The revised National Physical Plan 1978 - 1998 broadly outlined inter alia a National Development Strategy which identified urban growth points, conservation areas (inland and marine parks, wetlands and watersheds) and mining and agricultural areas. The land use decisions have been to a large extent guided by this broad-brush strategy. However, there have been instances in which developments do not conform to this strategy. A contributory factor is the inability of the various agencies concerned with land management to prepare development plans for all the urban areas, delineate conservation areas and establish guidelines for their protection and institute effective monitoring and enforcement measures.

The development pattern of settlements is influenced by the topographic limitations. The existing urban pattern reflects the traditional economic base of agriculture and port activities, but superimposed on this older settlement pattern is emerging recent trend based on internal mitigation to the KMR and the tourist sector driven coastal growth points.

Land has not been allocated to its optimum use in Jamaica primarily because of the lack of an operational land use policy. A National Land Use Strategy was proposed in a 1970-1990 Government Plan but it has not been implemented. Population growth, coupled with industrial and commercial expansion has resulted in intense competition for land. Approximately 50 percent of the island is over 307.7m (1,000 ft.) above sea level and agriculture and urban uses tend to compete for the scarce flat lands. Over the years, successive policies have not adequately addressed these competing demands for land. In 1994 the GOJ issued a comprehensive "Green Paper" on Land Policy which was subject to a consultative process, and the resultant "White Paper" is expected to be issued in 1995, and will form the basis of significant improvement in land management.

There is currently a great deal of conflict among potential users for choice sites and locations and, within the public sector, for government-owned land. Significant tracts of good agricultural land and areas of valuable mineral deposits are being utilized for other purposes by both the formal and informal sectors. Also, in some instances, public facilities are being built in inappropriate locations because of the ease of acquisition of particular sites.

An inadequate land information data-base.
Duplication of effort and inefficient use of resources with too many agencies in Government having responsibility for land management.
The goals enunciated by the National Physical Plan have not been achieved primarily due to the lack of co-ordination between economic and physical planning, consequently land use planning tends to be isolated from national economic development strategy.
Inadequate planning at the national and regional levels.
A low level of participation by local communities, community-based organizations and NGOs in the planning and monitoring process resulting in a lack of commitment at the implementation stage.

Less than optimum land use management has been manifested in rural/urban drift and a plethora of environmental and socio-economic problems in the human settlements of the urban areas; deforestation and the destruction of watersheds; and inefficient and destructive agriculture. Forestry, agriculture and human settlements are the three most widespread land uses in Jamaica. Forestry and agriculture are predominant, occupying 87 percent of the land area. Urban and rural residential settlements run a distant third at just over 4 percent of the land area.

Agriculture extends over 42 percent of the land area. The three principal types of agricultural use are plantation crops grown mostly for export, mixed farming of food crops for domestic consumption and export, and pasture for beef and dairy cattle for local consumption. Agriculture is not achieving its full potential in providing a comfortable way of life for the majority of farmers nor has it developed to the point where the sector meets local consumption and export demands. Some of the land use issues are:

The environmental issues and actions pertinent to human settlements, forestry and agriculture are treated in more detail in later sections. General prescriptions for future land use management are outlined hereunder.

During the three year period (1995-98), Government will initiate a national Land Resource Data Base project. Detailed information on each parcel of land in Jamaica will be collected for feeding into a Geographic Information System (GIS) which will assist in proper planning and land utilization.

Over the next three years, the Government will revise the National Physical Plan in order to rationalized and plan for the sustainable management of the island's limited resources so as to accommodate the demands of the growing population. This plan will recognize the interrelationship between spatial strategies and economic and social policies.

Government will take steps to ensure that areas with potential for mining are properly zoned in order to prevent the sterilization of mineral deposits by development activities. More quarrying zones will be delineated in order to monitor more easily and encourage safe quarrying and preservation of the environment.

In the area of agricultural land use, all arable lands will be preserved for agricultural purposes as far as is viable and possible. The agricultural mapping system will be reviewed to identify land capability and suitability for various types of crops. Government will also endeavor to bring about a significant reduction in the amount of under-utilized arable land.

As far as land policy for "industrial activity" is concerned, Government's new national industrial policy clearly indicates that there will be continuing provision of new industrial land by Government within urban boundaries to form an integral component of settlement development strategy.

Over the next two years, Government will review the roles and functions of all the agencies involved in land management and develop institutional modalities that will eliminate inefficiencies and promote coordinated decision-making.

Finally, in terms of the planning approvals process, Government will harmonize the operations of the Town Planning Department and the NRCA with particular reference to the administration of the country's environmental impact assessment (EIA) requirements. This EIA requirement, which, through the NRCA Act, is now applicable to public sector developments, will be extended to block zoning and plans.

The Land Management Council will be institutionalised along the lines proposed in the Land Policy Green Paper so as to harmonise the current efforts at GIS system development in support of environmental and physical planning. The NRCA, Survey Department, Town Planning Department are all in the process of developing such systems.

Land Use Management