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PROJECT GOAL: The goal of the project is to contribute to the rehabilitation of degraded and deforested areas within the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park and John Crow Mountains Forest Reserve.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The area where the Upper Yallahs River Watershed and the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park/Forest Reserve intersect has been recognized as a high priority intervention site in the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park Management Plan 2005-2010. The northern boundary of the Yallahs watershed adjoins the grand ridge of the Blue Mountains, and this area possesses unique ecosystems that are confined to very small areas, such as the Mor Ridge forest and montane summit savannah. The area contains some 100 threatened endemic plants, for which no specific conservation effort exists.
Encroachment has been increasing steadily, and has almost reached the very summit of the Blue Mountains. With approximately 100 ha of lands most of which is steeper than 250 lacking forest cover contrary to the recommendation of the National Forest Management and Conservation Plan. In these areas, land use consists of agriculture, timber plantations, residences, and degraded and ruinate forest overrun by invasive alien species. Deforestation is increasing the potential for soil erosion, reducing stream flows in dry seasons, and exacerbating flooding in rainy seasons, while the overgrowth of invasive species is reducing biological diversity and habitat for wildlife.
PROJECT OUTPUTS:
- 28 ha of Park/Forest Reserve land and lands in the surrounding 1 km buffer zone rehabilitated using a combination of controlling invasive alien plant species and replanting with native forest trees
- Propagation and establishment of at least 10 native forest species including at least 3 species of the approximately 100 threatened endemic plants which the Park contains
- To obtain in field/on the job training in conservation management from scientists conducting research in the park
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