The document analyzes establishing a national park in the Blue Mountains and John Crow Mountains Forest Reserves in Jamaica. It discusses: 1) Choosing this area due to its high levels of endemism and biodiversity containing 5 of Jamaica's 7 ecological zones. 2) The need to reconcile land use and assert government control as political support has eroded, with concerns about timber harvesting and agriculture expanding into the forest. 3) Opportunities for increasing nature-based tourism through trails, visitor centers, guides, and promoting local and foreign tourism.

1. T-
*
PROTECTED AREAS RESOURCE CONSERVATION (PARC)
PROJECT PAPER - TECHNICAL ANALYSIS
TERRESTRIAL PARKS
by Loren B. Ford
Regional Forestry Advisor/caribbean
USDA Forest, Service
Rio Piedras. Puerto Rico
l- . Cho i ce of Area
The area of choice for a pilot terrestrial National Park is the
central portion of the Blue Mountains and John Crow Mountains
(BMJCM) Fore6t. Re6erve6. Exact, boundaries of the BMJCM
National Park will have to be determined a6 a part. of master
plan development in the first phase of the project. The
reasons for choice of this area are outlined in t,he subsections
be Iow.
An analysis of other potential park sites, not, selected as
pilot parks for this Project, is included in the Genetic
Resourees Ana1ysis.
I . I e!_o_I_og.t_ca_l__p!{e!E_fg
The BMJCM Forest Reserves contain one of the highest levels of
'endemism in the Western Hemisphere, a6 well as the highest
leveI of biological diversity in Jamaica. Through evolutionary
time, reproductive isolation from Barent, stocks on the
continents and other islands, and subsequent adaptation to new
climates and ecological as6ociations, has led to evolution of
hundreds of species found only on the island. Five of
Jamaica's seven ecological life zones are found in the area
selected for the park. These are 1) Tropical Moist Forest, 2)
Tropical Wet Forest,, 3) Premontane Moist Forest, 4) Premontane
Wet Forest and 5) Prenontane Rain Forest,. The variety of
edaphie eonditions within these life zone6 increases the
biological diversity there; all life zones have distinct
ecological associations on limestone, volcanic, metamorphic and
alluvial s,)iIs. The inaecessibility and low agricultural
productivity of the area, a6 well as its status a6 gazett,ed
Forest Reserve since the 1930'6, has maintained a high deqree
of natural habitat, in the area.
Further information on biological diversity of the area is
found in the Genet,ic Resources Analysis.

2. +
l
Terrestrial Park Analysis Page 2 af 15
L.2 Rationale and Urqencv for Protection
The rationale for a 6y6t.em of national parks and prot,ected
areas in Jamaica is elaborated in the Jamaica Country
Environmental Profile (1987). These reason6 apply to the BMJCM
perhaps more than t.o any other area in t,he country.
Enhancement and diversificat.ion of local and foreign tourism in
nature-related activit,ies such as nature t.ours, hiking, camping
and bird l^ratching offer great Bronise in the BMJCM. There is
good potential that yet-untested species in the park could be
Bources of gernBlasm from which to develop production of
pharmaceutieals, ornamental plants, agricultural products and
craft items. Dependable supBlies of high-quality water for
Kingston, Port Antonio and other ea6tern Jamaican town6,
essential for tourism, public health, and agricultural and
industrial production, rely on protection of watersheds in the
BMJCM. There is little doubt that the damaqe from flooding and
landslides as6ociated with Hurricane Gilbert would have been
much more severe if much of the BMJCM had not been maintained
a6 forest reserve.
There is an urgent, need for the GoJ to reconcile and rea66ert
control over land use in the BMJCM. PoIiticaI support, for
maintenance of the forest reserve has eroded in reeent
decaaes. Land within the re6erve t,hat had been deforested by
it.inerent farmers, and reforested in the 60's with pine by the
Forestry Department (FSCD), has been leased to the Forest
Indust.ries Development Corporation (FIDCO) for industriaL
timber production. FIDCO'6 mandat.e to increase the area
planted in pines should be restricted to deforested area6 or
greatly degraded "ruinate" forest; areas of intact natural
forest, should be protected in the park or managed for
production of native species. With Cabinet oversight, FIDCO
and t.he Coffee Industry Development Corporation (CIDCO) have
agreed on transfer of some land from the forner to the latter
after pines are harvested. other areas are also viewed by
CIDCO for expansion of coffee production.
Political support is much 6tronger for Broduction of export,
crop6 than for protection of forest. Production of tinber and
Bermanent crops, especiatly if mea6ures are taken to mininize
soil erosion, ean provide a valuable buffer between a protected
core of forest, and unncontrolled agrieultural and urban
expansion. However, there have been disputes between FIDCo and
CiDCo over pieces of land. Futhermore, timber harvesting and
coffee planting impty improvement of acce6s in the mountains,
which will lead to increased illegal slash and burn farming in
the forest, reserve. Development of a national park in this
area can be used to catalyze a concensus on land use in t,he
area bet.ween FIDco, cIDeo, the Undeground water Authority, the
Natural Resources Conservation Department, the Lands
Commission, the Fore6t DeBartment, NGO6 and the general
public. The process can also edueate politicians and t,he
general pubtic about the eeonomic contribution that fore6ts,

