The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has warned against the creation of a shipment port in the Goat Islands, Jamaica. This is a Portland Bight Protected Area because of the ecological services it provides and the biodiversity found unique to the area.
The creation of this port would detract from goals agreed upon in the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The goals include to reduce loss of, to conserve, and to restore natural resource areas, and especially to “make special efforts to reduce the pressures faced by coral reefs.” Because of the plethora of species found there, especially the ones that are endangered, and the shore protection that vegetation in the area provides, the Goat Islands are being monitored by several conservation organizations. Furthermore, “the vegetation of the PBPA provides tens of millions USD annually in carbon sequestration services — the sequestration value of mangrove forests alone, which comprise a fraction of the total PBPA vegetation, was recently estimated to be US$45 million per year.” Mangroves provide indisputable services that must be maintained in order to maintain a healthy ecosystem. The problem being faced here holds resemblance to the problem of expanding coal ports in Queensland that will affect the Great Barrier Reef.
Sources:
http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/environment/US-45-million-a-year-_16081177
http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/150565/
https://www.cbd.int/sp/
http://www.eoearth.org/view/article/51cbefea7896bb431f69f774/
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/comment/great-barrier-reef-on-brink-of-devastation-in-relentless-quest-for-coal-20140203-31x6q.html
Picture: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AGoat_island_NZ.jpg