Chapter Three

PRIORITY THEMES AND KEY ACTORS

Introduction

The National Environmental Education Action Plan for Sustainable Development focuses on channels through which environment and sustainable development messages and actions can be communicated to a range of Jamaican audiences.

In Chapter Three, major content areas for priority attention and action are briefly described. The Jamaica National Environmental Action Plan (JANEAP), developed in 1995 and updated annually since, is the key environmental policy document which sets out priority environmental and sustainable development issues affecting Jamaica.

Chapter Three also introduces the key actors, currently undertaking activities directly or indirectly related to Environmental Education for Sustainable Development and attention is drawn to major groups which must be targeted for action, in order for the Plan to succeed.

Priority Themes

The themes for Environmental Education for Sustainable Development reflect the reality of a mountainous island nation, famed for the beauty and variety enclosed within an area of just 4,411 square miles (10,991 square kilometers), where natural resource degradation and the demands of development are undermining the once proud claim: Land of Wood & Water. Migration from rural poverty in search of a better life has spawned urban blight. The educational system is inadequate and there are not enough jobs, particularly not for the unskilled mass of the population. The resulting social ills are legion, and easily compounded. The internal situation is also affected by inescapable interactions with the world which laps at every inch of the coastline, wafts in on every breath of air, travels in and out on planes and ships, presses at the airwaves and penetrates every mode of communication.

The constant interaction of the social, economic and natural environments, makes vital the context of sustainable development, and creates the subject matter of Environmental Education for Sustainable Development.

The Jamaica National Environmental Action Plan (JANEAP), a guiding policy document for the definition of environmental and sustainable development priorities, states in its inception document: "The GOJ has made proper environmental planning and protection a national priority, and will seek multiple avenues to ensure sustainable development; including (1) using economic tools and incentives to encourage the efficient use of natural resources; (2) working with the private sector and NGOs in environmental management and protection; (3) looking to strategic use of external sources of financing and investment for meeting critical needs on the road to sustainable development; (4) looking to population control as a means of reducing the pressure on the natural resource base, some of which is non-renewable."

The following list of immediate priorities, which incorporates information listed in JANEAP, provides a brief overview of the scope of environmental and sustainable development issues to be conveyed through Environmental Education for Sustainable Development programmes in Jamaica. The list starts with the integrative theme of sustainable development itself, and then explores, in their turn, issues related to the social, environmental and economic spheres and to practices which will produce the desired results:

Sustainable Development

Sustainable Development is an overarching concept, relating to the harmonization of social, environmental and economic considerations in the cause of long-term human development.

At the national level, sustainability can be linked to familiar socio-environmental-economic themes such as energy conservation and solid waste management, already the basis of specific agency concerns; to the effects of pollution on individuals and communities through respiratory and other ailments; to more strictly ecological themes such as watersheds, biodiversity loss and marine resources; and to issues of equity and justice. For the broad mass of Jamaicans to join in a campaign for a sustainable future, there has to be a sense that all will benefit from actions taken and efforts made: A sense that this is for "all a wi!" At the local level, it is important to draw lessons from sustainable approaches being lived by community members

Sustainable Development Planning

Sustainable Development Planning is an approach which takes account of people’s needs, rights and economic opportunities, within communities, while simultaneously promoting the sustained protection of the natural environment.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can provide basic information related to the environment and sustainable development, thereby equipping people with the tools to participate in decision-making and action.

Human & Environmental Health

The health and sustained well-being of the human race is dependent on a healthy environment. Health-related environmental issues include the control and monitoring of pollutants in air, water and soil; good waste management; ensuring safe supplies of food and water; curtailing the proliferation of vectors of disease; as well as programmes to curb or control unsustainable use of non-renewable resources and protect bio-diversity – which may have future health implications.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can promote awareness of links between human and environmental health, provide relevant skills and encourage positive attitudes and action which reduce environmental risks to human health.

Human Settlements

Intense competition for land, fuelled by population growth and business expansion, has led to human settlements plagued with persistent problems. Major problems are in urban areas, which host most of Jamaica’s 2.5 million people. Problems include urban sprawl, unplanned development, inefficient use of space, urban blight, scattered development, housing shortages, increased shortage of land, lack of employment opportunities and disparity in the provision of facilities and amenities. Poverty, economic marginalization and the rural-urban drift result in squatting and unplanned developments. The population is expected to increase to 3 million by the year 2000, with 60% projected to be urban.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can promote healthy communities, green spaces, delivery of sustainable urban infrastructure and services, among planners and officials; and citizen participation in decision-making related to the delivery of municipal services. The trend to increasing urbanization suggests that future Environmental Education for Sustainable Development will need to focus significantly on urban issues, conditions and solutions.