3. Terrestrial Park Analysis Page 3 of 15
arrd the EMJCM National Park in particular, provide to the
count ry (discussed further in the Economic analysis).
1.3 Nature-related Tourism
There are many opportunities for inereasing nature-related
tourism in the BMJCM. A sy6t,em of trails, dat,ing from t,he
previous century or earlier, will form the basis of local and
foreign tourism development. These trails, varying from easy
shcrt hikes to longer trails along t,he Grand Ridge of the Blue
Mo'.lnLains that connect, to allow mu1t,i-day excursions, wiIl be
reconstructed or newly designed and built. Most t.rails wilI
lead to points of interest, such as waterfallg, caves, scenic
viewpoints, oE historical sites such as Nanny Town. At key
acce6s points, warden stations will be built or rebuilt. and a
schedule for nanning these stations inBlemented. Trail signs
witl be built and trail brochures, with simple maBs and
descriptions of landmarks and nat,ural hi6tory, will be print.ed
and distribut,ed. Shelters and camping sit,es f or hikers will be
constructed at, cert.ain locations.
LocaI tourism wiIl be promoted by providing information about
the park and promoting its u6e by local NGOs, youth groups and
the school system. Picnic sites and well-designed trails with
interpretive facilities will attract locaI residents t,o the
park. Local conservation NGOs, sueh as the Jamaica
conservation and Development Trust, will organize hikes and
work days in the park. Representatives from the Nat,ional Parks
Division wiIl give slide shows on the BMJCM National Park to
NGos and schools.
Usr of t,Lre park by foreign tourists wiIl be promot,ed by
developing packages for national park tours from tourist
hotels. Privately-owned buses will take tourist.s from their
hocels Eo trail access points. LocaI guides wilI be registered
and given training in natural history and tourism etiquette.
Registered and trained guides will increase the safety and
enjoyment of visitors, a6 weII as provide loca1 employment.
Efforts will be made to attract tourists from overseas by
promoting speciaJ- nature tourism packages. Int,ernational
conservation NGOs wiIl contribute t,o nature tourism t,hrough
ciose contacts with government agencies and NGOs in Jamaica, by
helping to organize field trips and volunteer work trips by
member s .
I.4 Recurrent Co6t Generation
Inereasing the level of management of the BMJCM area will imply
an increase in recurrent costs to the GOJ for warden salaries,
trail maintenance, etc. During t.he initial three-year phase of
the project, these additional recurrent cost,s will'be borne by
AID, a6 an i.nvest,ment in the fut,ure 6ustainability of the
park. A reasonable fee will be charged to park users by
wardens at all accegs points. collected fees will go into a
special National Parks Trust Fund, to be used for park

4. Terrestrial park Analysis page 4 of t5
management costs. rt is hoped that revenue from a successful
natu]:e tourisnr pronotion wilt go far towards covering recurrent
costs after the initial phase of the project. The trust fund
might be given an initial boost from a PL-480 local currencies
grant. Interest from the trust account would go t,oward6
meeting recurrent costs of the National parks system.
1.5 Current Tenure Status
Titles for all land within the BMJcM Forest Reserves', and crown
lands outside, are herd by the Lands commission of the Ministry
of Agriculture. FIDCO and CIDCO have leases for pine and
coffee production in the forest reserve. In the past, the
reserve has been demarcated by cutting strips of trees atong
the border. These cut strips have long sinee grown over,
which, along with decreasing budgets, has hampered the FscD in
efforts to control encroachment within the reserve by
neighboring farmers. rn areas where roads and tracks give
access, much of the land is eleared up to, or beyond, the
borders of the reserve. under the erojeet, this tenure status
witr be elarified by the Fore6try Department in conjunction
with the Lands Commission. Funding wiII be given for cadastral
surveys and demarcat.ion of park borders in those areas of
Project activity where agriculture is potentiarly encroaching
on the park.
1.6 compatibility hrith coJ Development plans
The coJ development strategy of generating foreign exchange
through tourism will be enhanced by the national park.
Jamaica's naturar beauty is the main attraction to tourists,
and a system of nationar parks will help to conserve this
beaut.y. The attributes of coa6tal areas will be preserved when
watersheds are Brotect.ed as parks. The parks themselves wiIl
attract tourists. A rapidry growing tourism sector, rrature
tourism, wirl be attracted t,o Jamaica 6pecificarly beeause of
her nationar parks. Forest visits can extend the length of
stay of tourists in Jamaica, which wilr eontribute to foreign
exchange earnings. Nature tourism based on national parks will
provide employment in rurar areas, offering youth a respectfur
alternat,ive to subsistence farming or migration to the city.
The Project will provide the eatalyst for pubrie and 6t,atutory
agencies with occasionalry confricting objectives to work
together to reconcile deveropment with land use caBabirity in
thE BMJCM.
The environmentar education of Jamaica's Bopuration wilr be
enhanced by promotion of IocaI tourism during the project,.
Efforts to invorve sehools, youth groups and NGos in the park
wirl arl inerease Jamaicans' understanding of their natural
patrimony. A more environmentarry aware popurace wirr be
better able to understand the need for eonservation farming,
contror of industrial pollution and obeyance of litter and
dumping Iaws.

