Artificial Beach at Blue Lagoon Destroys Vital Mangroves

Artificial Beach created at Blue Lagoon. Photo courtesy Diana McCaulay

 The Blue Lagoon Restoration Project is deeply concerned at the actions of a private citizen to clear mangroves in order to construct a private, artificially inseminated beach.

Removal of first generation mangroves, undergrowth and decaying vegetation is a huge mistake which Portland Parish Council, NEPA and people like us must not allow to be repeated. Coastal degradation is an environmental and social issue of national importance. It represents a terrible cost to Blue Lagoon and to Portland's sustainable development and individual dreams.

Mangrove roots are underwater filters and cleaning systems that fishes and marine organisms require - much as trees and plants create oxygen and filter the air we humans breathe. Without clean water, fish die. Without clean water and air, animals and humans die. Decaying plant and animal matter become the soil we need for planting food that our lives depend on.
• mangrove roots underwater systems hide young fish (hatchlings) because larger predator fish cannot maneuver mangrove root nurseries
• all tree root systems help prevent erosion of soil surrounding Blue Lagoon, removing trees/plants causes hillside soils to wash away
• mangrove canopies (leafy branches) are home, nesting places, rest stops and housing schemes for birds, much like human settlements
• roosting, bird droppings fertilize the soil beneath their canopy, droppings include seeds and other nutrients and natural fertilizers
• bush, plants and undergrowth are home and safe haven for smaller creatures and microcosms
• chopping down trees and plants signals degradation of Nature's support systems sustaining OUR earth
• trees filtering systems create oxygen, roots help stabilize the soil, decayed plant matter creates new soil
• plants take their nutrients from soil and water
• our nutrients come from plants and other species in natures food chain
• when we kill off plants and other species, we are killing our own habitat, and inevitably, our species

Community focus and involvement is the only solution. I ask everyone concerned to help make certain no further damage comes upon the waters and shores surrounding Blue Lagoon.

350th Anniversary of Sir Hans Sloane's Birth, His Time in Jamaica and Current Blue Lagoon Restoration Efforts

 The Blue Lagoon Restoration Project was honored to receive the following letter from Ian Foster requesting permission to highlight the efforts around restoring Blue Lagoon during the anniversary celebrations of Sir Hans Sloane's birth by the British Natural History Museum. Naturally, we gave our enthusiastic agreement to this request. According to the Natural History Museum website, "In 1687, Hans Sloane was a young man just beginning a career in medicine. He was invited to go to Jamaica as personal doctor to the island’s new English governor, the 2nd Duke of Albermarle. His journey would have huge influence on his life and indeed the nation. Sloane stayed in Jamaica for 15 months and spent all his free time exploring the island collecting hundreds of specimens. He made note of how the plants were used locally for food, medicine and in many other ways." See the Natural History Museum for more on Sir Hans Sloane in Jamaica and on Jamaica's plant heritage.

Letter received from Ian Foster:

Dear Ms Duperly

I am writing with regard to the Blue Lagoon Restoration Project:

I am currently in London, England where I am involved in a project highlighting the life and work of a character named Sir Hans Sloane. 2010 was the 350th anniversary of his birth and he is remembered as the founder of the British Museum, Natural History Museum, British Library and president of the Royal Society and Royal College of Physicians. This anniversary has never been celebrated in the UK before and last year's numerous events have largely focused on his time in Jamaica from 1687-1689 which was the basis of his book 'A Voyage to Jamaica' which is a landmark publication in natural history.

With my personal efforts for the recognition of this valuable and important character I am seen as an authority on the subject which has led to invitations to give lectures at the Natural History Museum, Royal College of Physicians, Worshipful Society of Apothecaries, Chelsea Physic Garden and numerous other locations. see http://350.royalsociety.org.

Now in 2011 the momentum is building and events are now scheduled at Windsor Festival see www.windsorfestival.com and numerous other locations. I have been invited by the community of Chelsea in London to continue to work with them in promoting the history as well as the various UK and international museums and scientific institutions. My focus is largely Sloane's fascination with nature and his relationship with Jamaica which is the area of his life that people generally find most interesting. I am now launching a number of initiatives that will build on the work of Sir Hans Sloane particularly in the areas of sustainability and tourism.

I would like to propose that the Blue Lagoon Restoration project be highlighted as a component in upcoming presentations at the British Museum and elsewhere which will highlight the present day importance of Sloane's valuable observations on the Jamaican natural environmment and how that can be translated into a benefit for the environment in the present. The Natural History Museum and others have already committed to working with myself on the Sloane project and I have attached an article I wrote recently for their magazine 'Evolve'. With this widespread recognition for Jamaica's role in the history of ecology and environment through Sloane's work and recognised importance, there is a great opportunity to attract positive attention for Jamaica and the Blue Lagoon project would create an ideal showcase for the importance of conservation of the natural environment and would benefit from the media interest that is likely to be generated internationally. This in turn would be an aid in generating the necessary funds to facilitate the safe-keeping and preservation of the balance of nature at the Blue Lagoon.

I hope this is of interest and I would be happy to provide further information. I look forward to hearing any thoughts you may have on my proposal.

Kind regards

Ian Foster

The following is the article referred to in the letter by Ian Foster that was printed in the Natural History Museum's Evolve magazine:

Foster Sloane

Blue Lagoon Photos from Summit and JNHT/NEPA Field Trip Feb 2011

The following pictures are from the Blue Lagoon Restoration Summit in November 2010 and from a field trip to Blue Lagoon on February 4, 2011 by delegates from the Jamaica National Heritage Trust (JNHT) and National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA): 

Port Antonio Workshop: Cultural & Environmental Impact at Blue Lagoon - Date: to be announced

Cultural & Environmental Impact at Blue Lagoon
Date: To be Announced (Please note: the workshop which was previously scheduled for April 15, 2011 has been postponed.)
Venue:Errol Flynn Marina, Port Antonio
RSVP: adriennejoan@eastlink.ca or phone Adrienne@ 275-8974;
or phone Claudia JNHT @ 922-1287

Guest Speakers: Environmentalist Raz Barnea and Jamaican Marine Conservationalist voices NEPA and JNHT presentation.
Understand why, and how our relationships impact land, sea and sky.
Simple methodology can protect Blue Lagoon, reefs, coastline, mangroves, human and fish family. Fish preservation , clean water, mangrove protection, reef and tree management, environmentally friendly solutions will help preserve this rural coastal Portland community.
How much do you care what becomes of Blue Lagoon?

Friends and Colleagues from UDC, FISHERIES, NEPA, PEPA, PA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, TOURISM, TPDCO, TEF, Teachers, Rafters and local area Fishermen are invited.

RSVP: adriennejoan@eastlink.ca or Adrienne@ 275- 8974; or Claudia JNHT @ 922 1287
(Box lunch will be provided to those who confirm they will attend workshop)