Paleoecological studies of the past development of the Negril and Black River Morasses, Jamaica. Appendix 1 to environmental feasibility study of peat mining in Jamaica
1984
Digerfeldt, G. | Enell, M.
In its efforts to reduce Jamaica's dependence on imported fuel, the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica identified the peat deposits in the Negril Morass and the Black River Lower Morass as possible resources for energy production. The morasses together hold enough peat to fuel power plants with a total capacity of 120 megawatts for 30 years, which corresponds to a 10% reduction in petroleum imports. In recognition of the natural resource value of the Negril and Black River Morasses, the environmental consequences of different methods of peat mining must be defined to find the most environmentally acceptable alternative. This volume, appendix 1 to the main feasibility study is a report on the attempts to reconstruct and interpret past vegetation and environment. The study indicates that the morasses have throughout their past development been subjected to natural successional changes, affecting morass vegetation and environment as a result of sea-level rise. The recording of the present ecological status involving investigations of environmental conditions, organism communities and ecological interrelations were undertaken. Furthermore, studies on experimental excavation of lakes with an aim for prospective ecological investigations were done. The chemical characteristics of peats formed under different environmental conditions are given and it was found that the peat is mostly formed by roots and rootlets of past vegetation.
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