5. Terrestrial Park Analysis Page 5 of 15
z.
z.L
P r o iglj__l4p 1 ement a t i on
Phase On erre6trial Park Head arters Staff
During the first phase of the eroject., activities of the
terrestrial pilot park wilI be carried out by a reinstated
National Parks Division (NPD) in the FSCD. The NPD will absorb
the staff presently working in t,he BMJCM Forest Reserve. A
BMJCU National Park Superintendent will manage the day-to-day
activities of this initial phase, asBisted by fu11-time and
part-time wardens 6tationed in strategic locations within the
park, A fuII-time Community Outreach Officer will be hired,
funded by t,he rroject.
The principal activities will include f) Management Plan
development, 2) commencement of park infrastructure
improvement. 3) training of park staff and 4) community
outreach. Because existing FSCD Etaff wilI comprise the
majority of personnel working in this eomBonent of the Project,
there will be less start-uB time required at t,he beginning of
the Project, and certain Project activities can be 6t,arted
almost immediately.
Six person months of international technical assistance, the
timing of which is sBecified in subsequent sections, will be
funded to help with park management plan preBaration. The Park
Superint,endent wilI be assisted in field and office activit,ies
by a peaee cor96 volunteer with a Forest Recreation background.
The volunteer will be responsible for working with t.he
6uperintendent with the park resource inventory, community
ouLreach liaison, and in development of interpretive materials
apd trail guides. No policing responsibilit.ies will be
assigned to PCVs.
The BMJCM Park Headquarters staff will be provided hrith two
fc'ur-wheeI-drive vehicles (US$14,OOO eaeh), one to enable the
superintendent and PCV to visit, the park as needed, and the
other for Community outreach activities -
A BMJCM National Park headquarters building will be provided by
the coJ in tvlavis Bank. The NPD headquarters wiII be equippecl
with office equipment (US$lO,OOO), and a two-way, hultiple band
radio to allow eommunicat.ion wit,h FSCD headquarters and warden
stations, and to facilitate emergency search and rescue
operations in the park. The suBerintendent's vehicle will also
bg equipped with a two-way radio (eStimated cost for radios for
headquarters. warden stations, vehicle and walkie-talkies is
us$zo,ooo).
The park Superintendent and Communit.y Outreach Officer wilI be
expected to live in Mavis Bank, of 6ome other community in the
BIue Mount,ains. This is essential to maintenance of good
comrnunity relations and avoidance of exeessive travel time and
expense which would be incurred if they lived in Kingston.

6. Terrestrial Park Analysis Page 6 of 15
3.
3. I Determine Area for Park
The BMJCM National Park will be made up largely of lands within
the BMJCM Forest, Reserves. An exceBtion wilI be a corridor of
relatively undistrubed forest, to extend from the existing
forest reserve boundary to as close to the 6ea as possible;
from the air, forest south of the BIue Hole apBears promising.
This corridor is necessary in order to include habitat
representative of lower elevation forests. in order that the
park contain as broad a range of biological diversity as
po6sibIe. crown Iand within this corridor wiIl be gazetted
into t.he park; private land owners will be encouraged to
maint,ain their lands in forest through t,he granting of
conservation easenents. The Barts of the forest reserve in the
watersheds of the Buff Bay. SBanish, swift, Back Rio Grande,
Guava, Rio Grande, Driver6, Plant,ain Garden, Morant, Yallahs
and HoBe rivers and their tributaries, aB well as the north end
of the John Crow Mountains, wiIl eomprise management
compartments for the park.
As one of the first steps of park nangement plan formulation
the precise boundaries of the BMJCM National Park wiIl be
determined. These will be arrived at by concensus between the
FSCD, NRCD wildlife and Watersheds Units, FIDco, crDCo, the
Underground water Authority, the Town and country Planning
Division. the relevant Parish Councils (St. Thomas, St. Andrew
and Portland), UWI and the Lands Conmission. A preliminary
meeting of the heads of these agencies wiII be held wit,hin the
first month of the eroject initiation, to explain the objective
of reconciling different demands for lands in t.he BMJCM forest
reserve. Thi6 group will determine how they will function,
name designated representatives, and plan a subeequent neeting
of these representatives, to be held within one mont.h of the
fi rs t neet,ing. These designated reBresentatives. plus
interested NGOs and citizens, will comprise a Key Contact Group
for future public input, into BMJCM National Park
decision-making. If t.he Key contaets do not regularly work and
reside in t.he Blue Mountains. they will designat.e locaI
representatives of their agency for liaison with the park in
the Blue Mountains.
At this meeting of agency representatives, each representative
will bring det.ailed maps (1:5O,OOO) of areas of concern to
their agency. It is expected that the designated
representative of the FSCD will be the BMJCM Park
SuBerintendent. The Community Outreach officer will also
attend this meeting, in order to begin to beeome familiarized
with agencies working in the area. The representatives will
negotiate, comBartnent by comBartment, hrhat land their agencies
require to carry out t,heir development plans. Within three
mont,hs of the beginning of t,he project, t.he heade of agencies
will meet again to affirm the chosen boundaries for the park,
based on t,he concenaus of technical repre6entatives. The