Consumerism

Informed consumers have the power to demand environmentally-friendly products, through their purchasing decisions; and the capacity to influence a range of factors including air pollution, waste generation and management, and energy conservation, through lifestyle decisions.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can develop informed consumers from an early age, with information on the consequences of consumption choices and the impact of particular products; thereby providing individuals and households with the basic for environmentally informed choices. Re-use, recycling and other waste management options can be promoted.

Cultural Heritage

Cultural heritage is recognized in the Vision Framework as being integral to promoting self-esteem and respect for country. Jamaicans who are well grounded in and respectful of their culture, including their history, have a context for assessing their current realities and making choices for the future.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can take advantage of learning opportunities offered by culture, heritage, the use of oral traditions and traditional knowledge systems. It can also assess traditional knowledge and practices, and re-emphasize those which are sustainable and which show potential for wider application or development.

Pollution – Air, Land & Water

Deteriorating air quality in the major urban centres, mainly due to industrial and vehicular emissions and the burning of municipal and domestic garbage, cause concern. There are also wide-spread air quality issues in rural areas due to farming practices such as the burning of sugar cane. Water pollution is also an increasing problem, due to the contamination of water supply sources and connected downstream wetland, estuary and marine ecosystems, by sediments, pathogens and chemicals – most of them resulting from deforestation of watersheds, improper disposal of wastes, and run-off contaminated by agro-chemicals. Inadequate urban planning contributes to the problem, which has consequences for human health, and bio-diversity. Land pollution is associated mainly with agricultural and industrial misuse.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can improve citizen and commercial/industrial sector awareness of the risks to human health and safety, to economic sustainability and to the natural environmental posed by unsustainable commercial and industrial activity; leading to changed attitudes and relevant action.

River Systems

River systems are not listed by JANEAP, but are included here because of their links to multiple ecosystems. Many rivers rise in Jamaica's mountainous hinterland and flow through a range of ecosystems, to the sea. Because they cut pathways and because they provide water for consumption and irrigation, they attract human settlement. They also carry silt from degraded watersheds as well as a range of pollutants generated by human activity, into downstream ecosystems.

Rivers can be used as an example of the interactions between ecosystems, humans, and other species – both negative, in terms of the effects of upstream pollution and degradation; and positive, in terms of the impact of river management and the possibilities for recreation and leisure. Target groups include government, resource users, river-side communities and the general public.

National Parks, Protected Areas & Wildlife

Jamaica's rich natural heritage combines scenic beauty with a variety of ecosystems including wet and dry forests, rivers, caves, mineral springs, sandy beaches, rocky shores, mangroves, herbaceous swamps, swamp forests, salinas, mountains and plains. The island also has a high level of endemism. The biological diversity of the island's terrestrial and marine ecosystems has been affected, in recent years, by deforestation and soil loss, soil and water pollution due to improper disposal of wastes, poorly planned urban developments, and wildlife harvests in excess of ecosystem carrying capacity. Problems of persistent poverty and limited public awareness impact on the integrity of land-based systems.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development activities promote pride in and value for the local ecology and biological diversity, and a sense of environmental stewardship, among natural resource users and the general public. This includes support for the development and management of national parks and protected areas. These activities can also promote sustainable resource management among resource users and government officials, enhance knowledge of and respect for sustainable traditional practices and remedies, and highlight the benefits of outdoor recreation and leisure activities.

Global Issues

Jamaica's actions form only one small part of the global environmental and sustainability equation. Yet Jamaica, as a tropical island-state, is vitally affected by many global issues, including the degradation of the ozone layer, global warming, the possibility of consequent sea level rise, and marine pollution.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development knowledge outcomes emphasize the inter-relationship of the local and global, and can increase awareness of the existing and potential impact of global environmental challenges on Jamaica’s ecosystem.

Sustainable Tourism

Sustainable tourism is defined as the optimal use of natural and cultural resources for both national development and visitor enjoyment, taking ecology, history and tradition into account.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can promote awareness and appreciation of local culture – both traditional and current, and responsible enjoyment of the natural environment by Jamaicans and visitors; pointing out the social and economic benefits to be gained. Growing awareness of environmental issues, internationally, also offers new local business opportunities in eco-tourism.

Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture relates to the use of methods and products which are environmentally-friendly both on-site and downstream, and which naturally enhance the capacity of the land to keep on producing in the long term. A related area is the sustainable management of fish and other marine resources.

Promotion of sustainable agriculture practices has positive implications for health and safety, including the issues of watershed management, water and land pollution; as well as livelihood issues for resource users. The marketing possibilities of organic and ‘green’ products can be explored.

Land Use Management

Population growth, coupled with industrial and commercial expansion has resulted in intense competition for land, which is often not allocated to its optimum use. National Physical Plans have not been implemented. The promulgated National Land Policy,1996, seeks to address this situation.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can promote knowledge of land ecology, and awareness of the importance of sustainable land use planning and practices, among planners, local government officials, developers, resource users and citizens.

