The Rio Grande Valley

The Rio Grande River flows between the Blue and John Crow mountains starting at a height of almost 3000 feet. It provides water for the capital city of Kingston, and all communities in the eastern third of Jamaica.

Location
The Rio Grande Valley is in the eastern end of the island of Jamaica.

Animals
The valley is home to over a 100 species of birds. In addition the river itself has a variety of fish, shrimp and crayfish species, several of which are migratory.

Why the Conservancy Works Here

The Rio Grande River is the largest source of fresh water in Jamaica and provides water to Jamaica’s capital Kingston, as well as the surrounding communities. The river has a variety of freshwater species that are unique and add to the valley’s biodiversity.

In the last 10-15 years some local fishermen have been using poisons to harvest fish, shrimp and crayfish from the river. This has harmed the health of the river, as well as the health and way of life of the people who use the water.

What the Conservancy is Doing

The Conservancy is educating and training local communities on the dangers of river poisoning. It is also developing and promoting alternative sustainable fishing methods for these communities. The Conservancy hopes that creating and strengthening local capacity and partnerships will help eliminate these unsustainable fishing practices by 2009.
Kimberly John, the Conservancy’s freshwater specialist is also researching the traditional water usage practices of the Windward Maroon community in Rio Grande. She says that there is a link between the health of freshwater ecosystems and rural culture and livelihoods in Jamaica. The Maroons also plan on using her work to teach their history. She won an Alcoa Foundation fellowship to pursue this research.