7. Terre6trial park Analysis page 7 of t5
inLeruational parks consultant will arrive in the third month
of Lhe project, to attend the park boundary affirmation
meeting, meet heads of government agencies and NGos, and herp
with set,ting up the subsequent, park resource invent,ory activity.
A6 a separate component, t,he BMJCM National park, and its
boundaries, wirl be gazetted. provisions for this will be
included in the Project component on National parks Iegislation.
3.2 Inventorv Park Resources
st.arting in the sixth month of the project, the international
parks coneultant will work one month hrith the park
superintendent and the peace corpE volunt,eer to e6tabrish
inventory procedures and to begin to inventory resources within
the proposed BMJCM National park on a conpartment basis.
Int.eracting with the warden currently assigned to each
compart,ment wirr take advantage of his knowtedge of the area,
and give the superintendent insight into the motivation and
capabilities of the warden. Botanical, georogieal, historicar,
archaeorogicar and scenic points of interest wilr be listed.
Existing trails, and any infornation on previously existing
trails, will be listed and mapped on LzLZ,5OO maps. Field
notes will be kept on trair reconstruction requirement.s for
each lO-chain segment of each trair. point,s of accegs to the
park. by public bus, two-wheel drive and four-wheel drive
vehicres, and foot, will be listed and mapped. rnformat.ion on
possible camping and sherter sites wirl be list,ed and mapped,
taking into consideration aceess, proximity of attractioni,
topograBhy and avairability of water. The NpD invent,ory staff
will spend a week in each compartment, reeording information.
Local knowledge of trails, history and points of interest witl
be sought and recorded.
AL t.he same time that the suBerintendent wilr be working with
'-he FCV and warden inventorying resources of t,he park, the
community outreach officer will hord meetings in rocar
communities at which the Park Superintendent Lrill explain what
is a nat.ionar park. cooperation of community groups wirl be
sought t.o facilitate interviews of local residents to begin to
deternine how they use the park for travel correction of goods,
recreation, etc.
Forrowing a week in a watershed, the information wilr be
aecuratery risted and mapped in the NpD headquarters. This
inventory shourd t,ake six months, and shourd take prace from
the sixth through the eleventh months of the project.
3. 3 oevelop Ob iectives
rn the twelfth month of project, the NpD wirl host a one-day
workshop to develop broad management. objectives for the BMJCM
National Park. The Key contacts will receive a presentation on
park resources. mapped on overlays with a base maB of the
park. The workshop wirr seek a concensus on key areas for

8. q
Terrestrial park Analysis page I of 15
future development of trails and other recreationalactivities- con6iderat.ion wilr be given to acce66, scenic andother attributes and compatibility wit,n other developmentactivities- The internaLionar p"ixr eonsurtant wilr rerurn toJamaica in rhe twerfth month to assist the NpD in pi"p"."tionof re6.urce summaries and the objectives workshop.
3.4
wlren the resource inventory is completed, and management
objectives determined, the NpD staff wirl be assisiea by theparks consultant for a month to establish proceaures fordevelopment of park management alternatives, and to begin todevelop alternat.ives for p?!k deveropment for a lo-yearplanning period, based on different iunding revers.' Thesearternatives wirl detail activities to be undertaken and aschedure for their imprementation, staffing r;;;i;;--responsibirity for inplementation,
"ort
ana any environmentalimpacts forseen as a result of the activities.
The community outreach officer will organize a meeting in eachcommunity at which the park superintenient wirr ericit inputfrom eommunity members about their ideas for park development.
once a ranqe of park deveropment alternatives are compiled,which should take place in mont,hs 13 - r8, a workshop wirl beherd, to which the key GoJ and private secror Key cont,acts wirlbe invited, to seek a concensus on which management art.ernativeto serect' The parks consultant wirr assist io, two moremonths in presentation of alt.ernatives and organization of theAlternative selection workshop, BS werr as preparation andpublishing of a final park management pran, sBecifying a
schedule for park development over the ro-year pranning period.
4. On-site Activities
The first three-year phase of the project wirr focus activit.iesin three areas of the Blue Mountains;-Hardwar Gap, Clydesdaleand BIue Mountain peak; as well as one area in the John CrowMountains, at Mirl Bank. These activities wirl be o.r"rseen bythe BMJCM National park superintendent. who will answer t,o theHead of t,he FSCIJ
warden stations in each area will be rebuirt, and wilr serve tohcuse a furr-tine warden, as a visitor reception area and as acommunicat,ions 6tation.
Each warden station wirr be equipped with a two_way radio, withthe eapability to eommunicate on muttiple bands, irr"iuaing thecoJ civir Defence band in ease of emeriencies. -uo"i-
communication will be held with npo n"Jaquarters at the FSCD oncon6tant spring Road. A portabre radio (warkie_tarkie) wirralso be used by the warden auring tr"ii
"on"truetion andpatror. Repeater6 might have to be e6tablished on certainpeaks to alrow coverage of mo6t of the t.rairs in the park.

