Community
World Wetlands Day ~ 2nd February
Ponds in East End, down Morritt's Tortuga way
A group of Snowy Egrets, a common wetland sight (a FredBurton photo)
In observation of World Wetlands Day onFriday, 2 February, the Department of Environment (DOE), has produceda poster which is to be displayed, on a rotational basis, in anumber of local supermarkets.
In addition, the Department has also compiled the following datain the interest of the public:
Why is 2nd February World Wetlands Day?
Thirty years ago on 2nd February,1971, an international treaty on protecting wetlands was agreedin Ramsar, Iran. Today, almost 120 countries are party to theRamsar Convention on Wetlands (as it has become known).
In 1976, the Cayman Islands Government asked the United Kingdomto extend the convention to include us. Internationally, the conservationof wetlands is considered of such importance that this day, thebirthday of the primary agreement for preserving wetlands, isrecognised around the world as World Wetlands Day.
The Ramsar Convention's mission is "the conservation andwise use of wetlands by national action and international co-operationas a means to achieving sustainable development throughout theworld".
What is a Wetland?
"Wetlands are areas of marsh,fen, peatland or water, weather natural or artificial, permanentor temporary, with water that is static or flowing, fresh, brackishor salt, including areas of marine water the depth of which atlow tide does not exceed six meters". Wetlands may also includeareas of dry land or deeper water within wetlands and that areimportant to the proper ecological functioning of the wetland.
In Cayman, these include everything, from our mangroves, throughturtle grass beds to our fringing reefs. It includes from ourlarge coastal ponds, through small ponds and areas of permanentstanding water to seasonal wetlands that appear in low-lying areasand small depressions of otherwise dry land during the wet season.All play an important role in the ecological health of the CaymanIslands.
Commitments Under Ramsar include:
* Designating at least one sitethat meets the Ramsar criteria for inclusion in the List of Wetlandsof International Importance (the Ramsar list), and ensure themaintenance of the ecological character of each Ramsar site. Countriesare expected to include in the List as many wetlands that meetthe criteria as possible. As of March 1st 2000, the List included1,021 wetlands, with a surface area of 75 million hectares. Listedsites do not necessarily require protected area status, providedtheir ecological character is maintained through a wise use managementapproach.
* Including wetland conservation within the national land-useplanning. This is to promote the wise use of all wetlands withinthe member country and allow for the protection of especiallysensitive areas from non-sustainable use of the surrounding land.
* Establishing nature reserves on wetlands and promote trainingin wetland research, management and wardening.
* Consulting with other parties about the implementation of theConvention, especially with regard to trans-frontier wetlands,shared water systems, shared species and development projectsaffecting wetlands.
Wise use is defined as "sustainable utilisation for the benefitof mankind in a way compatible with the maintenance of the naturalproperties of the ecosystem"
Sustainable utilisation is understood as "human use of awetland so that it may yield the greatest continuous benefit topresent generations while maintaining its potential to meet theneeds of future generations".
Cayman's Ramsar Site
Cayman already has one Ramsar listedWetland of International Importance in Little Cayman's Booby PondNature Reserve. The Booby Pond Reserve includes the pond itself,the associated wetlands and the dry land surrounding it.
Ramsar prides itself on being the "Wise Use" convention.This means that when an area is designated as a Ramsar site, itcan still be developed to some extent, provided that such developmentdoes not adversely impact the ecological integrity of the site.Ramsar sites, therefore, lend themselves well to being used asecotourism areas. In fact, Cayman's existing Ramsar site, theBooby Pond on Little Cayman provides a classic example of theeconomic advantage of protecting wetlands.
The Booby Pond qualifies as a Ramsar Sitefor several reasons:
* It is a representative example of a coastal, landlocked, mangrovefringed lagoon system of a kind that is common to Cayman and otherlow-lying islands in the region;
* Approximately 5,000 pairs of Red-Footed Boobies nest there.This is one-third of all of the nesting Boobies in the Caribbean,and is the largest breeding colony of Boobies in the Western Hemisphere;
* Man-O-Wars and myriad of waterfowl also nest the reserve;
* This is the only breeding site for the Boobies and the Man-O-Warsin the Cayman Islands;
* Many waterfowl use the pond and associated wetland for foraging.Everything from the endangered West Indian Whistling Duck to thecommon Snowy Egret.
* In addition, dry parts of the Ramsar site are home to a significantportion of Little Cayman's endemic iguana population.
* Ramsar designation does not bring immediate protection to anarea, however. This must be done through local protective legislation.
* What Ramsar designation does provide is international recognitionfor the wetland.
* When tourists hear that they are going to a Ramsar site, theyknow that they will be visiting a place of great biological importancethat is being managed by the country in a wise manner.
* Such management protects the environment while allowing us toget economic benefits from the area for generations.
* A properly managed Ramsar site could provide employment forgenerations of Caymanians without despoiling the very nature fromwhich we make our livings. Perhaps there are other areas of Caymanwhich need to be so designated and managed for the enjoyment ofall.
* The importance to tourism in Little Cayman of the reserve shouldbe underestimated.
* Already there are numerous lookout sites on the edge of thepond where birdwatchers and other ecotourists can view the birdsas they forage and nest. These sites are designed to bring touriststo Little Cayman without destroying the natural beauty of thepond that they have come to view.
Even those tourists not into bird watching have commented on themajestic splendour of the nightly return of the Boobies and Man-O-Warsto their nests. Imagine the beauty of a Cayman sunset from thebeach on South Hole Sound, accentuated by the stunning grace ofthousands of birds returning home for the evening. Truly, an awesomesight.