The Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) participated in World Wetlands’ Day activities on February 2, 2006 organized by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) at the University of the West Indies’ Port Royal Marine Lab.  Approximately 100 students from eight schools participated in activities geared towards informing them on wetlands and mangrove ecosystems.

JET staff members gave a presentation titled “Wetland Wonders”.  The presentation highlighted the importance of wetlands, in particular mangroves, and the threats facing them.  They also provided handouts on mangrove zonation, West Indian Whistling Duck colouring books, posters and JET informational material to the teachers in attendance. 

The highlight for both the students and the presenters , however, was the boat trip through the mangroves organized by the Port Royal Marine Lab. There students were able to see the species that inhabit a mangrove ecosystem.  They were also able to see first hand the threats facing these ecosystems.  These threats included hurricane damage, garbage dumping and a decrease in the number of birds due to rat predation.  Damage to coral reefs caused by dynamite fishing was also highlighted.  These tours were given on boats from the UWI, NEPA and the Coast Guard.   

Students on a boat trip through the Mangroves - Port Royal, February 2, 2006

Mangrove polluted with solid waste - Port Royal, February 2006

The students were also shown the mangrove tank at the marine lab.  The tank was representative of a mangrove ecosystem and showed the different species found in that habitat.  The species included red mangrove prop roots, bivalves, mangrove upside down jellyfish, anemones and sponges.  

Students of Holy Childhood Prep looking keenly at the aquarium - Port Royal, February 2006

Schools involved in JET’s Schools’ Environment Programme also participated in activities during the day.  Approximately thirty-five of the schools planned and carried out activities that focused on informing their students about the importance of wetlands.  Munro Preparatory, for example, planned on visiting a wetland in St. Elizabeth as well as design a poster on wetlands and the animals found there.

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