EIA outlines severe environmental impact

WESTERN BUREAU:

AN ENVIRONMENTAL impact assessment (EIA) for Jamaica World’s quarrying and mineral processing at Rio Bueno in the Dry Harbour Mountains in St Ann near the Trelawny border has outlined a myriad of ecologically destructive consequences.

Prepared by Kingston-based C.L. Environmental Company and Forrest and Associates, the findings show adverse effects to the area high in endemic species.

The Bengal area was inhabited by Jamaica’s first settlers, the Tainos, and is where Christopher Columbus first found drinking water on the island.

The area is of global historical significance. According to Jamaica World, it had identified the Bengal site in Trelawny to develop its limestone processing operation against the background of an “expanding tourism sector, with its accompanying need for worker accommodation and other amenities”, which has “led to a significant increase in demand for construction aggregates in the north-western end of the island”. The EIA also outlined that the company also had plans for exporting aggregate overseas.

“Jamaica World has partnered with EPSA, a global contract mining company who has a balance sheet of over US $900 million. It is anticipated that the project will create between 50 and 100 jobs and is estimated to contribute over J$635,755,176 of tax dollars to the Jamaican Government via the quarry tax,”the EIA said.

The EIA outlined that the forest is a potential source of commodities such as oxygen, medicine, oils, and resins, among other things. It represents a genetic resource for rare and endemic species that are necessary for facilitating the adaptation of Jamaica’s coastal environment to effects of climate change, it said.

ENDEMIC FLORA

“The woodland/dry limestone forest area contained the highest levels of endemism and thus biodiversity with bromeliads identified as an essential habitat for multiple species. Endemic flora also included orchids, which have a higher conservation status than some other endemic flora. Endemic faunal species include the macrofauna found in the bromeliads, seven species of amphibians, 18 species of reptiles,” said the report.

It said that 48 of the 58 bird species were found in woodland areas, as well as 16 of the 30 endemic birds of Jamaica, which were both endemic and forestdependent. Nineteen species of reptiles were recorded, 18 of which are endemic to Jamaica – one of which, the Jamaican boa, Epicrates subflavus, has been considered for special conservation status and is protected under Jamaican law.

“While the species is fairy widely distributed, the species is vulnerable, and any loss of population is therefore important,” the EIA noted.

It also noted that the removal of vegetation would negatively affect the bird populations as it would result in a reduction in available habitat.