State of the Environment Report 2013 Jamaica
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The State of the Environment Report 2013 Jamaica Final Report National Environment and Planning Agency| Page 2 The State of the Environment Report 2013 Jamaica State of the Environment Report 2013 Jamaica National Environment and Planning Agency| Page 3 The State of the Environment Report 2013 Jamaica STATE OF THE ENVIRONMENT REPORT 2013 Short extracts from this publication may be copied or reproduced for individual use, without permission, provided this source is fully acknowledged. More extensive reproduction of storage in a retrieval system, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, requires prior permission of the National Environment and Planning Agency. Published by: The National Environment and Planning Agency, 10-11 Caledonia Avenue, Kingston 5, Jamaica (876) 754-7540 www.nepa.gov.jm This report was prepared with financial support from the European Union © 2015 National Environment and Planning Agency NATIONAL LIBRARY OF JAMAICA CATALOGUING-IN-PUBLICATION DATA ISBN 978-976-654-007-4 National Environment and Planning Agency| Page 4 The State of the Environment Report 2013 Jamaica “Since we’ve been in our mother’s tummy as a tiny cell, we’ve been given an important message from life itself: We’ve gotta learn to hang on, latch on to mother, don’t let go of life man!” Shabba (Taxi Driver in Kingston, Jamaica) National Environment and Planning Agency| Page 5 The State of the Environment Report 2013 Jamaica Table of Contents 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................. 24 1.1 Executive Summary (Main Findings and Conclusions - Chapters 2 to 9) ........................................................... 28 2. Biodiversity and Ecosystems ........................................................................................................................................ 33 2.1 Background to Biodiversity and Ecosystems in Jamaica .................................................................................... 34 2.1.1 Background on the Legal and Policy Framework on Biodiversity Conservation and its Sustainable Use .. 34 2.2 The Current State of Jamaica´s Biodiversity 2011-2013 ..................................................................................... 36 2.2.1 The Current State of Endangered Species on the IUCN´s Red List ................................................................. 40 2.2.2 The Current State of Invasive Alien Species (IAS) in Jamaica ......................................................................... 41 2.2.3 The Current State of Biosafety in Jamaica ................................................................................................. 43 2.3 The Main Threats Facing Jamaica's Biodiversity................................................................................................. 44 2.4 Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................................................................. 45 3. Forests and Watersheds .............................................................................................................................................. 54 3.1 Background to Jamaica´s Forests and Watersheds ............................................................................................ 55 3.2 The current state of Jamaica´s Forests and Watersheds .................................................................................... 57 3.2.1 The Current State of Jamaica´s Forests Managed by the Forestry Department Under the Forest Act ......... 57 3.2.2 The Current Demand for Forest Products ................................................................................................. 61 3.2.3 The Current State of Jamaica´s Watersheds .................................................................................................. 61 3.3 The Main Threats to Jamaica's Forests and Watersheds ................................................................................... 63 4. Protected Areas............................................................................................................................................................ 74 4.1 Background to Jamaica´s Protected Areas ......................................................................................................... 75 4.2 The Current State of Jamaica´s Protected Areas in the Period 2011-2013 ........................................................ 77 4.2.1 The Current Legal Framework for Protected Areas ....................................................................................... 77 4.2.2 The Current State of Protected Areas and Heritage Sites and Monuments in Jamaica to 2013 ............... 78 Negril Area Environmental Protection Trust .................................................................................................................... 83 Oracabessa Bay Found. & Fisherman Group.................................................................................................................... 84 4.2.3 The Current State of Co-management Agreements in Protected Areas .................................................. 87 4.2.4 Current Financial Facilities that Include Support to Protected Areas ........................................................ 90 4.3 Current Threats to Jamaica´s Protected Areas ................................................................................................... 92 4.4 Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................................................................. 92 5. Coastal and Marine Resources ................................................................................................................................... 101 5.1 Background to Jamaica´s Coastal and Marine Resources ................................................................................ 103 5.2 The Current State of Jamaica´s Coastal Marine Resources 2011-13 ................................................................ 105 5.2.1 Current State of Policies, Strategies and Plans Supporting the Sustainable Use of Jamaica’s Coastal Marine Resources .................................................................................................................................................................. 105 5.2.2 Current State and Trends of Jamaica´s Coral Reefs (2013) .......................................................................... 108 5.2.3 The Current State of Jamaica´s Beaches (2013) ........................................................................................... 111 5.2.4 The Current State of Mangroves and Seagrass Beds (2013) ........................................................................ 117 5.2.5 The State of Fish Stocks in Jamaica (2013) ................................................................................................... 119 5.2.6 The State of Coastal Marine Water Quality in Jamaica (2013) .................................................................... 123 5.3 The Main Threats to Coral Reefs, Beaches, Mangroves and Seagrass in 2013 ................................................ 129 5.4 Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 131 6. Freshwater Resources ................................................................................................................................................ 141 6.1 Background to Freshwater Resources in Jamaica ............................................................................................ 142 6.2 The Current State of Jamaica´s Freshwater Resources .................................................................................... 143 6.2.1 Current State of Freshwater Supply to the Residential Sector ................................................................ 144 6.2.2 Current State of Freshwater Quality ............................................................................................................ 146 National Environment and Planning Agency| Page 6 The State of the Environment Report 2013 Jamaica 6.2.3 Current State of Water Supply to Irrigation SDchemes in Jamaica.............................................................. 149 6.3 Current Threats to Freshwater Resources ....................................................................................................... 152 6.4 Conclusions and Recommendations ................................................................................................................ 157 7. Ambient Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................... 165 7.1 Background on Ambient Air Quality Monitoring and Reduction of Ozone Depleting Substances and Greenhouse Gases ......................................................................................................................................................... 166 7.1.1 Background on Ambient Air Quality Monitoring in Jamaica ........................................................................ 166 7.1.2 Background on the Reduction of Ozone Depleting Substances and GHG Emissions in Jamaica ................. 167 7.2 The Current State of Jamaica´s Ambient Air Quality, Reduction of Ozone Depleting Substances and GHGs (2011-13)