The document summarizes various conservation efforts in Jamaica that are working to protect biodiversity and achieve the goals of the Convention on Biological Diversity. It discusses the successful Jamaica Iguana headstart program that has helped increase the population from 8 to 40 nesting females. It also outlines reforestation projects in the Blue and John Crow Mountains that have replanted over 13,000 native tree seedlings. Additionally, it describes a project addressing the invasive lionfish in Jamaican waters through monitoring, education, and passive capture techniques that has led to a decline in lionfish populations at monitored sites.

1. Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
NatureVibe
Featured:
 World
Meteorological
Day
 Windsor
Research Project
 The
World of
Wetlands
 Highlights
 Jamaican
Biodiversity
Natural History Museum of
Jamaica Newsletter
March 2012 Issue XVII Pg. 1
World Meteorological Day is celebrated every year on
the 23rd of March; this year’s theme is ‘Powering our
future, with weather, climate and water’. Climate ob-
servations and research are necessary to under-
standing climate change and how it is currently af-
fecting and will affect our food, water, health and
livelihoods.
Climate change is the non-reversible average change
in weather patterns over an extended period of time.
It is a naturally occurring process on Earth which is
related to the interaction of atmosphere, oceans and
land as well as the amount of solar radiation reach-
ing the Earth.
The Government of Jamaica (GOJ) in collaboration with the European
Union (EU) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
has embarked on a project entitled The Climate Change Adaptation
and Disaster Risk Reduction Project. The theme of this project is
“Climate Change - We have to Change!”
The project will be implemented over a period of thirty months. The
primary goal of the project is to assist key agencies in rehabilitating
Jamaica’s natural ecosystems so as to improve coastal protection and
build the national capacity to manage an mitigate the effects of cli-
mate change. It is also aimed at raising awareness of climate change
and its effects.
The project is already in effect and to date the Forestry Department
has rehabilitated over 200 hectares of degraded forest lands has im-
plemented local committees to assist in the management and protec-
tion of forest reserves. Additionally 2600 hectares of forest lands have
been identified as potential new forest reserves and will soon be de-
clared as such. (Contd on Pg 6)
World Meteorological
Day 2012
It is however due in part to anthropogenic factors, the release of green-
houses gases into the Earth’s atmosphere due to human activities
such as deforestation and the burning of fossil fuels. This has caused
an increase in global temperatures which has affected global weather
patterns.
Official logo for World
Meteorological Day 2012
Reforestation project carried out by
the Forestry Department.

2. Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
NatureVibe Natural History Museum of
Jamaica Newsletter
The Zoology Department of the Natural History Museum of Jamaica in
collaboration with the Windsor Research Centre (WRC), located just
outside of Sherwood Content, embarked on a research project in early
2011.
This aim of this project is to examine the principal insects that com-
prise the diet of the bats found within the Windsor district of
Trelawny. It also seeks to establish a list of insects found within the
area and supplement the existing biodiversity information. The project
is slated to last approximately one year ending in June 2012. The ma-
jor role of the Zoological Department within the project has been to as-
sist in the collection and identification of insect species.
The zoology department agreed to:
 Advise on survey designs and sampling protocols, including
giving recommendations for trapping devices to capture terrestri-
al and arboreal invertebrates;
 Train a minimum of one WRC staff member in the correct
handling and temporary storage of specimens;
 Identify specimens as well as consult with outside experts on
species identification when necessary;
 Store specimens for a permanent archive of the insect biodiversi-
ty found in Windsor District, Trelawney.
The Windsor Research Centre has committed to:
 Purchasing all required field equipment, including temporary
storage materials, necessary for the surveys;
 The deployment of insect-collecting traps on a monthly basis, for
12 months;
The Windsor Research
Project
Entomologist, Dionne Newell
and zoologist, Elizabeth
Morrison closely examines
specimens for identification.
March 2012 Issue XVII Pg. 2
Featured:
 World
Meteorological
Day
 Windsor
Research Project
 The
World of
Wetlands
 Highlights
 Jamaican
Biodiversity

