Bauxite mining poses major threat to Cockpit Country wildlife and watershed

A group of environmental and community-based organisations in Jamaica are very concerned about an application for a Special Exclusive Prospecting Licence by Alcoa Minerals of Jamaica to prospect for bauxite in the environmentally sensitive and culturally significant Cockpit Country.  If granted by the Minister of Agriculture, Roger Clark, the licence could eventually lead to the destruction of this fragile ecosystem, rich in biodiversity and cultural history.

The concerned organisations, calling themselves the Cockpit Country Stakeholders Group, have written to the Commissioner of Mines and to the Jamaica Bauxite Institute asking for information on what are planned for this very important natural area.

The Cockpit Country is a rugged, remote area of western Jamaica that has the world’s most outstanding karst topography – steep-sided hills and deep, round valleys eroded from the limestone bedrock.  The wildlife of the Cockpit Country is specially adapted to this unique landscape and numerous species occur here that are endemic, found nowhere else in the world.

This is the largest remaining area of intact wet limestone forest in Jamaica and is a refuge for at least 79 of the 100 bird species found in the island, including Jamaica’s two endemic parrot species.  The Cockpit Country is home to perhaps the only viable population of the endemic Giant Swallowtail butterfly; with a wingspan of up to 8 inches (20 cm) it is the largest butterfly in the Americas. As we write this, a new species of tree frog, endemic to Jamaica and thus far known only from the Cockpit Country, is being described by scientists. There are more than 60 species of plants unique to this region, some isolated to just one hill.

In addition to its rich biodiversity, the Cockpit Country supplies water for most of western Jamaica.  Five major rivers are fed from the aquifers under the Cockpit Country: the Black River, Great River, Montego River, Cabarita River and the Martha Brae.  Five parishes derive their water supply, in whole or part, from this forested area – St. Elizabeth, Hanover, St. James, Westmoreland and Trelawny.

The Cockpit Country holds a special place in Jamaican history because of its importance as an inaccessible refuge for the Maroons, who were able to force the British into signing a peace treaty in 1738.

The Cockpit Country Stakeholders Group is advocating that no prospecting licences or mining leases be issued without careful consideration of the views of this Group, which is planning a national and international ‘Save Cockpit Country’ campaign.

The stakeholders include includes scientists, educators and other members of Birdlife Jamaica, Bluefields Peoples’ Community Association, Bluefields Bay Fishermen’s Friendly Society, Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation, Countrystyle Community Tourism Network, Dolphin Head Trust, Gideon Education Centre, International School of Jamaica, Jamaica Environment Trust, Manchester Environmental Protection Association, NEED Jamaica,  Negril Environmental Protection Trust,  Northern Jamaica Conservation Association, the  Plant Conservation Centre, Portland Environment Protection Association, Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency, the Sustainable Communities Foundation, and Windsor Research Centre.

Please visit http://www.cockpitcountry.org for more information