-Action step #4: Meet with Minister of Mining

Strategy #2: Minister declares Cockpit Country “closed to mining”

  • S2-Action step #1: Maintain public & media pressure on Minister of Mining
  • S2-Action step #2: Meet with Minister of Mining

Strategy #3: Invoke the principle that KBAs are “Ecologically Sensitive Areas” and must be excluded from mining.

  • S3-Action step #1: Meet with Ministry of Mining and other GoJ Entities
  • S3-Action step #2: Meet with Minister of Mining
  • S3-Action step #3: Meet with Noranda Bauxite Co
  • S3-Action step #4: Raise awareness of KBAs within GoJ
  • S3-Action step #5: Advocate for GoJ to adopt a common definition of KBAs

Strategy #4: Maintain Unity of being a “Cockpit Country Community” and Pride in biological and cultural heritage

  • S4-Action step #1: Catadupa communities form a “Cockpit Communities for Conservation” and meet regularly to maintain cohesion, share information, develop community-based strategies, etc.
  • S4-Action step #2: Create a calendar, including declaration of a “Cockpit Country Day”
  • S4-Action step #3: Create road signage and billboards in strategic locations, with a unifying theme. For example" "Cambridge Welcomes You to Cockpit Country"
  • S4-Action step #4: Find a DJ who would be willing to create a “music platform” to: (a) excite young members in the communities; and (b) create a jingle that “sticks” in the minds of listeners.
  • S4-Action step #5: Prepare books (eg., exercise books, colouring books) to distribute to schools
  • S4-Action step #6: Survey communities to develop an Inventory of Community Assets
  • S4-Action step #7: Visit churches to share information
  • S4-Action step #8: Visit schools to share information

Strategy #5: Ensure communities are informed about what bauxite mining really brings to an area.

  • S5-Action step #1: Organise a site visit to areas currently being mined (esp. to sensitize community members who are uncertain about the social and environmental costs of mining.

Strategy #6: Engage professional media to sustain local and national awareness of issue of mining Cockpit Country

  • S6-Action step #1 Establish a contact list for international and national media allies
  • S6-Action step #2: Invite print, radio, and television media houses to public events and demonstrations
  • S6-Action step #3: Prepare materials for media: press releases, drone videos, GIS maps, etc.
  • S6-Action step #4: Hire a drone for high quality / high impact images of the landscape

Strategy #7: Ensure natural hydrodynamic / flow regimes are maintained for Catadupa karst freshwater systems

  • S7-Action step #1: Ensure natural hydrodynamic / flow regimes are maintained for Catadupa karst freshwater systems

Strategy #8: Promote proper planning of new or modified roads / utilities, with particular attention to ensuring that any modifications (e.g. re-alignment or widening) to the existing roadway must be designed to ensure no loss of forest connectivity

  • S8-Action step #1: Sensitise Min Transport and National Works Agency (NWA) to the issue of Connectivity: that their improvement of human connectivity can have negative consequences for biological connectivity.
  • S8-Action step #2: Work with NWA etc to find solutions in the event of new roads or realignment of the existing roads in areas of existing Giant Swallowtail populations, particularly Jointwood area

Strategy #9: GIS-based approach to identify suitable areas and corridors for cost-effective forest restoration

  • S9-Action step #1: Create Catadupa GIS, incl. land tenure, landuse, watershed, and species occurrence data
  • S9-Action step #1: Identify and prioritize the most ecologically important areas / corridors in the Catadupa landscape

Strategy #10: Restore forest in critical areas (river banks, and cave entrances) using native plant species

  • S10-Action step #1: Implement tree planting in priority degraded areas and corridors using appropriate native vegetation
  • S10-Action step #2: Implement tree planting using appropriate native vegetation to create a minimum buffer zone of 100m around cave openings

Strategy #11: Ensure Parish Development Orders are designed to protect ecosystem services provided by Catadupa KBA

  • S11-Action step #1: Convene a workshop to present CAP results to GoJ stakeholders, including NEPA, Forestry Department, Water Resources Authority, and Mines and Geology Division - to sensitize agencies to aspects of Catadupa terrestrial, freshwater and subterrean (aquifer) features
  • S11-Action step #2: Review PDOs for St. James, Trelawny, and St. Elizabeth to identify planning gaps with regards to the Catadupa KBA --using the Coral Spring-Mountain Spring Protected Area Zoning Plan as template, which was developed from principles of ecosystem services and functions.

