Wildfires, forest fires, or bushfires are sometimes the result of human activity, with the main causes being the use of fire for land clearing, the burning of garbage, or the improper disposal of lit material like cigarette butts. However, there have been instances where devastating fires are caused by natural events such as lightning strikes in severe weather situations.

In 2022, the Jamaica Fire Brigade reported that 45 bushfire cases were classified as acts of nature while 284 bushfires were caused by discarded inflammable objects such as cigarette butts, and 1,577 incidents were caused by the careless use of fires.

In February 2023, Jamaica recorded 1,300 bushfires representing a 95 percent increase when compared to January, with 1,968 bushfires recorded since the start of the year.

For Small Island Developing States like Jamaica, the effects on property, as well as on the Agriculture, Forestry, and Health sectors are particularly daunting.

Consequently, the development of a Bush Fire Warning Index was seen as a necessary step in mitigating such disasters. The Index was developed by the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation through the Meteorological Services, under a Grant Agreement with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB).

While the Bush Fire Warning Index does not prevent the occurrence of wildfires, it serves as a predictive tool by giving an indication of specific locations within the various parishes with a high probability of fire outbreak, so that mitigative action may be taken. Based on the output of the Index, using soil moisture information, rainfall, temperature, and soil type, maps may be generated to show the varying likelihoods that bushfires could develop.

The Index has, so far, shown some reasonable success in identifying general areas for expected outbreaks of fires. This information has been particularly helpful for the Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB) and the Rural Agricultural Development Authority.

Jamaica is indeed moving in the right direction as the Government introduces technology that will increase disaster preparedness and lessen risk.

Based on findings from a survey done under the project, there is evidence that educating the public against the use of slash-and-burn techniques for clearing land, as well as providing alternative methods to burning are having a positive effect.

With a likely increase in bushfires, given the effects of climate change such as longer dry periods, it is expected that further monitoring and refining of the Bush Fire Warning Index will increase its reliability so that it may truly be considered a critical tool in Jamaica’s climate resilience arsenal.

While the Bush Fire Warning Index is a proactive measure, citizens must play their part to prevent the tragic loss of lives and livelihoods due to bushfires. As such, citizens are urged to discontinue practices that could lead to devastating fires.

Written by the Public Relations and Communications Branch (2023)

Jamaica’s biodiversity is under threat!

We are at risk of entirely losing species such as the Jamaican Boa (snake), the Jamaican Iguana, the Jamaican bat, the ring-tailed pigeon, and many others too numerous to mention.

The list of endangered species is not confined only to land.  Of note is the parrotfish which has been severely over-fished, along with several species of coral.

It is posited that over 8,000 species of plants and animals have been recorded in Jamaica and the island ranks fifth among the world’s islands in terms of endemic species.

However, we are vulnerable to many of the global pressures which have adversely impacted our natural resource base, on which key economic sectors such as tourism and fisheries are dependent.

The threats include changes in land use; pollution; encroachment on natural habitats; the hunting and harvesting of endemic species such as the black-billed parrot for sale as exotic pets; over-harvesting of fish and other marine resources; as well as the prevalence of invasive species.

Many of our endangered endemic species also inhabit specific areas, which are vulnerable to man-made impacts. For example, how many times have we seen news stories of crocodiles being sighted near housing developments along our coastal areas? Because we have encroached on their natural habitats, they return to their old haunts.

Can we live side by side with our non-human neighbours without endangering them further?

PROTECTED AREAS

One answer lies in declaring specific protected areas, which provide safe habitats for plants and animals and contribute to the preservation of biodiversity.  The Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC) is working assiduously towards this goal.

The Ministry is in the process of finalizing protected areas legislation.  The updated Protected Areas Policy will complement related national policies and plans including the Forest Policy, and the Protected Areas System Master Plan.

Jamaica, as a member of the High Ambition Coalition, is also actively working to achieve the 30×30 targets aimed at fighting the triple threats of biodiversity loss, environmental degradation, and climate change, by 2030.

With the declaration of 78,000 hectares, in the Cockpit Country as a protected area, approximately 25% of our land is protected.  We are well on the way to achieving our land protection targets.

The Government has also declared the Black River land and seascapes, approximately 207 square kilometers, under the country’s principal environmental legislation and has completed the work to declare 882 square kilometers of the Pedro Cays and surrounding waters, as a protected area.

By actively working to achieve the protection of 30% of our landmass and 30% of our marine area, Jamaica is demonstrating not only its ambition but also its commitment to the environment.

INCREASING OUR RESILIENCE

One of the big threats that we must tackle is the issue of resilience to the impacts of climate change which affects our ecosystems.

To this end, the MEGJC along with the National Environment and Planning Agency, (NEPA) and the Forestry Department, have conducted a national mangrove assessment and are in the process of finalizing the implementation plan.

We have placed increased focus on mangroves not only because they stabilize the coast but are also one of the most effective forests for reducing greenhouse gases through carbon capture, which lessens the impacts of climate change.

Attempts are also being made to restore seagrass beds, while the NEPA is continuously tracking the health of our coral reefs.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

The interventions being undertaken by the MEGJC are critical, given the rate of species loss globally.

