THE importance of protecting Jamaica's coastal ecosystems was discussed with 32 Corporate Area high school students and teachers, in a workshop put on by the Jamaica Environment Trust (JET) in Kingston last Thursday.

The workshop was held in accordance with the International Biodiversity Day, under the theme 'Treasure our wetlands'.

The students and teachers viewed pictures of the different plant and animal species living in coastal wetlands, such as mangroves and birds. They also discussed their importance to Jamaica's environment and economy.

Afterwards, they toured the Palisadoes and the Port Royal marine laboratory. The group learned, for example, that coral reefs and mangroves lessen the impact of hurricanes to coastal areas by providing a buffer against incoming waves.

Project coordinator for JET, Andrea Fender-Longman, said the group used the day to focus on wetlands, as they are particularly under threat from construction, farming and charcoal burning.

"Students are the caretakers of the environment for the next generation so by teaching now, they will be better policy makers in the future than those we have now," she said.

United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) representative Heidi Savelli Soderberg said under the Caribbean Environment Programme, UNEP supports activities for the protection and sustainable development of coastal and marine areas.

"Our aim in Jamaica is to increase awareness on the value and importance of ecosystems, such as mangroves, wetlands, seagrass beds, and endangered and threatened species," she said.

Patrick Holness, integrated science and human and social biology teacher at Holy Trinity High School, said he learned the importance of the survival of each species to the ecosystem as a whole.

"Sometimes we take the wetlands for granted. We need to realise that while it is important to build all these hotels to create jobs, we have to be mindful of their effect on the environment over time," he noted.
Holy Trinity student Odeano Hewitt said he developed a new respect for the wetlands.

"There are so many endangered species in Jamaica, and most of them live in the wetlands," he said.

"I learnt about the importance of the mangroves and coral reefs, the things that are done to destroy them and what we need to do to preserve them. This also helps me in my Geography and Biology studies," said Narsha Mason, a fourth-form student at St Andrew High.

JET, a non-governmental organisation in existence since 1991, has been informing teachers and students about environmental issues through its Schools Environment Programme (SEP) for years.

"We also urge people to be aware of what is happening in their communities and to become part of the process of development," Fender-Longman said.