Goat Islands a UNESCO Biosphere Preserve in order to fight Green Iguana Invasion

“The two Goat Islands are a very special part of our Jamaican heritage, as is the Jamaican Iguana.....I look forward to visiting Jamaica's newest wildlife sanctuary in the near future, and congratulate the Government of Jamaica for this long-awaited decision”

Diana McCaulay, JET outgoing CEO on the decision to make Goat Islands in the PBPA (Portland Bight Protected Area) a Wildlife Sanctuary

Folks the unthinkable has happened…..and it's all good!!!

As we close off 2017, we start on a good note for Goat Islands in the PBPA (Portland Bight Protected Area).

The UDC (Urban Development Corporation) has decided to declare the area as a Wildlife Sanctuary as reported in the article “JET Celebrates Goat Islands Being Declared A Wildlife Sanctuary”, Published Thursday December 14, 2017, The Jamaica Gleaner.

The JET (Jamaica Environment Trust) received the news from NEPA (National Environment and Planning Agency) Wednesday December 13 2017. The UDC and NEPA will establish as a Biosphere Reserve under UNESCO’s Biosphere Programme.

These were the same Goat Islands that the Government led by the PNP in 2014 had signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Chinese to construct a transhipment port. In 2016, Prime Minister Andrew Holness announced that the Goat Islands were to be protected and halted the Hub plans.

Suzanne Stanley, incoming chief executive officer (CEO) of JET, was very pleased that the Save Goat Islands campaign had finally achieved its aim, quote: “We are elated to hear this news. The Save Goat Islands campaign has been one of JET's greatest successes to date under Diana's leadership, and this is a great note on which to celebrate her retirement”

But why the sudden change of plans by Prime Minister Andrew Holness?

Goat Islands a UNESCO Biosphere Preserve – Cashing in on Nature Tourism as Green Iguanas Invade

On the surface, it appears to have been made possible thanks to vigorous opposition by the following groups:

1.      JET

2.      Managers of the PBPA

3.      The CCAM (Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation)

4.      Other interested parties

But it wasn't really these people and groups that won the day. Government don't just scrap Memorandum of Understanding with multibillion dollar partners unless something of greater importance may have come along.

More important than Chinese Money; Iguana Tourism.

In this case it's all about iguanas....or possible an ongoing invasion of Green Iguanas in Jamaica similar to what's happening in the Cayman Islands as explained in my MICO Wars blog article entitled “Iguana Invasion in Cayman Island presents Iguana Meat Export Opportunity”. 

Yes, Jamaica doesn’t have any Green Iguanas, but blue ones.

NEPA and UNDP jointly run a Jamaica Invasive Species Database as pointed out in my blog article entitled “NEPA and UNDP Jamaica Invasive Species Database - Why Jamaicans may be the Environment's worst Enemy”, so teaming up in this way makes sense, as they can protect the indigenous Blue Iguana from the more aggressive Green Iguanas set to invade Jamaica in 2018!!

Tourism, after all, is the biggest money earner, even more than mining.

Our natural environment, for better or for worse, is attracting more Airbnb visitors as noted in my blog article entitled “Ministry of Tourism says Airbnb brings 32,000 to Jamaica to Bob Marley's Trench Town”.  

But with the threat of an impending Green Iguana invasion as noted in my blog article entitled “Why Jamaica faces a Green Iguana Invasion and how eating Iguana Patties may help”, by making the area protected, it will preserve these rare animals as part of a push towards Nature tourism.

So it only makes sense for the Ministry of Tourism and the Government to be seen as protectors of the environment, making more tourism dollars in the process....while they secretly prepare to fight the coming invasion of Green Iguanas that threaten to derail their Nature Tourism cashcow....