 |
Watersheds & Forest Resources
|
 What is the general situation
with these ISSUES?
- Forests are under severe threat due to land clearing for cultivation,
fuel-wood, round log stakes and charcoal production. The extent
of deforestation is not fully known. Past estimates of deforestation
have proved to open closer analysis. The need of a comprehensive
forestry inventory which is being planned by the Forestry inventory
to commence in 1997, is there fore pivotal (Evelyn, 1997)
- Reforestation efforts focus on establishment of a few commercial
tree species, topographic and climatic conditions, but are poor
substitutes for the biologically rich natural forest, which have
many different species within a single stand. All of the same
age, typically Caribbean pine, mahoe, and cedar. These are a poor
substitute for the biologically rich natural forests, which have
many different species in a single hectare
- Charcoal is not just used by individuals and households, but
by restaurants and hotels, therefore the usage rate in Jamaica
is therefore much higher than estimated.
- To revert the continuing decline of the forest industry, is
will be necessary to invest in reforestation and to follow sustainable
levels of harvesting.
- In Jamaica, natural and plantation forests are usually located
within the upper reaches of watersheds. The removal of these trees
can therefore have severe impacts on low-lying areas, e.g. increased
flooding, sedimentation, altering river courses, and reduction
in aquifer recharge and available water supplies.
|
|
