Policy Papers Developed by NRCA

Policies

Description

In order to ensure that the principles set out Jamaica's environment
are advanced, the Government has adopted a number of objectives
for its environmental policy, including:

• Ensuring that Jamaicans are aware and committed people to
  their environment;
• Using non-renewable resources wisely;
• Using renewable resources in a sustainable manner;
• Ensuring good air quality;
• Ensuring adequate supplies of good quality water;
• Proper planning of land use preserving bio-diversity;
• Promoting global cooperation;
• Enhancing the natural environment;
• Preserving the marine environment;
• Developing tools for sustainable development
  

During 1997, coral reef protection assumed added urgency as a
result of international initiatives to counter the widespread
destruction and degradation of reef systems worldwide.
This policy is intended to be adopted in order to improve the
protection of coral reefs and by so doing to sustain their ecological
and socio-economic functions. The goals of the policy include:

• Reducing the quantity of pollutants being released to the coastal
  environment with special emphasis on nitrogen, phosphorus and
  sediment;
• Reversing the trend of overfishing by more stringent regulation
  of the fishing industry, particularly with respect to trap and net
  type and mesh specifications;
• Reducing the physical damage of reefs as a result of recreational
  boating, souvenir hunting, spear fishing, dynamiting and other
  human activities;
• Improving the response capability for dealing with oil and other
  chemical spills;
• Ensuring that Jamaica's public and private sectors avoid coastal
  zone development which contributes to coral reef destruction
  and/or degradation.
  

Specifically, this policy seeks to:

• Improve the management of coral reefs;
• Improve the capability of organizations, individuals and
  communities having an interest in coral reef management;
• Promote research and monitoring;
• Promote periodic review to determine the effectiveness of
  management strategies
  

This policy will be adopted in order to promote the management of coastal wetlands so as to ensure that the many benefits they provide
are sustained. The goals of the policy include:

• Establishing guidelines by which wetlands can be developed
  and protected in order to ensure their continued existence;
• Bringing to an end all activities carried on in wetlands that cause
  damage to these resources and encouraging benign activities;
• Maintaining and enhancing the functions and values of
  Jamaica's wetland resources;
• Maintaining the natural diversity of the animals and plants
  found in wetlands;
• Integrating of wetland functions in planning and development
  process of other resource sectors for example agriculture,
  forestry, fisheries, tourism and waste management and housing.
  

Specifically, the policy seeks to:

• Provide protection against dredging, filling, and other
  development;
• Designate wetlands as protected areas;
• Protect wetlands from pollution particularly industrial effluent
  sewage and sediment;
• Ensure that all developments planned for wetlands are subject to
  an environmental impact assessment (EIA);
• Ensure that where appropriate traditional uses of wetlands are
  maintained
  

Sea grasses are marine flowering plants found growing in the
shallow waters around Jamaica. There are three types of sea grasses
found in coastal waters around Jamaica, namely, Thalassia
testudinum commonly referred to as turtle grass, Halodule wrightii
or shoal grass and Syringidium filiforme or manatee grass. Sea grasses are of direct importance in maintaining the integrity of the Jamaican coastal marine environment. In addition, by contributing to the preservation of the coastal zone, sea grasses help to ensure the continuation of traditional activities such as fishing and recreation.

Sea grasses are affected by problems associated with natural events such as disease, overgrazing by marine animals and severe weather> conditions. However, human activities affect sea grasses to a much greater extent and with greater frequency.

A policy on sea grasses is intended to guide the issuing of licences, or permits for activities which directly or indirectly affect these plant communities. These include activities such as dredging, port development, the disposal of dredge spoil, beach development and effluent disposal.

The National Policy for the Conservation and Management of sea grasses is based on the following principles:

• Seagrasses are an important component of the coastal ecosystem and their conservation can only be achieved by ensuring coordination between conservation and development activities;
• The conservation of seagrasses must primarily involve those
  communities and interest groups who rely directly on these
  resources. However, the national importance of this resource
  cannot be overlooked, as all Jamaicans derive benefits from the
  coastal zone either directly or indirectly;
• It is necessary that a more positive public attitude and
  perception of seagrasses be developed.
  
  

This Action Plan builds on the International Coral reef Initiative
(ICRI). This document focuses on Five main areas:

• Integrated coastal zone management and related institutional policy and legal issues;
• Environmental education and awareness;
• Co-management of coastal resources;
• Prevention and reduction of sources of marine pollution;
• Research and monitoring for the management of coral reef and
  coastal resources.