The parish of Clarendon has 3 major mountain ranges (Bull Head Mountain Range, Teak Pen Mountain Range and Mocho Mountain Range) consisting of forest reserves and woodland areas that provide valuable environmental services. These services provided include watershed areas (Pindar River, Rio Minho, Milk River Watersheds located in Clarendon) which deliver groundwater and surface water resources, stabilization of the country?s climate by absorbing solar radiation and prevention of soil erosion are often taken for granted. The wooded areas promote the existence of several organisms that co-exist and protect our natural environment. These areas are slowly being destroyed as residents seek to enhance their economic capabilities by cutting down trees and destroying plant life for firewood and charcoal. Others use poor practices associated with agricultural production to clear sections of wooded lands known as ?the slash and burn method? or undertake unauthorized recreational activities that sometimes lead to bush fires which destroy our plant and tree reserves. Additionally endemic and endangered plants and trees are being removed (including immature trees) to augment the construction and furniture making as well as agricultural (eg. trees cut down to provide sticks for yam hills) industries. The natural and man-made hazards of hurricanes, droughts, bush fires and diseases have also affected our woodland areas. These practises have placed our wooded areas at tremendous risk. The future survival of some plants including those of medicinal value is precarious. The conservation of the plant stock and the preservation of local knowledge are urgently needed so that the diverse plant stock is not completely depleted through unsustainable and inappropriate practises.

The effects are obvious as our woodland areas are being depleted; the ascetic appeal of the mountainous areas of Clarendon is being removed. There is a decrease in the native biodiversity especially in Mocho Mountain Range where the natural environment has been severely affected by mining. Unknowingly, it?s the poorest and the most vulnerable residents in these areas who will be affected by destruction of our mountainous regions as they are the ones who rely on charcoal burning for a living and utilise traditional herbs/plants for health and cosmetic reasons as they cannot afford formal health care alternatives or medicines, for example, dandelion or wild coffee is known for treating jaundice and bladder infections. Our elderly especially are more accustomed to the use of these medicinal herbs and cannot afford, in some cases, medical care so they rely on local plant stock for treatment of day to day aliments.