Andrew Smith, Photography Editor

Christine Randle (left), managing director of Ian Randle Publishers, in conversation with Dr Margaret Hodges, editor of the 'Guide to the Blue and John Crow Mountains', and Stephen Hodges, who assisted with the production. Occasion was the launch of the book at Strawberry Hill, Irish Town, on Saturday, May 10. - Andrew Smith/ Photography Editor

Robert Kerr, conservationist and former manager of the Blue and John Crown Mountains national park, is querying the state of Jamaica's system of protected areas.

Speaking at the launch of the Natural History Society of Jamaica's 'Guide to the Blue and John Crow Mountains' at Strawberry Hill, Irish Town, on Saturday, he reminded the audience that when the national park was established by the 1991 Protected Areas Resource Conservation project, it was to be the first of many national parks in Jamaica.

Conserve our heritage

This United States Agency for International Development-funded project was to have been "the beginning of a new way to use and conserve our heritage". It would also have gone "a long way to guarantee the security of our forest, the waters and the top soil on which the future of Jamaica rests".

Other areas scheduled to follow were the Cockpit Country, the Black River Morass and Canoe Valley, none of which has been realised.

Due to the importance of the Blue and John Crow Mountains, Kerr said that it was important that the area not become a 'paper park', but be sustainably developed to allow the communities to benefit.

Development suggestions

Annual international Blue Mountain bicycle race.

World Music festival

Blue Mountain coffee symposium

Wilderness hiking trial, based on

the Maroon trails

Cabins and executive retreats

Bird watching

Butterfly farms

Word of Caution

Kerr added a word of caution on two fronts. Making reference to the affects of crime, he noted that he lost a Canadian group tour because Canadians were attacked while visiting Jamaica.