3. Natural History Museum of
Jamaica Newsletter
NatureVibe
March 2012 Issue XVII Pg. 3
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
The Windsor Research
Project
 The collection and temporarily storage of species trapped;
 Photograph, with a digital camera, all specimens that are collect-
ed;
 Transport to NHMJ-IOJ all specimens collected, within 30 days of
their date-of-collection.
To date over 200 specimens of insects including a number of endemic
moths have been collected using light traps, active sweep netting, pit-
fall traps, malaise traps and other trapping methods which are placed
in the flying paths of the bats and within the general area. The zoology
team then regularly visits the location and monitors the traps. The
types of insects collected so far includes: noctuids, night wasps, fire-
flies, click beetles and moths.
The NHMJ staff has also conducted training on insect pinning and
identification and provided a preliminary checklist of specimens col-
lected in the area. Identified specimens have been accessioned into the
national collections and the project hopes to produce a comprehensive
checklist with accompanying photographs, to be available in electronic
format and archived with the Clearing House Mechanism-Institute of
Jamaica.
Zoologist, Elizabeth Morrison collects specimens from light
trap. One of several methods used in insect collecting.
Featured:
 World
Meteorological
Day
 Windsor
Research Project
 The
World of
Wetlands
 Highlights
 Jamaican
Biodiversity

4. Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
NatureVibe
Natural History Museum of
Jamaica Newsletter
World Wetlands Day
2012
The World Wetlands Day theme for February 2, 2012 is Wetlands and
Tourism. On this internationally recognized day, government agencies,
private organizations and groups of citizens at all levels of the commu-
nity organize activities and undertake actions aimed at raising public
awareness of the importance and benefits of wetlands.
The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty which focuses on the
protection and sustainable use of wetlands. The Mason River Protected
Area (MRPA) in Clarendon, which is managed by the Natural History
Museum of Jamaica, was designated the 4th Ramsar Site or Wetland of
International Importance under the Ramsar Convention in December
2011. This designation holds much significance as it the only inland
wetland and bird sanctuary so recognized within the Caribbean. Given
its designation, the site will now be known as the Mason River Protect-
ed Area, Bird Sanctuary and Ramsar Site (MRPA-RS).
The MRPA consists of 82 hectares of land on which exists Jamaica only
inland peat bog as well as it possesses many unique plants and ani-
mals. There is an abundance of unique flora that can be found in the
MRPA such as Venus flytrap, Sundew, Pitcher plant, Prickly pole which
is endemic and several orchids. There are over 30 species of birds,
many of which are endemic, many insects and a few amphibians and
reptiles that inhabit the MRPA. Types of fauna that can be commonly
found within the MRPA are Jamaican zebra butterfly, Vervain hum-
mingbird, which is endemic, the White crowned pigeon, the green lizard
and the mongoose.
Top left: Jamaican
Zebra Butterfky
Top right: Sundew
Plant
Bottom left: Vervain
hummingbird
Bottom right:
Prickly pole
March 2012 Issue XVII Pg. 4
Featured:
 World
Meteorological
Day
 Windsor
Research Project
 The
World of
Wetlands
 Highlights
 Jamaican
Biodiversity

5. Natural History Museum of
Jamaica Newsletter
NatureVibe
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
In commemoration of World Wetlands’ Day 2012, the NHMJ held a
host of activities at the MRPA on January 30th and February 3rd. Over
150 students attended this event from schools within the vicinity of
Mason River as well as from outside of the Mason River area such as
Chandler’s Pen Primary and Junior High, St. Michael’s Primary
School and St Theresa Preparatory School. The activities included
tours of the MRPA, presentations on wetlands, a display of wetland
flora and fauna, interactive storytelling, scavenger hunts, painting
and drawing and activity sheets on wetlands. It was a very successful
event and the urban schools were very grateful for such an oppor-
tunity to visit a wetland.
World Wetlands Day
2012
March 2012 Issue XVII Pg. 5
Botanist, Keron Campbell taking the
students on a tour of the Mason River
Protected Area on World Wetlands Day
2012
Students engaged in a learning activity
at the MRPA.
Students acting out characters in an
interactive story entitled “A Wetland
Story”
Featured:
 World
Meteorological
Day
 Windsor
Research Project
 The
World of
Wetlands
 Highlights
 Jamaican
Biodiversity

6. Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
NatureVibe
Natural History Museum of
Jamaica Newsletter
The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has already
implemented a training programme in seagrass replanting methodolo-
gy and has so far trained fifteen technical officers from NEPA and oth-
er selected agencies. The Meteorological Service of Jamaica (MET) has
started implementing the portion of the project that supports provi-
sion of information so as to make Jamaicans more disaster resilient
and to strengthen our response efforts.
Jamaica has been making considerable strides in meeting its goal of
reducing its carbon footprint and converting to green energy. Many
public and private sector organizations have been investing in alter-
native energy solutions in working towards meeting the Goals of the
Jamaica Energy Policy which is to have alternative energy comprising
approximately 20% of Jamaica’s total energy usage by 2030.
The Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica Wigton Wind Farms is cur-
rently performing at top capacity supplying approximately 11% of Ja-
maica’s energy needs. The Jamaica Public Service (JPS) has ventured
into wind and hydroelectric power and has several hydroelectric
plants throughout the island. Many businesses and homes have been
investing in solar power as an alternate source of energy, such as so-
lar water heaters, solar AC units and solar outdoor lighting.
The growing energy needs of the world and the continuously increas-
ing energy costs are of great concern to Governments, producers and
consumers. Jamaica has unlimited clean and renewable energy re-
sources which has the capacity to supply all our energy needs such
as high intensity sunshine all year round, many powerful rivers and
many mountainous and coastal regions which produce strong winds.
The onus is thus on the Government, the private sector and also on
us citizens to invest in renewable energy research and technology
World Meteorological
Day 2012
(contd from pg1)
Wigton Wind Farm, Manchester Rio Cobre River Dam
Featured:
 World
Meteorological
Day
 Windsor
Research Project
 The
World of
Wetlands
 Highlights
 Jamaican
Biodiversity
March 2012 Issue XVII Pg. 6

7. Natural History Museum of
Jamaica Newsletter
NatureVibe
March 2012 Issue XVII Pg. 7
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
Highlights
Biodiversity Awareness Programme
This project was conceptualized and implemented by the Natural His-
tory Museum of Jamaica. The programme includes regular teaching
sessions, field trips and other activities with the students of the Envi-
ronmental club at Chandler’s Pen Primary School in Clarendon. So far
3 sessions have been conducted with the students including a field trip
to the Mason River Field Station in Clarendon. The programme is
aimed at teaching students and member of the community about
Jamaican biodiversity.
An Afternoon with a Scientist
This term of An Afternoon with a Scientist was quite an exciting
one. The presenters were biotechnologists from the Scientific Research
Council (SRC), a team of pilots from JDF Airwing and at the Round Up
Session we had Dr. Byron Wilson, herpetologist. The sessions were ex-
tremely informative and the students enjoyed them immensely.
Students at Chandler’s Pen Primary engaged in learning at a session: “Biodiversity in the Schoolyard”
Top left: Biotechnologist shows students how to prepare plant cultures
Top left: Pilot from JDF Airwing demonstrates aerodynamics to the students.
Featured:
 World
Meteorological
Day
 Windsor
Research Project
 The
World of
Wetlands
 Highlights
 Jamaican
Biodiversity

8. Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
NatureVibe Natural History Museum of
Jamaica Newsletter
Protecting Jamaican
Biodiversity
The United Nations adopted the Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD) on May 22, 1992 with the aim of increasing understanding and
awareness of the diversity of plants, animals and microorganisms.
Jamaica has been a party to the Convention since 1995 and has the
goal “to improve the status of biodiversity by safeguarding ecosystems,
species and genetic diversity”.
This year, the Natural History Museum of Jamaica decided to highlight
aspects of biodiversity conservation in Jamaica. These conservation ef-
forts have already achieved much success and have made significant
progress towards achieving the goals of the CBD.
The Jamaica Iguana (Cyclura col-
lei) Headstart Programme at the
Hope Zoo
The Jamaican iguana is the island’s
largest native land animal. Though
once abundant, the iguana was
considered extinct up until 1990
when a small population was found
in Hellshire Hills. It is now consid-
ered critically endangered.
In 1991, a group of conservationists removed a clutch of eggs and a
few hatchlings and housed them at The Department of Life Sciences
at the University of the West Indies. The iguanas were then relocated
to the Hope Zoo where they were housed until they were old enough
to survive release into the wild in the Hellshire Hills. By April 2011,
over 200 iguanas were released into the wild.
Initially, 8 nesting females were counted at the known nesting sites.
In 2012, 40 nesting females were counted at the same site. It is
hoped that this is an indication of the population increasing. Other
nesting sites may yet be discovered. The total number of individuals
in the population is not known as there are problems with assessing
the adult males and juveniles.
Reforestation in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National
Park
Jamaica is said to have one of the highest levels of biodiversity in the
Caribbean, inclusive of our flora. Many of our forests contain endem-
ic plants and it is therefore important that we protect them. Factors
such as deforestation and other land clearing activities as well as the
introduction of several invasive species into the islands have been
Featured:
 World
Meteorological
Day
 Windsor
Research Project
 The
World of
Wetlands
 Highlights
 Jamaican
Biodiversity
March 2012 Issue XVII Pg. 8

9. Natural History Museum of
Jamaica Newsletter
NatureVibe
March 2012 Issue XVII Pg. 9
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
threats to our forests. A reforestation programme has been estab-
lished and it extends from sections of the Upper Yallahs Watershed in
the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park.
The Jamaica Conservation Development Trust dedicated approxi-
mately 48.5 hectares of land to the planting of native, non-lumber
species over a 5 year period. The Forestry Department also designat-
ed another 38 hectares of land to reforestation efforts.
Approximately 13,250 seedlings were planted in 26.5 ha between
2007 and 2009. The survival rate of the native species was estimated
to be about 80% in the field. This has led to an increase in forest cov-
er, as well as an increase in forest biodiversity, thus helping to fulfill
the goal of the CBD for Jamaica.
The Invasive Lionfish (Pterois volitans) in Jamaican Waters
The lionfish has become a threat to many species of native fish that
occupy our coral reefs as they feed on the young and small adults of
some fish species as well as small crustaceans and molluscs.
The goals of the Project are to conserve marine biodiversity in Jamaica
and to mitigate threats to the local fish diversity and economy from
the Lionfish in Jamaica. A portion of the project deals with the de-
velopment of a lionfish management plan and an examination of its
prey preferences as well as the development of a passive capture
mechanism.
This project had led to a decline in the lionfish population in the
monitored sites. The population has been reduced from 60 to 6 lion-
fish per hectare and 107 to 13 lionfish per hectare at Dairy Bull and
Skeggy Reef respectively (2 of the 3 sites monitored in Discovery
Bay, St, Ann). This reduction could also be attributed to the training
of fisher folk in the safe removal and handling techniques inclusive
of spine removal for consumption.
Protecting Jamaican
Biodiversity
The Mitigating the Threats of
Alien Species in the Insular
Caribbean (MTIASIC) Project
includes the Lionfish Pilot
Project and is a collaborative
effort of the Global Environ-
ment Facility (GEF), United
Nations Environment Pro-
gramme (UNEP), CAB Interna-
tional (CABI), National Envi-
ronment and Planning Agency
(NEPA and the University of
the West Indies (UWI).
Featured:
 World
Meteorological
Day
 Windsor
Research Project
 The
World of
Wetlands
 Highlights
 Jamaican
Biodiversity

10. Natural History Museum of
Jamaica Newsletter
NatureVibe
March 2012 Issue XVII Pg. 10
Giant Swallowtail Butterfly
Featured:
 World
Meteorological
Day
 Windsor
Research Project
 The
World of
Wetlands
 Highlights
 Jamaican
Biodiversity
INSTITUTE OF JAMAICA
Natural History Museum of Jamaica
10-16 East Street
Kingston.
Tel: (876)922-0620-6
Fax: (876)922-1147
Email: nhd.ioj@mail.infochan.com