9. Terre6trial Park Analysis Page 9 of 15
4. i Field Sraff
A fuIl-time park warden wilt provide most of the on-site
suBervision in each of the four areas to receive infrastructure
inprovelnent during the initial phase of the project,. These
wardens might be the individuals currently assigned as forest
wardens in their respective areas of the BMJCM Forest Reserve,
or might be recruited from the locaI community. Park wardens
should be in good physical condition, and must be willing t,o
l i.re in the warden stations and patrol and supervise work on
t.raiIs. The Project will fund uniforms and motorcycles for
each fu1.1-time warden, to improve visibility and rnobility, and
to motivate the wardens to 6ustain a leveI of activity uncommon
in recent Fore6t Reserve history.
In order that warden stations be manned even during the days
off of full-t,ime wardens, part-time wardens will be hired by
the Pro ject f or two days each week. Since this co6t is above
and beyond current. establishment leveIs for the FSCD, it will
be covered by the Project. during the initial phase. It is
expected that t,his cost will be covered by interest from the
National Parks Trust Fund after the initial Project phase.
Interest.ed youths from the areas where Project act,ivities wilI
be focused will be registered as Park Guides by the NPD. They
will be provided with laminated identification eards, ds proof
of their registration. Established fees for specific guide
serviees wiIl be established by t.he BMJCM Park Superintendent,
in consultation with the Tourist Board.
4.2 Traininq
Practical training in trail design and maintenance, and design
and construction of trail signs and interpret,ive displays, wilI
be gjven by USDA Forest service trail specialists in a two-hreek
workshop, during the sixth month of t.he project. Emphasis will
be given to oecupational safety, especially the correct use and
maintenance of chainsaws.
Training in natural history and tourism etiquette will be
pro'r:ded to Park Guides by UWI f aculty in the eighth month of
t.he project (see 5.2 below).
4. 3 lle!4l{c!_-Gc.P
Fardwar Gap is one center of traditional forest, recreation
managed by the FSCD that merits infrastructure improvement
under the Project. The site is easily accessible from the
Kingston metropolitan area, and offers good potential for
improving forest recreation opport.unit,ies for a Iarge
proportion of the Jamaican population. A system of trails
radiai.ing from this site offers a range of forest walks
throughout this area of the Blue Mountains. Project, activities
at Hardwar Gap would consist of construction of managenent and

10. Terrestrial park Analysis page to of 15
recreation facilities, trail reconstruction and patrolling by
wardens.
The warden 6tation and three guest houses at Holrywelr park
Lrere de6troyed by Hurricane GiIbert. The guest houseE r^rere
rented on a nightly basis to individual famiries or groups aE a
modest fee by the FscD. use vras almost, totally re6tricted to
weekends. Given the shortage of frat 6paee at Hardwar Gap, it
is not recommended that, these guest houses be rebuirt, since a
greater number of visitors could be accomodated durihg day
visits by building ten picnic sherters in the same rocation.
The warden station shourd be rebuilt, however, with quarters
for the warden and his famiry. Many of the materials for
reconstruction ean be salvaged from the destroyed buildings.
rt is estimated that the warden station ean be rebuirt for
US$5,ooo. and the picnic shelters with tables built for
us$1,ooo each. Existing parking facirities shourd be adequate
f or the site. A Minist,ry of Agriculture (pubric works
Department?) draft6man will provide plans for rebuilding t.he
warden station and constructing the picnie shert,ers. The
warden will supervise construction during months 7 Lz, when
the park resource inventory is not being conducted in his area.
The rnstitut.e of Jamaica owns a house near Hardwar Gap, the
Green HiIl Field Station. This house wiII be refurbished with
us$5,ooo. and will be made avairabre for a fee to uwl erasses
and visiting scientists and internat,ional tropical ecorogy
f ield trips.
over 36 months of the project,, 30 rnires of t,rairs wilr be
const.ructed or reconstructed, dt a totar cost of us$rs,ooo.
Trails will go to Mt. cressy via Moodies cap, Dicks pond,
caseade waterfall, Nencastle, catherines peak, cold sprinq,
silver Hitl Gap, Fern wark, Fairy Glade and other points ot
interest. A trail crew will be supervised by the full-time
warden, and will consist of t.hree Iaborers (US$I,54Olyr).
There will be US$I,3BO/yr budgeted for materials and equipment
such as lumber for signs, tents, chainsaws, shovers, pickaxes,
gas and oil cans, water cans and safet,y equipment, and for pack
aninars. The crew wilr typicarry canp two consecutive nighls
to cut down on traver time between the trairhead and the
construction site.
one of the most important eomponents of the project wilr be t,he
patrolling of trairs by park wardens. one full-time warden
will live in the warden station at Hardwar Gap, and wirl
supervise trail work three days per week, and patrol trails and
supervise the warden station on weekends. On two consecut,ive
days per week, a part-time warden (US$ 67O/yr ) will t.ake over
patrol dut.ies . A f u11-time wat.chman (US$1, IOO /yr) wiII watch
over the warden st,ation and monitor the radio on weekends and
three weekdays. These wardens shoutd be in good physical
shape, reeruited from the IocaI population, and show an
avocation for the outdoor6.

