Jamaica

The british seized the Spanish Caribbean island of Santiago in 1655, establishing a slave plantation colony that would not achieve independence until 1962. Despite the optimism associated with Jamaica as a fee-market experiment built on export crops and tourism in its early years, economic downturn in the late 20th century left the country in poor condition, exacerbated by high levels of international debt, leading to further political and social instability. Bordered entirely by the Caribbean, Jamaica has 634 miles (1,022 kilometers) of coastline. The climate is temperate in the interior but tropical elsewhere. The terrain is mountainous with a narrow, discontinuous plain. While hurricanes may occur at any time on the island, they are most likely from July to November. Recovering from hurricanes such as Ivan, which hit Jamaica in September 2004, is difficult both financially and environmentally.

Jamaica's limited natural resources include bauxite, gypsum, and limestone. Around 16 percent of the land area is arable, and 20.1 percent of the workforce is engaged in the agricultural sector. Most Jamaicans are involved in the service sector (61.3 percent). Slightly over half the population live in urban areas. The largest contributors to the Jamaican economy are tourr ism, remittances from Jamaicans who work abroad, and the bauxite/alumina industry. Unemployment is persistently high (currently 11.5 percent), and the population of 2,732,000 people live on a per capita income of $4,300.

Almost one-fifth of all Jamaicans live below the national poverty line. Some 93 percent of the population has access to safe water, but 20 percent do not have access to improved sanitation. Because land is scarce, squatter settlements have sprung up, leading to vast overcrowding and enormous sanitation problems. Government funding for environmental programs and health programs is hampered by high external debts. The United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Human Development Reports rank Jamaica 98th of 232 countries on general quality-of-life issues.

Less than a quarter of Jamaica's land is forested as a result of a high level of deforestation. In the industrial area of Kingston, air pollution is a major threat. Marine pollution is also extensive. Industrial waste, untreated sewage, and oil spills have been dumped into the Caribbean, and the coral reefs have been damaged.

Poor agricultural practices have led to serious soil erosion. Development, agriculture, mining, and tourism all contributed to the pollution of ground and surface water. A 2006 study by scientists at Yale [Page 966]University ranked Jamaica 43rd of 132 countries on environmental performance, well above the income group average and slightly above the geographic group average. Jamaica's lowest scores were in the categories of air quality and sustainable energy. The island did particularly well in the field of biodiversity and habitat, in large part because 84.6 percent of Jamaica's land is protected. However, there are problems. Of 25 endemic mammal species, five are endangered. Likewise 12 of 75 endemic bird species are threatened.

The Ministry of Land and Environment, the National Environment and Planning Agency, and the National Resource Conservation Authority are responsible for implementing environmental policy and identifying particular areas of environmental concern. Current government projects include the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, the National Forestry Management and Conservation Plan, the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism, the Water Sector Strategy and Action Plan, the National Strategic Plan on HIV/AIDS, the Inner City Renewal Program Phase 2, and the Agro-Industrial Development–Neutraceutical Project. Jamaica has also reactivated the Sustainable Development Council, and regional groups are actively involved in environmental issues in Jamaica.

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