Barbados Tourism Master Plan 2014–2023
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FINAL REPORT BARBADOS TOURISM MASTER PLAN 2014–2023 REPORT II: THE ENVIRONMENT Environmental Planning Group Inc. HLA Consultants 2014 BARBADOS TOURISM MASTER PLAN 2014 – 2023 REPORT II: THE ENVIRONMENT Ministry of Tourism and International Transport Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre Two Mile Hill St. Michael, Barbados Prepared by Environmental Planning Group Inc. HLA Consultants 2014 DISCLAIMER This report, prepared by Environment Planning Group Inc. in association with HLA Consultants, has been reviewed and approved by the Ministry of Tourism and International Transport. The contents indicate the challenges that are existing as determined by the consultant, and the consultant's recommendations, strategies and actions for their mitigation. The foregoing does not signify that the contents always necessarily reflect the policies and views of the Ministry. Barbados Tourism Master Plan 2014-2023 Report II Consulting Team and Acknowledgements Geoffrey M. Ramsey Environmental Planning Group Inc. Roger Lefrancois HLA Consultants Pamela Wight Pam Wight & Associates Annalee Babb ACB Knowledge Consultants Inc. Peter Wild G.P. Wild (International) Ltd. Deborah Riven Environmental Planning Group Inc. Ruth Durant Environmental Planning Group Inc. Neville Edwards Caribbean Consultants & Project Management Group Inc. John Stewart Commonwealth Resource Management Ltd. Heidi Schless Touristics Consulting Trevor Carmichael, KA Chancery Chambers Guy Griffith Guy M. Griffith Engineers Janice Cumberbatch CERMES Norma Shorey-Bryan Catalyst Consultants David Senior RWA Associates Michael Scantlebury University of Grand Rapids Horace Hord HC Marketing Inc The consulting team wishes to thank the Hon. Richard Sealy, M.P., Minister of Tourism & International Transport, Ms. Shelley Carrington, Permanent Secretary (Tourism), Ms. Gale Yearwood and Ms. Sherry Waithe of the Tourism Master Plan Project Unit and the staff of the Ministry of Tourism & International Transport for their support and participation in the TMP process. Many representatives from government ministries, NGO‟s and industry stakeholders went out of their way to collaborate in wide ranging discussions over the duration of the project. These also included CTO, BMHS, BTII, BHTA, BTA, TDC, IICA, TCPO, CZMU, BWA, Central Bank of Barbados, Barbados Garrison Historical Committee, Natural Heritage Department, Barbados National Trust, Cruise Tourism Task Force, Barbados Chamber of Commerce, Barbados Council for the Disabled, Future Centre Trust and the Barbados Youth Business Trust. In addition, we wish to express appreciation to all those who took time to attend meetings, share advice and information, and provide us with written comments/inputs in the workshop sessions. In the production of these documents, the work of local artists has been featured as an opportunity to showcase the visual arts in Barbados. Environmental Planning Group & HLA Consultants ii Barbados Tourism Master Plan 2014-2023 Report II REPORT II: THE ENVIRONMENT TABLE OF CONTENTS Summary 4 1.0 Physical Environment 14 1.1 Overview 14 1.2 Natural Environment 17 1.2.1 Terrestrial Resources 18 1.2.2 Coastal and Marine Resources 24 1.2.3 Energy 35 1.2.4 Water 39 1.3 Built Environment 45 1.3.1 Bridgetown 49 1.3.2 St. Lawrence Gap 50 1.3.3 Oistins 50 1.3.4 Holetown 53 1.3.5 Speightstown 55 1.3.6 Brownfield Sites 58 1.3.7 Rural Settlements 59 1.3.8 Land Use Impacts 60 1.4 Waste Management 61 1.4.1 Solid Waste and Sewage, Reduction and Recycling 62 1.4.2 Illegal Dumping 64 1.5 Climate Change and Disaster Management 65 1.5.1 Overview 65 1.5.2 Regional Programmes 66 1.5.3 Local Studies 70 1.5.4 Local Initiatives 73 2.0 Stewardship and Sustainable Tourism 75 2.1 Overview 75 2.2 Green Economy 75 2.2.1 Standards and Certification of Tourism Businesses 78 2.2.2 Scope for Business and Employment Opportunities 79 2.2.3 Promoting a Green Economy 80 2.3 Tourism Capacity 82 2.3.1 The Current Situation 82 2.3.2 Capacity Issues at Select Sites and their Potential Mitigation 84 2.3.3 Management by Numbers Does not Work Effectively 100 2.3.4 Managing for Sustainability 101 2.3.5 Managing Bottlenecks 102 2.3.6 Interpretation 106 2.3.7 Managing for Desirable Conditions 107 3.0 Recommended Actions to Support Environmental Management 107 List of Acronyms 134 References 136 Environmental Planning Group & HLA Consultants 3 Barbados Tourism Master Plan 2014-2023 Report II Summary Introduction There have been a number of environmental studies, strategies, and action plans completed in Barbados over the last several decades, including the National Park Development Plan 1998; the Environmental Management and Land Use Planning for Sustainable Development Project 1998; the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan 2002; and the Gully Ecosystems Management Study 2003. There have also been a number of environmental projects implemented in the corresponding period (e.g. the Harrison‟s Cave Redevelopment Project, 1998 - 2010; the Coastal Infrastructure Programme 2002 – 2009; the South Coast Sewerage Project 2001). However, without