The preservation of our biodiversity is critical to the preservation of our natural history, our culture, and our lives in general.   However, more than government intervention is needed.

The MEGJC looks forward to partnerships and collaborations with key stakeholders in the public and private sectors, as we chart the way toward an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

Species such as the Jamaican Boa, the American Crocodile, and the Jamaican Iguana, are a part of our cultural heritage and make us uniquely Jamaican.   Your actions are critical in reducing the threats to these and other species.

Written by the Public Relations and Communications Branch (2023)

Water is everybody’s business and is connected to everything we do. Water is essential to Jamaica’s sustainable development and is the basis upon which many of our sectors are built.

The quality of water that we receive begins with the quality of our raw water. The Water Resources Authority (WRA) continues to support the Government in securing the sustainability of Jamaica’s water resources and the resilience of the nation to droughts and floods.

Several years of underinvestment have led to a poor distribution network and aging infrastructure, which left thousands either without potable water or an inconsistent supply.  The connectivity between the government and citizens on this very important issue is slowly being rebuilt.

What is the Government doing?

The Government, through the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation (MEGJC), has taken tangible and substantial steps to address the challenges within the sector. The MEGJC has portfolio responsibility for the major water agencies, the Water Resources Authority, and the National Water Commission (NWC), as well as the Central Wastewater Treatment Company Limited, a subsidiary of the NWC, which provides sewerage services.

The GOJ’s vision for the management of the nation’s water resources is guided by the National Water Sector Policy and Implementation Plan 2019 (NWSP). The NWSP aims to ensure that the country’s water resources are managed sustainably and integrated to facilitate the population’s universal access to potable water and adequate sanitation by 2030. The goal is to ensure that Jamaica’s water resources are effectively managed to provide for our nation’s social, economic, and environmental well-being, now and in the future.

Minister with responsibility for Water in the MEGJC, Sen. the Hon. Matthew Samuda has been hard at the task of extending the water footprint across the island by “turning on the pipes”, and distributing tanks under the NWC’s Tank and Pump Rehabilitation for Operational Efficiency Improvement Programme.

In 2022, the MEGJC, through the NWC, completed water projects in every parish representing $4 billion of Capital Investment which provided upwards of 150,000 Jamaicans with access to a more reliable and consistent water supply.  This financial year, the NWC expects to complete projects representing more than $ 7 billion of capital investment which will benefit thousands more Jamaicans.

However, the Government is not resting on its accomplishments but continues to take further steps towards increasing access.

 ENERGY

The launch of a solar plant at Mona Reservoir will, among other benefits, realize energy savings in excess of one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) a year over an 18-month period. The aim is to reduce the consumption of energy from fossil-based fuels and reduce the overall cost of energy used in the production of water which will result in a more effective and efficient service to Jamaicans.

 NON-REVENUE WATER

The NWC has also partnered with water specialists, MIYA, in a Non-Revenue Water (NRW) Reduction Programme for the parishes of Portmore and Kingston & St. Andrew. Since the implementation of the NRW in 2022, Portmore has seen a 26% reduction in water losses while the project has surpassed its target of 60% in the KSA.   There is a planned rollout of the island wide NRW programme in the short to medium term.

 Drought mitigation measures

Notwithstanding the Government’s efforts to provide fit-for-purpose infrastructure for storage and distribution to its customers, rainfall is a major element required for a consistent water supply, that is beyond the agency’s control.

All reports indicate that Jamaica is currently experiencing the worst drought since 2014, with the Meteorological Services reporting that the island started experiencing reduced rainfall as early as October last year recent reports indicate that the reduction in rainfall has since worsened, with the island receiving a mere 28% of its 30-year average rainfall in February 2023.

The Government has been proactive and in February, the Prime Minister announced a JM$150million allocation for Drought mitigation from the MEGJC of which:

• $ 35 million was allocated to the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development to facilitate trucking by municipalities.
• $ 20 million for the purchasing of blank tanks to support affected communities and
• $ 95 million to the NWC to facilitate trucking through their systems to customers and critical infrastructure.

In addition, the MEGJC is improving water security for at-risk communities, particularly in rural areas, through the delivery of 50,000 black tanks over a three-year period. Distribution will begin with 13,000 in July, this year.  The distribution of the tanks will have a rainwater harvesting component with the government providing guttering and collection.

 What can citizens do?

Yet, the Government’s efforts will amount to nothing if the citizens are not playing their part.

How? The easiest ways are by planting more trees, practicing proper disposal of waste, investing in rainwater harvesting infrastructure, and employing sustainable irrigation practices.

Paying their bills on time is another method of ensuring the sustainability of the water supply.  When customers pay their bills, the NWC in turn can put that money into well-needed infrastructure and energy projects that benefit citizens.

Reporting illegal connections and leakages or broken pipes are also steps that can be taken to assist with the efficient distribution of water.

We are still a long way from where we should be but under the guidance of the legislation along with the guidance of the portfolio Ministry and Agencies, the water sector is finally receiving the attention it deserves.

Written by: The Public Relations and Communications Branch (2023)