Strategy #12: Ensure principles of "Ecosystem Services" and "Ecological Connectivity" are integrated into spatial planning

  • S12-Action step #1: Convene a workshop to present CAP results to GoJ stakeholders, including NEPA, Forestry Department, Water Resources Authority, and Mines and Geology Division - to sensitize agencies to aspects of Catadupa terrestrial, freshwater and subterrean (aquifer) features
  • S12-Action step #2: Liaise with the Protected Areas Branch of NEPA, to submit new findings from directed research with relevance to ecosystem services or ecological connectivity
  • S12-Action step #3: Membership and attend meetings of Jamaica Institute of Environmental Professionals

Strategy #13: Raise awareness of laws protecting Jamaican flora and fauna

  • S13-Action step #1: Raise awareness about the fines for possessing birds and other protected wildlife. Currently, committing an offense against the Wild Life Protection Act can result in a maximum fine of $100,000 AND / OR sentencing of one year in prison
  • S13-Action step #2: Sensitize researchers and the public to important conservation legislation, incl. Wild Life Protection Act and its Schedules of protected animals, the Endangered Species Act, and the Forestry Act
  • S13-Action step #3: Sensitize researchers and the public to regulations and policies to protect plants (e.g. orchids) from illegal collecting

Strategy #14: Work with GoJ agencies and communities to enforce existing laws and regulations

  • S14-Action step #1: Develop an education campaign to encourage people not to keep wildlife in captivity: "Respect Me, I'm Wild - That's How I Should Be Allowed to Live"
  • S14-Action step #2: Encourage community members to become voluntary Game Wardens
  • S14-Action step #3: Ensure information about permit requirements, the application process and research application forms are easily found on NEPA's website
  • S14-Action step #4: NEPA officers and port inspectors determine whether current procedures are able to detect smuggled wildlife when persons exit Jamaica via air or marine transport.
  • S14-Action step #5: Review with NEPA the conditions under which research permits are required, particularly for species which are not protected by the Wild Life Protection Act or not occuring in a National Park or Forest Reserve
  • S14-Action step #6: Sensitize key communities to the need to monitor "strangers" appearing to do "research"

Strategy #15: Promote respect for "wild" wildlife among members of the public

  • S15-Action step #1: Develop an education / awareness campaign for the endemic Jamaican Crow (Corvus jamaicensis), a species for which strong antipathy exists
  • S15-Action step #2: Evaluate reports of crop (esp. banana) depradations to determine whether effective, non-lethal deterrence measures are needed
  • S15-Action step #3: Raise awareness about the fines for harming birds and other protected wildlife. Currently, committing an offense against the Wild Life Protection Act can result in a maximum fine of $100,000 AND / OR sentencing of one year in prison
  • S15-Action step #4: Sensitize communities to the Wild Life Protection Act and its Schedules of protected animals and the Endangered Species Act

Strategy #16: Recognize that the Giant Swallowtail is "trigger species" for the KBAs & Ecologically Sensitive Areas

  • S16-Action step #1: Prepare and print Catadupa KBA newsletter
  • S16-Action step #2: Prepare and print Catadupa Policy Brief for relevant GoJ ministries and agencies

Strategy #17: Work with Min Transport & NWA to find solutions in the event of new roads or realignment esp. in Jointwood area

  • S17-Action step #1: Sensitise Min Transport and NWA to the issue of Connectivity: that their improvement of human connectivity can have negative consequences for biological connectivity.
  • S17-Action step #2: Work with NWA etc to find solutions in the event of new roads or realignment of the existing roads in areas of existing Giant Swallowtail populations, particularly Jointwood area

Strategy #18: Pending Giant Swallowtail DNA analysis (Strategy #29 below) improve corridor connectivity between Catadupa and Cockpit Country Core KBAs

  • S18-Action step #1: Implement tree planting in priority degraded areas and corridors using appropriate native vegetation, esp. the larval food plant Hernandia jamaicensis

Strategy #19: Ensure proper deployment of Invasiveness Risk Assessments (IRA) in the pre-importation stage of the permitting process for alien species into Jamaica

  • S19-Action step #1: Attend IASWG meetings regularly
  • S19-Action step #2: In collaboration with relevant agencies and stakeholders, develop IRA for species which are imported for zoos, aquaculture, and commercial pet trade

Strategy #20: Establish surveillance of IAS pathogens and parasites, esp. those which have zoonotic potential via tick vectors

  • S20-Action step #1: Design, secure funding and conduct field research to document the IAS pathogens and parasites which IAS cane toads (and their associated IAS ticks) and IAS Eleuth frogs harbour and evaluate their potential to spread blood-borne diseases to endemic frog and reptile species or to humans
  • S20-Action step #2: Monitor the health of Catadupa frog populations every 5 years to monitor for possible negative changes in current chytrid status

Strategy #21: Identify best techniques to control / eradicate IAS plants (Bamboo, Napier Grass, Dumb Cane, and Asian ferns)

  • S21-Action step #1: Develop experimental field trials, with participation by local landowners and farmers

Strategy #22: Prevent the introduction of new alien aquatic plant and animal species into the river systems of Catadupa

