You can join the Jamaica Environment Trust and invest in Jamaica's future. This is an important contribution you can make to future generations. Your membership will entitle you to newsletters and information on our activities. You can attend meetings an voice your proposals for protecting the environment. You can contribute to our projects in any way that appeals to you.

Ten Things you can do now:

• Organize a tree planting day or clean-up a beach
• Cut down or eliminate your use of disposable products, such as plastic bags, Styrofoam, fast food containers
• Never throw garbage in gullies - it will be washed into the sea
• Don't waste water
• Avoid plastics unless they can be reused or recycled
• Don't burn garden waste - start a compost heap instead
• Conserve electricity
• Drive a car that gives good mileage
• Eat low on the food chain - cut down on the amount of meat in your diet
• Be an environmental activist. Learn about the issues and be vocal. Call and write us if you know of environmental problems in your area

Parrotfish is the common name for members of the large family Scaridae, which live in coral reefs throughout the Caribbean as well as the Atlantic and Pacific ocean. There are over 80 different species of parrotfish varying in colour and pattern even between males, females and juveniles, with each going through a variety of colour changes as they age. Colours range from blues, yellows, browns, blacks, reds, bright orange and greens. The variety in colour has made it difficult for even scientists to discern exactly between the number of different species that exist.

Parrotfish are distinctive in that their teeth form a pair of strong beak like dental plates. They also have 'molar-like' teeth in their throats that grind up coral so that stomach acid can digest the algae found in a around the coral. The ground up coral is later excreted by the fish in the form of sand. In this way, the parrotfish can contribute enormous amount of sediment to the sea bottom and beaches - over one ton of sand per year!

Parrotfish play an important role in the growth of coral reefs. Studies have shown when parrotfish are prevented from feeding along the area of the reef, the coral is 'smothered' to death by the growth of algal mats. The grazing activity of parrotfish keeps this in check.

So, the next time you are about to buy parrotfish for a meal, reflect on these facts.

Sources:

• Jones, A. & Sefton, N. (2002). Marine Life of the Caribbean (Second Edition)

• www.nh.essortment.com/parrotfish_rzbj.htm

• www.greenbelize.com

• The entire island of Jamaica is considered a watershed. A watershed is an area of land that collects rainwater and drains it into a specific body of water such as a river, stream or lake

• Jamaica's available freshwater constitutes 16% surface water and 84% ground water

• Water use on the island is distributed into the following categories: agriculture (75%), domestic (17%), industry (7%), tourism (1%)

• In Jamaica, domestic water is largely obtained from wells that tap aquifers. 78% of these aquifers are limestone, which means than provide higher water yields but are more easily polluted

• Threats to Jamaica's fresh water supply include: deforestation, pollution from major industries, over pumping of wells and pollution from untreated sewage discharged into rivers

Wood Warblers - Song Birds

A total of 36 species of song birds or wood warblers, family Parulidae, migrate to Jamaica every winter to get away from the cold weather in North America.

These small (10-18.5 cm), often coloured birds are called 'Christmas birds" as most arrive in the islands during the Christmas season, or "Chip, chip birds" because of the 'chip' sound they make. They remain in island until about May the following year, then they return to their breeding grounds in North America.

Of the 36 species of wood warblers that winter in Jamaica, only 13 are regular visitors. The most common ones are the American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla), Prairie warbler (Dendroica discolor), Black throated Blue Warbler (Dendroica caerulescens), and Ovenbird (Seirus, aurocapillus).

Wood warblers are restricted to the New World (Americas). They are mainly arboreal (tree dwelling) and inhabit woodlands, marshlands and dry scrubs. Most of their diet consists of insects, but they will also consume fruits. In Jamaica, they play a vital role in the coffee industry, as they consume the coffee berry borer beetle which is a pest.

They are nocturnal migrants, and in one night can cover up to 160 km, with a maximum speed of 30 mph. Many birds use up their entire fat reserve during their migration. The American Redstart uses up 50% of its pre-migration fat reserve on its 2,900 km flight to Jamaica.

Up to 30% of the wood warblers die during migration. Many birds die, especially on cloudy nights, from encounters with tall buildings and communication towers. Some become exhausted from encounters with strong headwinds, and some are predated by other birds such as owls.

Habitat loss is a major threat to these birds, especially in dry coastal areas in Jamaica where many species are found. There is evidence that warblers return to the same feeding area every winter. Dr. Susan Koenig of the Windsor Research Centre in Cockpit Country, Trelawny, and Robert Sutton of Marshalls Pen in Manchester have banded the same birds in successive years.

In Jamaica, the Windsor Research Centre is working in Cockpit Country, Trelawny, where 22 species of wood warblers are found, to protect the habitats of these birds.

Source:

• www.answers.com/topic/new-world-warbler-1?cat=technology

• Verb. Comm. John Fletcher, President, Birdlife Jamaica.

• Verb. Comm. Dr. Susan Koenig, Windsor Research Centre, Cockpit Country, Trelawny.

The West Indian Whistling Duck and Wetlands Programme (WIWD)

Background

The Society for the Conservation and Study of Caribbean Birds (SCSCB) is a regional organization dedicated to the conservation of birds and their habitats and support of local institutions in the Caribbean region. The West Indian Whistling-Duck and Wetland Conservation Project is a project of the SCSCB which is working to reverse the decline of the endangered West Indian Whistling Duck and to prevent further loss and degradation of the wetlands in the West Indies.

JET works with the SCSCB

The Jamaica Environment Trust has had the privilege of delivering teacher/training workshops funded by the SCSCB for the past year. Workshops started in October/November 2004 and were attended by 423 principals, vice-principals and teachers from approximately 268 schools island wide.

The workshops were aimed at educating the teachers about the importance of wetland habitats, what threatens them and what can be done to protect them. In their field trip to various wetland sites such as the Portmore Mangroves and the Black River Lower Morass, teachers learnt to identify mangrove species and sited wetland animals such as crabs, birds, fish and crocodiles. According to Mrs. Lewis, a teacher from Mount Alvernia Prep, "the workshop was very informative and interactive. It really increased by awareness as before I thought wetlands were an eyesore. Now I know of their importance and hence can make a contribution to their preservation".

JET is happy to continue working with the SCSCB in conducting workshops for the 2005/2006 school year.

The SCSCB Biennial Meeting in Guadeloupe - August 2005

JET's Senior Project Coordinator, Nadia Watson, attended the Society for the Conservation and Study of Birds (SCSCB) biennial meeting in Guadeloupe from August 1st to 5th. The meeting focused on avian conservation and research and brought together ornithologists, resource managers and interested citizens from over 18 Caribbean countries, the USA, UK and Canada.

JET gave a presentation on the "Wetlands not Wastelands" workshop we developed in 2001. The workshop was sponsored by the West Indian Whistling Duck and Wetland Conservation project which is funded by the SCSCB. Nadia had this to say about the experience:

"Many thanks to Dr. Lisa Sorenson and SCSCB who facilitated my attendance at the conference. I had the opportunity to hear about the different research projects being conducted within the region and to share experiences through the group meetings. This trip was definitely enlightening and enjoyable."

Sources:

• www.whistlingduck.org

• www.nmnh.si.edu/BIRDNET/SCSCB

• www.birdlife.org/action/awareness/wiwd

Generally, native, endemic and some Caribbean trees are the best, since they, over thousands of years, adapted to hurricanes. So, DO NOT plant Pine, Eucalyptus, Yellow Poui, Jacaranda, African Tulip Tree, Leuceana or Mango. Fruit trees, for various reasons, are not suited for roadsides. The good ones are: