Implications of pollution

HELLO AGAIN, students. How are you all this week? I hope everything is going well and that you are managing to stay on top of the world, even as the workload becomes heavier and heavier! Do you remember all you learnt about conservation last week? If you don’t, please read the lesson again. Conservation is important. The following is a quote from M.S. Swaminathan: “If conservation of natural resources is wrong, nothing else will go right.’

This week, as we continue our study of the environment, we will be looking at wetlands. I can just about hear you ask the question: “Wet what?” Wetlands, what are these? Wetlands are, as the name suggests, areas of land that are permanently wet and are defined scientifically as:

“Swamps and marshes which are naturally or artificially created areas that may be periodically or permanently saturated by groundwater.”

Wetlands are areas of great environmental importance, as you will see below. There are wetlands in the Caribbean that are of International importance and, hence, fall under the Ramsar Convention for the conservation and sustainable utilisation of wetlands. These include: Black River Morass, Palisados/Port Royal, Portland Bight Wetlands and Cays, Mason River Bird Sanctuary in Jamaica, Buccoo Reef/Bon Accord Lagoon, Caroni Swamp, Nariva Swamp in Trinidad, and Graeme Swamp in Barbados. As you can see from the map of Jamaica below, there are other wetland areas, but these do not fall under the Ramsar Convention; this is also the case for Barbados and Trinidad.

THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF SOME OF THE FUNCTIONS OF WETLANDS

Purify water. Store and discharge groundwater. Prevent seawater from coming inland. Protect the shoreline from storm surges.

Provide habitats for endemic species of plants and animals as well as habitats for migratory animals, especially birds. Provide a breeding ground for birds and fish. Reduce flood damage. Replenish groundwater. Protect coral reefs from sedimentation and pollution from the discharge of soil from the land. There are also economic benefits to be gained from the wetlands. These include:

Providing a livelihood for many. The thatch palms which are a feature of some wetlands are used for roofing and to make baskets. Aesthetics – serves as a tourist attraction. Potential energy source – Black River Morass has a layer of peat. Research and education. Gene bank due to the diversity of plant and animal species.

It follows then that wetlands are areas to be preserved rather than exploited, but this is not always the case, especially in countries such as Jamaica where governments have to balance economics against the aesthetics. Hence, the controversy of the preservation of the Portland Bight as a wetland against the development of a logistics hub will continue to reign in Jamaica. The important thing for you to remember as the next generation is that once it is destroyed, it cannot be regained either in your or your children’s lifetime!

WHAT ARE FACTORS THAT LEAD TO THE POLLUTION OF THE WETLANDS?

These factors also serve to pollute the seas (Caribbean) that most wetlands are intimately connected with. They include:

Untreated domestic sewage – This encourages the growth of algae (eutrophication) and bacteria, which can grow to such an extent that they prevent sunlight from getting to the corals as well as plants below the surface of the water. They will also use up most of the available oxygen, causing fish and small invertebrates to die. Fertilizers which drain from farms also create the same effects as domestic sewage. Run-off from drainage ditches. Run-off brings with it soil particles which remain suspended in the water and so decrease the amount of light reaching the corals, hence retarding their growth. (Point to note: It is the corals which lead to the creation of our lovely white-sand beaches.)

Industrial waste from coffee and sugar processing – The waste includes materials that are harmful to both plants and animals. In the sugar belts, the release of effluent from sugar cane processing often leads to ‘fish kills’.

Oil spills, which lead to the death of sea birds, can destroy beaches. The feathers of the birds become clogged with oil and the birds take in the oil when they try to clean themselves. They die of exposure, starvation or drowning.

WHAT ARE THE LIFE LESSONS THAT WE HAVE LEARNT SO FAR?

It is our duty to use our God-given resources wisely so that they can continue to exist to serve generations to come! Robert Swan says, “The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” Pick up that piece of paper, turn off that pipe, plug out that charger! See you next week!