Almost every Jamaican has an idea about 'swamps' and 'marshes'. However, there are fewer who know about wetlands. Wetlands include swamps and marshes. They are defined as naturally or artificially created areas that may be periodically or permanently saturated by ground or surface water. There are approximately 16 major wetlands of great importance in Jamaica, most of which are on the coasts.

Jamaica's wetlands are very important for several reasons as they have tremendous values and a variety of functions. They have economic value, house great biological diversity, provide great protection from flooding, help to replenish groundwater, act as a natural barrier against storms, provide stabilisation of the shoreline, are active in water purification and provide a livelihood for thousands of Jamaicans. They are also important to fish and other marine life.

Types of wetlands

There are five types of wetlands worldwide and Jamaica is significant in that there are four of the five types here. The four in Jamaica include marine (coastal lagoons, rocky shores, coral reefs), riverine (along rivers and streams), estuarine (deltas, tidal marshes, mangrove swamps), and plaustrine (marshes, swamps, bogs).

Three of Jamaica's wetlands have been designated Wetlands of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. They are the Black River Lower Morass, the Palisadoes-Port Royal and the Portland Bight Wetlands and Cays. There are also other important wetlands like the Negril morass, in Westmoreland.

The Convention on Wetlands is an international agreement to protect wetlands. It was signed in Ramsar, Iran, in 1971. The convention indicates the broad framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources.

Jamaica is a contracting party to this convention. As such, we have specific obligations to fulfil for the preservation and protection of our wetlands. One major obligation is that the country must designate at least one wetland site for inclusion in the List of Wetlands of International Importance.

Submitted by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA).