Peter EspeutYESTERDAY WAS World Biodiversity Day. I am in support of these various days, like World Oceans Day (June 8) and World Wetlands Day (February 2) and World Fisheries Day (November 21) because they are an opportunity for those of us unfamiliar with these concepts to refresh our memories and get up-to-date with the state of the world in which we live.
Many remember the idea of the food chain, which connects all living (and non-living) things in a relationship of predator and prey, of parasite and host, of user and nutrients. Some animals (carnivores) eat other animals; and some animals (herbivores) eat plants; and plants make their own food. Animals build up their bodies by eating living things, while plants grow by absorbing non-living things like carbon dioxide and nitrates and light energy. As we explore the interdependence of living things, we realise that the concept of a food "chain" is inadequate, for the relationship between animals and plants is not linear; many animals depend on the same plants, and many animals depend on several other animals in different ways; so the concept of the "food web" is now preferred by ecologists.
Mutual
well-being
Of course, the relationship between animals and plants is not confined to one eating the other. Some organisms need others to be alive and healthy for mutual well-being (symbiosis), and others (epiphytes) need physical support. Some plants need animals to disperse their seeds, and some animals need plants for shelter and protection from predators. In ecology we refer to this system of relationships between specific animals and plants as an "ecosystem", and the natural environment is now viewed as various different ecosystems, rather than just a conglomeration of animal and plant species. Examples of ecosystems are coral reefs, wetlands (e.g. mangroves), seagrass meadows, and dry limestone forests.
This is where the idea of "biodiversity" originates. Nature thrives on diversity, on difference. Different animals and plants perform different and sometimes very specific functions in an ecosystem (we say that each species occupies an "ecological niche"; no two species occupy the same ecological niche); and should any species disappear through local or global extinction, the functions they perform will disappear with them, and the ecosystem becomes less healthy. Because of Jamaica's geological history we have a high proportion of endemic plants (found nowhere else in the world). We have 7.5 endemic plants/100 sq. km, compared to Cuba (3.0) and Hispanola (2.4). The Cockpit Country has 22.6 plants/100 sq. km endemic to the Cockpit Country, or three times the national average! Places like the Cockpit Country need to receive special protection because of the large number of plants found nowhere else in Jamaica or the world!
I understand that there are plans to mine bauxite in the Cockpit Country. That will wipe a couple of plants off the face of the earth forever! Do we care?
Loss of local plant and animal biodiversity is already changing our lives here in Jamaica. The death of the coral reefs around Jamaica is leading to less fish for us to eat, and greater beach erosion. The destruction of mangroves and other wetlands is also resulting in less fish and less crabs and wetland birds. The destruction of forests is leading to water shortages and soil erosion. The overall reduction in birds is leading to an increase in insects which soon may further affect crops and public health.
Concern about the global loss of biodiversity has led members of the United Nations including Jamaica to sign and ratify the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and to develop National Biodiversity Strategies. The Natural History Division of the Institute of Jamaica is the Focal Point for biodiversity matters in Jamaica, and such a strategy is in preparation; and not a moment too soon, for Jamaica has already lost several endemic animal and plant species through extinction - gone forever! Never again will anyone see the Pedro Seal (yes, we used to have seals in Jamaica), or the Jamaican monkey (yes, there were monkeys here when Columbus came), or the Jamaican Rice Rat. And many others.
On the verge
And several others are on the verge of extinction. If we are not careful, we will lose the Jamaican iguana - the most endangered lizard in the world, found only in the Hellshire Hills. Without its habitat, the iguana is doomed to extinction, and the UDC has plans to turn the Hellshire Hills into a big housing scheme. That will be enough to finish off the iguana forever!
A 1997 study showed Jamaica having the second highest percentage of plant species in danger of extinction in the world! The USA is first with 4,669 (29%) of its plant species in danger of extinction. We have the next highest percentage (22.5%) with 744 plant species in danger of disappearing from the face of the earth. Eleven other countries have more species in danger of extinction than Jamaica : Australia, South Africa, Turkey, Mexico, Brazil, Panama, India, Spain, Peru, Cuba and Ecuador. But Jamaica, despite being the smallest country on the list, beats everyone except the USA in the percentage of its plant species in danger of becoming extinct. No doubt this is linked to the fact that we have the highest rate of deforestation in the world, which reduces the acreage of our natural forests where much of our plant biodiversity occurs.
Peter Espeut is a Sociologist and Executive Director of an Environment and Development NGO.