11. Terrestrial Park Analysis Page Il of 15
4.4 C lvd e e_d_a ! s
Clydesdale is another center for forest recreation in the Blue
Mountains. The FSCD gue6t house is an historical coffee estate
house, which will 6erve as a warden station, with
refurbishing. The ground floor will serve as warden quarters,
while the first floor will continue to serve as a gue6t house,
doubling as a warden station. A total of us$7,ooo is budgeted
to refurbish the guest house. warden station, and to restore
the historical coffee Broce6sing facilities, which include a
working wat.er wheel. CIDCO will be encouraged to develop
displays of traditional coffee proeessing techniques. A fee
will be charged for u6e of the guest house by private parties.
The proceeds will go into the National Parks Trust fund to earn
int.erest to cover recurrent park costs.
Trail reconstruction and new trail con6truction wiIl be
undertaken in the area around crydesdare, reading t,o Morces cap
and beyond to Vinegar Hill, Silver Hill GaB, Cinchona, St.
He1ens cap and the Grand Ridge of the BIue Mountains,
Approxirnately 30 miles of trail work wiII be funded over three
years, at us$6,ooo/yr. Three laborers (us$I54o/yr each) wiIl
be supervised in trail work for three days per week by t,he
fu11-time warden, and US$I,38O/yr will be budgeted for
materials and equiBment.
The Clydesdale warden station will be staffed similarly to the
Hardwar Gap station, with a fuIl-time warden working Wednesday
- Sunday. Trail work will be supervised on Wednesday
Friday. On weekends, the warden will Batrol trails and
supervise the hrarden station.
4.5 Blue Mountain Peak
Blue L{ountain Peak is perhaps the most popular desl-ination for
h:.kers in Jamaica. clirnbing to the peak is armost a right of
passage for youths. Because of frequent use, the peak trait is
in excellent condition, and will need little work.
Reconstruction wilI be needed to restablish the trail between
Portland Gap and Morees Gap. however, ds well as the Radnor
trail between Abbey Green and Hagley GaB. There are tales of a
Maroon trail between Brue Mountain Peak and Nanny Town, that
might offer promise for a long-distance, nulti-day hike.
At Portland Gap, the warden station and pit toilet will have to
be rebuilt, which will cost approximatley USg4,ooo. Three
shelters for hikers, each wit.h a double pit toilet, will also
be built, at us$5,ooo eaeh. The hut. on Brue Mountain peak will
be rebuilt.. at a cost of US$a,5oo.
Thirty miles of trail eonstruetion will be budget,ed at
US$6,OOO/yr. A crew of three laborers (US$1.540/year each)
will be supervised by the warden residing at portland cap. The
laborers will spend three or four nights Ber week at portland

12. Terrestrial Park Analysis Page LZ of 15
Gap, working three days on trails. For naterials and
equiBrilent, US$I,38o/yt wilI be budgeted.
Because of the renoteness of Portland GaB. a rotating shift, of
three wardens witl each live one week full-time there. Each
wilI receive one-third salary (Us$733/yr), and will spend one
week at the hut before being relieved, from Monday of one week
to Monday of the next. The trail crew will travel to Portland
cap vrith the warden for that week on Monday. The trail crews
will work Tuesday - Thursday, travelling back to their hones on
Thursday evening or Friday morning. The warden wiII patrol
trails and supervise the warden station on Friday - Sunday. A
part-time warden wilI be stationed at Blue Mountain Peak from
Friday afternoon to Sunday afternoon each week (US$67O/yr), to
t.ake care of the facilities when the mo6t use occurs.
4.6 MiIl Bank
A trail over cuna cuna Pass is frequently used by loca1
inhabitants. This trail will form the beginning of a BMJCM
National Park recreation area in this vicinity. The fanous
trail through Corn Puss Gap will be reopened, and connected to
Johnson Mountain and Spring Bank. A side trail will be opened
to Drivers River Falls from Corn Puss Gap. The hot mineral
springs at Bath will be a tourist destination, where hikers
will enjoy a soak after a leisurely walk through the lush rain
forest of the mountains.
A full-time warden will be
GoIden Pen Warden St,ation,
Wednesday - Friday, and pa
Warden Station on weekends
FIDCO hut in Golden Pen
1I serve as a warden sta
based from Wednesday - Sunday at the
supervising the trail crew from
trolling trails and supervising the
wi-I1 be ref urbished f or US$f , OOO, and
tion.
A
wi
There wiIl be US$6,000/yr budgeted for trail construction,
funding a three-perons trail crew of laborers (US$I,54o/yr
each) that. wiII be supervised by the fuIl-time warden, and
US$r,38o/yr for materials and equipment.
Communitv out-reach
Maintenance of natural ecosystems is problematical in area6
subject to high population growth and erosive agricultural
practices. Forests have long been regarded as reposit.ories of
"unused" land that can be converted to agriculture t.o feed
growing populations, or replace production lost. t,o soil erosion
resulting from inappropriate farming methodologies. Generally,
many benefit.s derived by rural and urban populations fron
forests, sueh as dependable supplies of quality water, flood
prevention. amelioration of climate and habitat for indigenous
plants and animals, are not perceived on a daily basis, if at
alI. unvironmental education can teach the poBulace about
these values, and there is promise of instilling a conservation

13. Terrestrial park Analysi6 page 13 of t5
ethic in youth through effective environmentar eduction
programs in schools. Monetary benefit for locaI residents from
forest management is one of the nost 6ure ways of gaining their
Bupport for this land u6e. while declaration of the BMJCM
Forest Reserve has in the Bast given some protection to lands
witlrin the reserve, because of contror of encroachment by the
FSCD, there is currently very rittle monetary incent.ive for
locaI populations to favor forest, cover in the area"
The main objective of the community out,reach program'is to
involve locaL communities in the management and benefits of the
park. An educational component wilI inform inhabitants about
conservation objectives of nationar parks, and about the
environmentar benefits provided by the forest. An enterprise
component will try to increase the monetary benefits from the
park of residents by pronoting appropriate entrepeneurial
ventures related to park management. The program will be
supervised by the Community Outreach Officeer, who will report,
to the Park superintendent and be assisted by suceessive teans
of Peace Corps Environmental Education and Nature Ent,erprise
volunt,eers.
As mentioned above, locar communities wirr be invorved in
development of management arternatives for the park. rn
partieular, opportunities wilt be sought where inhabitants can
contribute, with monetary remuneration, to park management.
For example, rat.her than the park buying pack animals, trail
transport.ation wilI be contracted out to IocaI residents with
pack animals. Trair const.ruction work and warden stat,ion
construct.ion wirr be carried out by rocar laborers and
carpenters.
5. I Environmental Education
The Environmentar Education Volunteer (EEv) wirr develop and
iitai ttl-a in contacts witn t.he SociaI Development commission, the
Mavis Bank voeationar schoor, erementary schools, the parish
council, and local representatives of government agencies and
statutory bodies in the Mavis Bank, Cocoa WaIk and Cedar VaIley
environs. The volunteer should have a background in
Environmental Education, Forest Recreation or parks Management.
EE classroom exercises wilr be developed, perhaps adapted fron
availabre programs like project Learning Tree or project, wira.
The volunteer will work with eight different, elasses per month,
spending the first day with each class helping the teacher t,o
apply EE exercises as part of the curricurun, and transporting
the class to the BCJCM National park in the project
four-wheer-drive vehicre on the forrowing day. rndividual
schools wirl adopt specific parts of near-by forest trairs to
maintain. Light trail work wilr be combined with nat,ural
history instruction during fierd trips. EE materials used in
the crassroom wilr arso be used by the community outreach
officer to give talks on the national park and natural history
to community groups. opportunities wirl be sought for grouBs

14. Terrestrial park Analysis page 14 of 15
to develop stewardship a66ociations with the park, which wirl
focus on forest recr:eation, field days for trair work and other
outing6 in t,he park.
A training workshop for cooBerating teachers witl be put on by
Project Learning Tree or Project wild 6taff frorn the united
st,ates six months after the first volunteer begins service.
5.2 Nature EnterpriEe
The Nature Enterprise volunteer will promote efforts of
individuals and grouBs to develop money-making ventureB,
comBatibre with park and forest, reserve management objectives,
based on resources of the park or eurrounding forest. An
initiat activity wirl be registration and training of park
Guides (see sections 1.3 and 4.3 above). rt is expect.ed that
the rnajority of the Park Guides will be youths, who have littre
other opt.ion than urban migration or erosive farming on
degraded soirs. The NEV wilr work with uwt faculty to deverop
a training course eight months after initiation of service.
The course should include instruction in Blue Mountain botany,
geology and ornithology, as well as tourism etiquette. The
guides wilr be made honorary park wardens to further their
ident.ification wit.n the park. The NEV wilr work with the BMJCM
Park superintendent to establish officiar guide prices for
sBecific trail sections.
Other potential Nature Enterprise activities are guest houses
and restaurants for tourists, cottage industry production of
souvenirs for tourists, such as silk screened T-shirts,
baskets, wood carvings and turnings, fabrication of rustic
furniture from bamboo and residues from timber harvesting and
hardwood cooperatives with nore sophisticated Brocessing
technology. Cultivation of park plant.s used as herbal
nredicines wirr be promoted, drawing on expertise from wfr and
the agriculturar college. Araskan sawmills (chainsaws wit.h
attachments for ripping rumber from logs) are being used in the
Brue Mountains to saw up wood in the aftermath of Hurricane
Girbert,. use of these highry portabre devices threatens to
degrade the natural forest in the park, if not controlled.
Organization of local sawyers by the NEV could help to
normaLLze their activities. Lumber production using
appropriate technology, and hurricane-proof carpentry, could be
taught at the vocational school in Mavis Bank, with assistance
from the NEV.