Forestry, Agriculture & Watershed Management

Woodlands, mostly ruinate or second growth, cover some 45 percent of the country, most of them in rugged terrain or dry, hilly uplands with poor access, therefore limited prospects for industry. Extensive cutting for fuelwood and charcoal manufacture, as well as production of sticks and posts, have caused environmental damage, particularly related to watershed degradation. Watersheds have also been affected by the clearing of steep, unstable slopes for squatting and cultivation. Nineteen of Jamaica's Watershed Management Units are considered critically degraded and in need of urgent remedial work. Agro-forestry and land use control are considered priorities.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can promote eco-tourism, sustainable agriculture, new production based on traditional local plants, and forestry management information and practices; focussing on natural resource users, communities and students.

Waste Management

Many urban and rural households lack satisfactory sanitation. In addition, the collection and disposal of solid waste presents environmental, public health, social and liability problems. Special wastes are also an issue. National average sewage generation is over 455 million litres daily, with some 50 percent coming from the major urban centres where treatment facilities are inadequate. Ship-generated waste, particularly from cruise ships, is a concern. The International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL) requires that home ports have port reception facilities to treat and dispose of wastes.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can promote a focus on natural resource stewardship and regeneration, involving learners in clean-ups as well as in actions related to lifestyle values and choices. Specific messages can relate to reduction, re-use and recycling of waste, and the promotion of related household and commercial activities. Partnership opportunities already exist with NGOs working with schools and in some communities; and private sector efforts to promote recycling and bottle collection in schools.

Coastal & Marine Resources Management

Jamaica's varied and irregular coastline, which gives rise to a range of coastal features, are affected by large populations residing on the coastal plains, and consequent high levels of economic activity. Numerous sandy beaches and cays, on which the island's tourism industry relies heavily, are under threat from pollution, erosion and illegal sand mining. Wetlands, which act as nurseries for fish and wildlife, and stem coastal erosion, are steadily decreasing. Coral reefs, vital to the tourism and fishing industries and also to protect against coastal erosion, are extensively degraded. In addition there is serious over-fishing. Coastal and marine degradation could affect the tourist industry, with visitors increasingly seeking environmentally friendly destinations.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can promote awareness on marine ecosystems and issues, and activities which bring positive action on coral reefs, marine ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and tourism. Specific audiences include fishermen and others who earn their living from fishing, watersport activity operators, hotels and citizens in coastal communities.

Greening of Government/Public Sector

The capacity development of public sector agencies which have environmental roles has begun to receive attention. In addition, there is potential to encourage the development of environmentally-friendly policies and programmes within the public sector, and the setting of 'green' standards for suppliers of products and services to the public sector.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can promote government’s responsibility to set an example in providing environmentally-friendly services, and demanding ‘green’ standards from their suppliers.

Clean Technologies

There is increasing attention to practices and technologies which reduce the generation of pollutants, thereby reducing clean-up costs, lessening environmental impact and natural resource depletion, and protecting human health. This is achieved through improved technology, better products design, improved processing and product efficiency, or a combination of all three.

Environmental Education for Sustainable Development can promote government and private sector responsibility to adopt environment-friendly technologies, raw materials and products, entrench good housekeeping practicies in industry, and reuse and recycle waste.

Environmental Economics & Management

Efforts to integrate environmental concerns with economic management are underway. The Natural Resource Conservation Authority has been developing standards for air and water quality and incorporating the ‘polluter pays’ principle. The Planning Institute of Jamaica has been analysing the potential for using environmental economic tools for environmental management and sustainable development in Jamaica. Environmental Economic Policy Instruments (EEPI) are felt to have particular relevance and application in natural resource based economies like Jamaica where aspects of the production process may actually damage the eco-resource base; and where interactions between a range of econo-ecological resources such as forests, marine areas, agricultural areas, may take place within small spaces, with multiple possibilities for disruption. One element being considered for implementation is the System of Environmental and Economic Accounting (SEEA) , under which development is measured and monitored by having social and environmental costs factored into project proposals. The system has implications for both the public and private sectors.

Sustainable resource management, the minimizing of pollution, and the economic and social responsibility of resource users are all focus areas for Environmental Education for Sustainable Development. There is scope to develop partnerships with public utility companies which have responsibility for energy, water and waste, to promote responsible consumption and management, to suggest actions which the general public, or specific resource users, can take and urge the creation of effective incentives.

Key Actors

Historically and currently, a range of Jamaican agencies and institutions have undertaken some level of activity or been responsible for programmes related to Environmental Education for Sustainable Development, formal or non-formal. These organizations fall within the following major headings:

	Central Government, mainly through National Agencies and Advisory Boards
	Local Government
	Formal Education & Training Institutions
	Independent Learning & Resource Facilities
	Non-Government Organizations & Community-Based Organizations
	The Private Sector
	Organized Labour
	Social & Religious Organizations
	The Media