Concern grows over destruction of mangroves in Falmouth for town expansion
Published:Friday | January 10, 2025 | 12:06 AMLeon Jackson/Gleaner Writer
WESTERN BUREAU:
Residents and environmentalists are increasingly concerned about the destruction of the once vibrant mangroves along the roadway from Martha Brae to Market Street in Falmouth, Trelawny, to facilitate the expansion of the resort town.
In the 1990s, both sides of the roadway were completely covered by mangroves, serving as an environmental buffer separating saltwater and freshwater in the ecosystem and helping the land drain quickly after heavy rains.
Over recent years, sections of the mangrove have been dumped to accommodate the construction of a municipal market, a plaza, and other commercial establishments, much to the disappointment of environmentalists.
Previously, the closest the mangrove came to commercial use was for rice farming and fishponds.
When questioned about the role of the Trelawny municipal authority in the ongoing dumping and expansion, Falmouth’s Councillor Garth Wilkinson, a former mayor, explained that the municipality owns 25 acres of land in the area, now being reclaimed.
“The municipality has 25 acres of land south of the market, and everything points to the reclaiming of that land,” Wilkinson explained.
Regarding the dumping at the entrance of Market Street, heading north, Wilkinson noted that it is intended for the construction of a petrol station, which will bring the total number of petrol stations within a one-mile stretch from the Martha Brae bridge to Falmouth to five.
RESIDENTS UNCOMFORTABLE
With Falmouth below sea level and prone to flooding, some residents are uncomfortable with disturbing the mangroves.
Environmentalist Hugh Dixon, head of the South Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA), criticised the decision as short-sighted, especially considering the dredging done to create the Falmouth Pier, opened in 2011.
“This is short-sightedness on the part of the town planner. Since the Pier was opened, no new attractions have been built in Falmouth. A guided tour of the mangroves and their importance could be arranged. Tourists don’t come to observe concrete,” Dixon argued, suggesting ways to utilise the mangrove without harming its environmental functions.
Peter Knight of the National Environmental Agency (NEPA) emphasised the importance of mangroves for maintaining coastal ecosystems, though he did not comment directly on the ongoing dumping.