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Go Back to TOCPROJECT NAME: National Land Resource Data Base
PROBLEM:
Proper land use management is being hampered by the absence of a national land resource data base. There is a need to collect information on and review the status of all parcels of land in Jamaica as a prerequisite for overall planning and optimum land utilization. Such information would be the building blocks of a land information system that could be the basis of a more comprehensive Geographic Information System.
OBJECTIVE:
To prepare a data base with detailed information on each parcel of land in Jamaica.
DESCRIPTION:
Project activities will include:
1. Design of land information system (LIS).
2. Initiation of public information campaign.
3. Training of registration officers.
4. Establishment of cadastral mapping centres.
5. Establishment of field registration units.
6. Collection of information on location, legal status, and size of land parcels.
7. Training of Town Planning Department Staff in the use of a LIS.
8. Conversion of data into a LIS.
9. Incorporation of LIS into GIS.
DURATION: 5 years
COST:
NATIONAL AGENCY:Town Planning Department in collaboration with the NRCA and the Office of the Prime Minister.
PROJECT NAME: Management of Public Lands for Fuelwood Production
PROBLEM: There is presently an increasing demand for fuelwood and charcoal as the price of cooking gas and kerosene increase to match the devaluation of the Jamaican Dollar. This has led to a situation where there are increasing rates of deforestation to meet the demands for fuel. There are tracts of public lands available to produce the fuel demanded on a sustained basis, while providing opportunities for the development of local enterprise.
OBJECTIVE: To develop and through the Forest Department sustainable management systems in collaboration with the communities to provide a constant source of fuelwood for charcoal production without the concurrent degradation as is presently the case.
DESCRIPTION:
The project activities will include:
1. Development of four model management areas.
2. Development a management and marketing system for each area.
3. Applied research on silvicultural techniques for fuelwood production.
4. Establish 200 ha. of fast growing Species.
5. Develop manual for managing public forests for energy purposes. 6. Develop a plan for expanding the programme.
7. Develop a plan for expanding the programme.
DURATION: 5 years
COST:
NATIONAL AGENCY: The Forest Department in collaboration with the Ministry of Energy.
PROJECT NAME: Development of Coastal Zone Management Plan
PROBLEM: The need to provide guidelines for resource use and development in the coastal zone and for improved management of coastal and marine resources, to preserve biodiversity and promote sustainable development.
OBJECTIVE: To facilitate decision-making on coastal and marine resources development and exploitation. To strengthen the resource management capability of the NRCA.
DESCRIPTION:
1. Identification, mapping and assessment of coastal resources to determine their capacity for development:
- Studies of coastal dynamics and shoreline stability, environment, sensitivity mapping, coastal water quality
- mapping, foreshore encroachment mapping and of the population Benthic species.
2. Training of Jamaicans in Coastal Zone Management, remote
- sensing and GIS development.
3. Production of a Coastal Zone Management Plan.
DURATION: 3 Years
COST: US$ 1.0 million
NATIONAL AGENCY: NRCA in collaboration with environmental NGO's and Government agencies.
PROJECT NAME: A NATIONAL WATER QUALITY ASSESSMENT PROGRAMME
PROBLEM:While Jamaica has sufficient water to meet all demands in the foreseeable future, contamination of water resources, deforestation and environmental problems can reduce availability of resources. It is necessary to assess the quality of the resource, delineate problems and determine the solutions if sustainable development is to be achieved.
OBJECTIVE:
(1) Provide a nationally consistent description of current water quality conditions of the Islands water resources.
(2) Define long term trends (or lack of trends) in water quality.
(3) Identify, describe and explain, as possible the major factors that affect observed water quality conditions and trends, and
(4) Determine availability and devise efforts to mitigate pollution.
DESCRIPTION:
The following will be done:-
(1) All 10 hydrologic basins will be investigated for both surface and ground water quality.
(2) Persons familiar with each basin (basin specific knowledge) will be so assigned.
(3) The programme will focus on water quality conditions that are prevalent or large in scale and persistent in time.
(4) Chemical measurements will focus on a set of target variables.
(5) Biological measurements will be used for several purposes in the assessment.
(6) The programme will make use of available water quality data to supplement field studies.
(7) Both surface and ground water investigations will be designed as follows:-
Surface Water Investigations
Three (3) major types of sampling activities:-
Ground Water Investigations
Three (3) major types of sampling activities:-
(8) The programme will provide regional and national scale information concerning the Nations water quality. These will include:-
DURATION:5 years - First 2 years intensive - 5 years long term programme.
COST: J$2,225,000 + US$150,000
NATIONAL AGENCY:Underground Water Authority in collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Authority, National Water Commission, Environmental Control Division, Jamaica Bauxite Institute and Centre for Nuclear Science.
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