By Kisean Joseph
During an interview with Observer Media to mark the annual observance of World Wetlands Day, yesterday, conservationist Britney McDonald highlighted the crucial role these ecosystems play in safeguarding coastal areas and fostering biodiversity throughout the region.
McDonald, program manager of EcoShores Expeditions, said that public misperception remains one of the biggest challenges in wetland conservation.
“People don’t necessarily understand the value of wetlands areas,” she said. “We think of it as swamplands or murky waters, something that’s dirty or disturbing to be around. We don’t necessarily understand the value that we have with the mangrove plants, with the fish nurseries that are in the waters, and how that is equally tied into our communities’ development.”
Through EcoShores Expeditions and the EcoShores Sustainable Futures Network, McDonald works to transform these misconceptions by demonstrating the real-world value of wetland ecosystems through sustainable tourism and citizen science initiatives. Their programs engage both visitors and local communities in hands-on conservation activities, thereby turning casual observers into active participants in wetland preservation.
The country’s wetlands serve as living laboratories, hosting crucial habitats for diverse wildlife, including several endangered species.
“We have the endemic bird species, such as the West Indian Whistling Duck,” McDonald noted. “We also have the Hawksbill Turtle, which uses the seagrass to eat, and then the fish use the grass to kind of hide behind and to prevent them from getting attacked by larger fish.”
Beyond wildlife conservation, mangrove wetlands provide essential protection for coastal communities and infrastructure, and McDonald explained how these natural barriers work. “Some of the core areas where we receive benefits would come from storm surge protection because of the interlocking routes where you’re seeing that gridlock and it’s preventing the true force of the wave from reaching to the shoreline.”
This protection has proven particularly valuable during recent climate-related challenges, she explained. “During COVID, we had persons who would have fished for their livelihood or to have a meal when they maybe experienced job loss,” McDonald said, as she underscored how wetlands support food security through their role as fish nurseries.
The growth of community-based science has also strengthened local wetland conservation efforts. For example, the Fitches Creek Residents Association collaborates with environmental organizations, to lead citizen monitoring programs within the Northeast Marine Management Area (NEMMA), which encompasses over 20 communities. Their initiatives combine scientific data collection with practical conservation actions, including tracking illegal dumping and documenting species populations.
“Projects such as building a community constituency for conservation in the NEMMA focus on building awareness through signage and preventing illegal dumping,” McDonald said. These grassroots efforts have catalyzed partnerships between residents and government agencies, including the National Solid Waste Management Authority and the Department of Environment.
The initiative has evolved to embrace multi-generational learning, with programs specifically designed to develop young scientists.
For example, students from Glanvilles Secondary School participate in regular wetland monitoring activities, thereby learning to identify and document species like the unique upside-down jellyfish. This hands-on approach not only advances scientific understanding, but also cultivates a new generation of environmental stewards who understand the value of data-driven conservation.
World Wetlands Day is observed on February 2 each year.