overarching environmental legislation that is necessary to enforce critical environmental regulations, the integrity of the natural environment in Barbados, both land and marine-based, will continue to be at risk from ongoing developmental practices, including those from the tourism sector. An Environmental Management Act (EMA) was drafted over 15 years ago, but has not been approved by Government to date (pers. comm., L. Nurse, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Transport and Works, July 2013). The draft EMA bill is currently with the Chief Parliamentary Council. It is to include various pieces of existing environmental regulations to provide a formal legal and procedural guide to environmental management in Barbados. The Physical Development Plan (PDP; Government of Barbados, 2003) is an important document whose policies guide all development practices in Barbados, including those targeted within the National Park boundaries on the east coast. In the absence of a legislated EMA, the PDP is critical in helping to control the development of the island‟s resources. Terrestrial Resources Due to extensive deforestation in previous centuries and the dominance of agriculture since colonization, forests are essentially non-existent in Barbados (Government of Barbados, 2002, p. 37).Whereas most of the island was originally covered with forests, about 80% of the woodlands were cleared for agriculture within 30 years of British colonization in the 17th century (Watt, 1966). Currently, only 2% of the island is covered in forest, with the largest located at Turner‟s Hall, a tropical mesophytic (semi-deciduous) wooded habitat covering an area of approximately 21 ha. Other natural plant communities in Barbados are found primarily on beaches and sand dunes, sea cliffs, and in gullies (Government of Barbados, 2002, pp. 33-34). Although part of the island is under sugar cane cultivation, many cane lands are now abandoned and replaced by secondary forest and regenerating vegetation (Government of Barbados, 2002, p. 32). As a result of the limited range of undisturbed natural habitats, the terrestrial fauna of Barbados is sparse, unlike other Caribbean islands that exhibit greater species diversity. The avifauna in Barbados is more diverse than other terrestrial fauna, although it is dominated by migratory species. Environmental Planning Group & HLA Consultants 4 Barbados Tourism Master Plan 2014-2023 Report II Potential major impacts on biodiversity in Barbados are from tourism development and uncontrolled grazing of livestock. Tourism development commenced in the 1960‟s, with hotels being constructed along west coast beaches in St. James (see also Report V, Section 2.0). The construction of hotels and marinas, particularly along the west and south coasts, has caused the destruction of native plant communities and introduction of exotic species in areas not already developed (Government of Barbados, 2002, p. 41). The common practice of full site clearing before construction activity and resultant denuding of site vegetation, including mature trees, compromises the integrity of the natural environment in both coastal and inland areas. In addition to residential and commercial developments, the building of private villas has escalated particularly in the last few decades, thereby contributing to the conversion of green areas into higher density urbanized environments. Without adequate replanting schemes, these conversions contribute to habitat destruction, soil erosion, and rainwater run-off, which can be problematic in coastal areas with near-shore reefs that protect the island‟s beaches and coastlines. Coastal and Marine Resources Visitors to the island continue to seek sun, sea and sand as a vital aspect of their vacation packages, thus the coastal belt serves as a very important aspect of the total visitor experience. Activities within the coastal zone have multiplied over the years, ranging from beach volleyball or paddleball to scuba diving and snorkeling. Biological diversity in the island‟s marine environment and freshwater ecosystems is rich, with over 1,500 species identified (Inniss, 2001). The increase in human activity in the coastal zone has been accompanied by a commensurate increase in impacts on associated natural habitats, including an increase in the amount of waste in the marine habitat. It has also been recognized that the coastal environment, and by extension tourism within the coastal zone, are both adversely affected by activities originating inland, i.e. outside of the coastal zone. The disposal of residential wastewater and industrial solid and liquid wastes all have a natural tendency either to flow over-land towards the coastline, or leach into the soil and groundwater, and impact over time on the fragile and delicately-balanced coastal ecosystem. There is an urgent need to address these issues, which supports the aim of a greener economy for Barbados; strategies and actions have been proposed to help reduce the pace of degradation of the coastal zone and to diversify the tourism activities being offered therein, which will be reliant on the cooperation of the both the public and private sectors.