  • S22-Action step #1: Attend IASWG meetings regularly

Strategy #23: Maintain or improve current forest conditions (e.g., ensure conditions for natural forest maturation) to (a) ensure quality breeding sites for Hylidae and Eleutherodactylidae frogs; and (b) prevent incursions by IAS frog species

  • S23-Action step #1: Assess the potential for acoustic playback for rapid monitoring assessments of Jamaican frogs, with priority on Eleuetherodactylus jamaicensis, which was not detected in 2013/2014 surveys
  • S23-Action step #2: Encourage community members report to Forestry Department any illegal timbering activities in Forest Reserves
  • S23-Action step #3: Train Forestry Department officers in frog identification (building on materials available on Dr. Blair Hedges' http://www.caribherp.com website)

Strategy #24: Recognize the importance of the high rainfall and mature forest for the survival of Osteopilus marinae

  • S24-Action step #1: Prepare materials (e.g., Keynotes, newsletter, FrogLogger article etc)
  • S24-Action step #2: Print materials

Strategy #25: Maintain surveillance of IAS pathogens and parasites which threaten endemic frog populations

  • S25-Action step #1: Design, secure funding and conduct field research to document the IAS pathogens and parasites which IAS cane toads (and their associated IAS ticks) and IAS Eleuth frogs harbour and evaluate their potential to spread blood-borne diseases to endemic frog and reptile species or to humans
  • S25-Action step #2: Monitor the health of frog populations every 5 years to monitor for possible negative changes in current chytrid status

Strategy #26: Identify important breeding and non-breeding habitats of the Plain Pigeon, a species believed to make large seasonal movements between coastal lowland and interior upland forests

  • S26-Action step #1: Design, secure funding and establish a project to evaluate Plain Pigeon seasonal and annual movments using satellite tracking tags

Strategy #27: Engage politicians at the grassroots level of community issues

  • S27- Action step #1: Get Councillors and MPs to invite the Ministers with responsbility for mining (Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy, and Mining) and environment (Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change) to community meetings
  • S27-Action step #2: Invite Councillors and MPs to meetings

Strategy #28: Reject recommendations to rehabilitate public lands with Invasive Alien Species e.g. Bamboo and Napier grass)

  • S28-Action step #1: Attend IASWG meetings regularly

Strategy #29: Determine the extent to which the Catadupa Giant Swallowtail population is isolated from the Cockpit Country (core) population

  • S29-Action step #1: Secure funding for DNA molecular analyses of Giant Swallowtail populations
  • S29-Action step #2: Secure funding to implement a radio-telemetry project to study the movements, home ranges, etc. of adult Giant Swallowtails
  • S29-Action step #2: Secure pemits from NEPA to conduct DNA molecular analyses of Giant Swallowtail populations

Strategy #30: Assess current status of cave ecosystems for presence and abundance of IAS American cockroach

  • S30-Action step #1: Assess current status of cave ecosystems for presence and abundance of IAS American cockroach (Periplaneta americana)

Strategy #31: Develop data on the distribution and impacts of major IAS terrestrial and aquatic plant species

  • S31-Action step #1: Review Catadupa GIS landuse classifications for occurrences of IAS plant species
  • S31-Action step #2: Review CHM Invasives and other international databases, literature etc. to identify real or potential impacts in Catadupa

Strategy #32: Restore forest connectivity to entrances of bat roost caves

  • S32-Action step #1: Implement tree planting in priority degraded corridors using appropriate native vegetation

Strategy #33: Raise awareness of the impacts humans have on cave ecosystems (e.g. disturbance of cave fauna; garbage)

  • S33-Action step #1: On-site dialogues with land owners where caves are located
  • S33-Action step #2: Presentation during community meetings

Strategy #34: Ensure community members are aware of their constitutional and legal rights

  • S34-Action step #1: Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) will convene an expert panel of lawyers to ensure our constitutional rights and freedoms are upheld
  • S34-Action step #2: JET presents at community meetings
  • S34-Action step #3: Print & distribute JET's publication "Promoting Best Practices in Environmental Management of the Mining & Quarrying Sector in Jamaica"

Strategy #35: Utilise social and other community-based media to keep the public informed

  • Action step #1: Create and maintain webpages for Catadapa on WRC's website http://cockpitcountry.com
  • Action step #1: Maintain links with Facebook

Strategy #36: Stakeholders promote "Best Farming Practices" to reduce misuse of herbicides and pesticides

  • S36-Action step #1: Stakeholders promote "Best Farming Practices" to reduce misuse of herbicides and pesticides while maintaining soil fertility

Strategy #37: Contact Mines and Geology Division to enquire if Skid Resistant Aggregates are present in the Maldon Inlier

  • S37-Action step #1: Contact Mines and Geology Division to enquire whether quality Skid Resistant Aggregates are present in the Maldon Inlier