15. Terrestrial Park Analysis page 15 of L7
E$=J_CM Nationai Park Costs
E.:D
Technical Assistance - International park6 Consultant
s ix nronths @ USlO, 0OO/mo .
Commodities
Vehicles - two 4-wheel drive G US$l4,Ooo
Motorcycles - 5
Communicat ions Equipment
Subto ta I
Training
International National Parks Seminar for
Super intendent,
Trail Construction and Maintenance course
by USDA Forest, Service
TraiI Guide course by UWI
Subtolal
Personnel
Community outreach Officer - 3 years G $B,oOO
Part-time warden - Hardwar cap @ $alO/yr
Watchman - Hardwar Gap G $t,loO/yr
Part-time Warden - Clydesdale G fi67O/yr
l{atchman - Clydesdale G $1. too/yr
Part-time Warden - Blue Mountain peak
Part-time Warden - colden pen G fi67O/yr.
watchman - colden pen G $I,IOO/yr
subto ta I
CoIrs f riJction
Headquarters Building and Superintendent House
Warden Stations - rebuild Hardwar cap
rebuild Clydesdale
- rebuild Portland caB
- rebuild Blue Mount,ain peak
- rebuild colden Pen
Int.erpretive center, Portland Gap
Hiker Shelters, Portland cap 3 G $5,OOo
subtotal
Trail Construct,ion
Hardwar cap - 30 miles G $to,ooo/yr
Clydesdale - 30 miles G $lo,ooo/yr
BLue Mountain Peak - 30 miles G $lO, OAO/yr
Mill Bank 30 miles G $to,ooo/yr
$6O,OOO
$zg, ooo
$zr. ooo
$zo, ooo
$69,OOO
$to,ooo
$ 5, ooo
$ z, ooo
$ r7, ooo
$24, OOO
$ z, olo
$ 3,3oo
$ 2, oto
$ 3,3oo
$ z,aro
$z, oto
$ 3,30o
$+ t, geo
$20, ooo
$ 5, ooo
$ 7, ooo
$ q, ooo
$ 4,500
$ 3, ooo
$ 5, ooo
$ts, ooo
$63, soo
SubLo ta I
Cada6t,ra I Surveys
B:ocli.ures, trail guides and environmental ed ma
Tota I
$30, ooo
$30, OOO
$3o,ooo
$3o,ooo
$ 12O , OOO
$25,ooo
t.er ia Is $tZ, OOO
$aog, eeo

16. r
g^
Terrestrial park Analysis page 16 of L7
7. Schedule of Act.ivities
Act ivitv
Staf f
Month
I 6 L2 18 24 30 36
I t M ! ! ! ! ! t ! ! t ! ! t ! t ! t ! t t ! t t t t t t t ! t ! !
Recruit Staff xx
Parks Consultant xx xx xx
Peace corp6 Park vo1. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Manaqement Plan
Park Boundaries
Agency Heads x
technical Workshop x
Agency Heads x
Inventory Resources xxxxxx
Management Objectives x
Develop Alternatives xxxxxx
Select AlternativeEi 1
Publish Mangement plan x
Park ectivit,ies
Trail Workshop x
Rebuild Warden stations xxxxxx
Tr a i 1 Re c ons t ruc t i on xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Suurveys and Demarcat.ion xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
rnterpretive uaterials xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
out r ea ch
EE Volunteer xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
NE Volunteer xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
EE Workshop x
EE Classes xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Guide Training x
Guide Enterprise xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

17. 4
a,
ir
r_.
Terrestrial park Analysis page L7 of L7
8. Li.st of contacts
Roy Jone6, Director, Forestry and soil conservation Department
York Reid. SuBervisor, Eastern Region, FSCD
Robert Feurtado. Forester, St. Andrew District
MarceI Ander6on, Director, NRCD
Guy Symes, Exeeutive Direct,or, FIDCO
James Uonroe, Deputy Commissioner of Lands
Dr. Eric Garraway, Zoology DeBartment,, UWI
Denzil Dunkley, Regional Manager, Ea6tern Region, crDco
Elaine Fisher, Head, Naturar History Divisioi, rn6t. of Jamaica
Joy Douglas, Executive Director, JCDT
Brad williams, peace corps vorunt.eer, Blue Mountains
Tim Charles, peace corps Volunteer, yallahs Varley
9. Principal References
ArD, 1987. Jamaica count,ry Environmentar profire. Kingston.
Jamaica. 362 p.
Burrard, L972, park and Recreation in Jamaica. Forest,ry
Development and watershed Management in the upland
Regions. Rome, rtary. FAo Fo:sF/JAM 5. Technical Report
7. 30 p. + map.FAO, Rome. Italy.
'Government of Jamaica (survey Depart,ment) , r984. t:5o, ooo Maps
(Metric Edition). sheets l3 (The Blue Mountains), r4
(Port Antonio ) , 18 (Kingst.on) , t9 (Morant Bay) . plinistry
of Agriculture, Kingston, Jamaica.
Ke1ly, Daniel L. r986. Native f ore6ts on rrret limestone inNorth-east,ern Jamaica. p. 31-42 in D.A. Thonpson, p.K.
Bretting & Marjorie Humphreys. gg amaica.
Papers from the Regional seminar on Fore6t6 oF-Jamaica,
held in Kingston, Jamaica. 1993. Jamaica society of
Scientists and Technologists, Kingston, Jamaica.
Tanner, E.v.J. 19g6. Forests of the Blue Mounatains and the
Port Royal Mountains of Janaica. p. I5_3O in D.A.
Thompson, p.K. Bretting & Marjorie Humphreys. Forests of
Jamaica. papers from the Regional seminar on Fore6t6 of
Jamaica, held in Kingston, Jamaica, 19g3. Jamaica society
of scientists and Technologists, King6ton, Jamaica.
wilcox, Bilr. 1995. A hiker's guide to the Blue Mountains.
Kingston, Jamaica. peaee corps, Jamaican camping and
Hiking Association, Mini6try of Tourism and nepartment of
Forestry. ZB p.