GUYANA LANDS AND SURVEYS COMMISSION REGION VI Sub-Regional LAND USE PLAN Andrew R. Bishop, Commissioner Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission 22 Upper Hadfield Street, Durban Backlands, Georgetown Guyana September 2004 Acknowledgements The Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission wishes to thank all Agencies, Non- Governmental Organizations, Individuals and All Stakeholders who contributed to this Region VI Sub-Regional Land Use Plan. These cannot all be listed, but in particular we recognised the Steering Committee, the Regional Democratic Council, the Neighbourhood Democratic Councils, the members of the Public in Berbice, and most importantly, the Planning Team. i Table of Contents Acknowledgements ....................................................................................................... i Table of Contents ...................................................................................................... ii Figures ...................................................................................................... v Tables ...................................................................................................... v The Planning Team ..................................................................................................... vi The Steering Committee ................................................................................................... vii Support Staff .................................................................................................... vii List of Acronyms ................................................................................................... viii East Berbice Sub-Regional Concise Plan ......................................................................... 10 1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 10 2. Potentials and Conflicts Analysis ............................................................................. 11 2.1. Constraints to development............................................................................... 11 2.1. Potential for development................................................................................. 11 3. Scenario Development.............................................................................................. 12 3.1. The No Plan Scenario ....................................................................................... 12 3.2. The Medium-Term, Agriculture Led Scenario ................................................. 16 The Medium-Term, Agriculture Led Land Management Units ....................... 17 3.3. The Full Development Scenario ....................................................................... 21 The Long Term Land Management Units ......................................................... 22 4. Land Use Policy Recommendations ......................................................................... 30 5. Plan Administration .................................................................................................. 34 Appendix 1 .................................................................................................... 37 Goals, Objectives and Methodology................................................................................. 37 1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 37 1.1. Legislative Background.................................................................................... 37 1.2. Rationale for Land Use Planning Within GLSC............................................... 37 1.3. NRMP Land Use Planning................................................................................ 39 1.4. Location ............................................................................................................ 39 1.5. Goals and Objectives of the Plan...................................................................... 40 1.6. Methodology..................................................................................................... 43 1.6.1. NRMP and the EEZ Methodology........................................................... 43 1.6.2. The FAO Methodology............................................................................ 44 1.6.3. The Methodology Of The Land Use Plan For Region 6.......................... 48 1.6.3.1 Plan Preparation..................................................................................... 48 1.6.3.2 Assessment of the Actual Situation ....................................................... 53 1.6.3.3 Analysis of Potentials and Conflicts...................................................... 55 1.6.3.4 Identification of Land Use Options........................................................ 57 ii Appendix 2 .................................................................................................... 58 The Current Situation .................................................................................................... 58 1. The Current Situation................................................................................................ 58 1.1. General Description.......................................................................................... 58 1.2. Topography....................................................................................................... 59 1.3. Hydrology ......................................................................................................... 59 1.4. Land Cover/Land Use....................................................................................... 61 1.5. Land Use History .............................................................................................. 66 1.6. Soils................................................................................................................... 66 1.6.1 Soil Mapping Units................................................................................... 69 1.6.2 Soil Characteristics ................................................................................... 80 1.7. Land Capability................................................................................................. 80 1.7.1. Class I Good Agricultural Land............................................................... 81 1.7.2. Class II Moderate Agricultural Land ....................................................... 81 1.7.3. Class III Poor Agricultural Land.............................................................. 81 1.7.4. Class IV Non-Agricultural Land.............................................................. 82 1.8. Land Tenure...................................................................................................... 83 1.9. Land Occupation............................................................................................... 84 1.10. Population and Demography......................................................................... 85 1.11. The Urban Landscape ................................................................................... 86 1.12. Poverty Status............................................................................................... 90 1.13. Socio-Economic Infrastructure..................................................................... 90 1.14. Transport Infrastructure................................................................................ 91 1.15. Industry ......................................................................................................... 92 1.16. Housing......................................................................................................... 92 1.17. Livestock....................................................................................................... 93 1.18. Tourism......................................................................................................... 94 Appendix 3 .................................................................................................... 95 Analysis of the Potentials, Constraints and Conflicts....................................................... 95 1. Analysis of the Potentials, Constraints and Conflicts............................................... 95 1.1. Land Use Potentials .......................................................................................... 95 1.2. Vulnerability ..................................................................................................... 95 1.2.1 Ecological Vulnerability ........................................................................... 95 1.2.2 Socio-Economic Vulnerability.................................................................. 96 1.2.3 Ecological Value....................................................................................... 98 1.2.4 Recreational Value.................................................................................... 99 1.3. Potentials........................................................................................................... 99 1.3.1 Potential for Forestry ................................................................................ 99 1.3.2 Potential for Agriculture ......................................................................... 100 1.3.3 Potential for Mineral Exploitation .......................................................... 103 1.3.4 Potential for Fishing................................................................................ 104 1.3.5 Potential for Aquaculture.......................................................................