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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
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Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
The Government of Jamaica has not introduced environmental taxes, levies or charges, nor has it identified any environmentally unsustainable subsidies.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies and Plans
No information is available.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
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Programmes and Projects
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Status
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Challenges
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available.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
No information is available.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
FinancingNo information is available.
Cooperation
In the past two years, bilateral support for sustainable development projects has been received from the Canadian International Development Agency, amounting to a grant of Canadian twelve million dollars (Can$12M). This grant is being used to provide technical assistance to develop Jamaica's capacity for solving environmental problems and promote and pursue sustainable development.
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This information was provided by the Government of Jamaica to the sixth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: May 1998.
For information on
participating States in the Global Environment Facility, click here:
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about issues and projects in Latin America and the Caribbean from the World Bank, click
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Decision-Making: Coordinating Bodies
A Sustainable Development Council has been established, and a National Commission on Science and Technology is in the process of conducting a review of Science, Technology and Innovation Policies (STIP) to develop recommendations.
Decision-Making: Legislation and Regulations
In the area of waste management, the Scientific Research Council (SRC) is working on the technology, and the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) is working on standards and legislation.
Decision-Making: Strategies, Policies, and Plans
Sectoral strategies that also incorporate science and technology include the Sustainable Tourism Development Project and a draft policy prepared and under review by the Ministry of Water for the promotion of environmentally-sustainable technologies (ESTs) in the area of freshwater resources management.
Decision-Making: Major Groups Involvement
No information is available.
Programmes and Projects
The Integrated Wastewater Programme at the SRC addresses the issue of technology for Environmentally Sound Wastewater Management for all sectors. Its overall goal is to reduce the adverse environmental effects of pollution from wastewater.
Private sector companies have been established to provide requisite technical information and expertise in order to help further the transfer of ESTs.
Status
No information is available.
Challenges
In Jamaica, ESTs are most urgently needed in the area of Mining.
Capacity-building, Education, Training and Awareness-raising
No information is available.
Information
Information on environmentally-sound technologies and technology transfer is available on the Internet.
Research and Technologies
No information is available.
Financing
No information is available.
Cooperation
No information is available.
For information on environmentally-sound
technologies and technology transfer, click here.
For information on
science and technology in Jamaica's Country Profile for the implementation of SIDS/POA,
click here.
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This information was provided by the Government of Jamaica to the sixth session of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: May 1998.
No information available.
Click here to link to the Biosafety
Information Network and Advisory Service (BINAS), a service of the United Nations
Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), which monitors global developments in
regulatory issues in biotechnology.
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International Register on Biosafety.
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Decision-Making:
Coordinating Bodies
The
Tourism Division of the Office of the Prime Minister, OPM(T), is responsible for
tourism policy, planning and administration at the national level. The mandate
of the Tourism Division and that of the agencies falling under its purview is to
facilitate and encourage growth of a diversified tourism industry in ways which
maximize the social and economic benefits for Jamaica, and at the time allow for
the conservation and preservation of the environment.
The
government’s product development company- Tourism Product Development Company
(TPDCo) and the Resort Boards are responsible for sustainable tourism at the
local level.
The
Tourism Product Development Company (TPDCo)’s mission is to develop and
improve the tourism product in order to position Jamaica as a preferred
destination and to ensure that tourism is sustained as a major contributor to
the development of the economy.
The
Resort Boards were established as advisory Boards to the Tourism Product
Development Company for each of the 6 resort areas. The Resort Board’s mission
is the development, improvement and sustainability of the tourism product within
Resort Areas.
Decision-Making:
Legislation and Regulations
All
forms of tourism development must be considered in accordance to the
legislations under the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCR) Act of
1991, which address the management, conservation and protection of natural
resources of Jamaica. The NRCA Act applies to mandatory environmental impact assessments for all types
of developments as well as permits and licenses for the discharge of effluents.
In
fostering the concept of sustainable tourism development within the wider
tourism industry, the Tourism Division of the Office of the Prime Minister is
working on the following policy initiatives: a policy on Green Tourism Policy
and a River Rafting policy. With
regard to providing incentives for attractions, it is intended that there
incentives will be performance based linked to environmental management
criteria.
Decision-Making:
Strategies, Policies and Plans
The
Government of Jamaica has currently embarked on the process of preparing a
Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development. This Plan will provide ways in
which the sector can achieve a balance between the built, natural, cultural and
human environment.
A
consultative approach is being used to solicit information from a wide
cross-section of communities and interest groups across the island.
Stage
one of the planning process for the Sustainable Tourism Development Master Plan
has been competed, wherein the strategic option to lead us on the sustainable
path would be selected. The next stage focuses on planning the implementation of
the selected strategic option. It is expected that the draft Plan will be ready
for presentation to the government by September 1999.
The
Master Plan, which is expected to guide tourism development in Jamaica for the
next ten years, will take into account the following issues:
The
cultural heritage and traditional elements of local communities will be
considered in relation to the wider tourism sector.
Through this enlightened approach to tourism development, emphasis will
be placed on environmental protection, environmental management and carrying
capacity assessments and will indicate limits of acceptable changes.
A major component of the Master Plan will be the preparation of a
locational strategy for future tourism development and the carrying capacity and
sanitation studies for all six resorts will be used to inform and guide the
strategy.
Mechanisms
will be developed to facilitate greater economic linkages and social interaction
between host communities, visitor and the tourism sector generally.
In addition, it is envisioned that efforts will be made to strengthen
existing linkages with other productive sectors and establish new linkages where
opportunities exist.
Currently
policy directions outlined in the National Industrial Policy speaks to the
approach of eco-tourism and nature-based tourism in sustainable tourism
development and addresses the need to diversify our tourism product to other
areas such as nature-based, cultural, heritage and health tourism.
Product
development relating to ecotourism activities will be concentrated in areas
being designated as national parks and protected areas, while other appropriate
attractions will be encouraged along nature tourism guidelines.
There
are initiatives being taken under the Environmental
Audits for Sustainable Tourism (EAST) programme to monitor continuously the
progress of tourism development in order to make the necessary corrections or
revisions to ensure sustainability. It is expected that other mechanisms will be
developed in the Master Plan once completed.
The
NRCA’s Policy for Jamaica’s System of Protected Areas has identified over
150 areas which are possible candidates for Protected Areas.
Other
policy initiatives which indirectly assists/ensures that the tourism industry is
developed in a sustainable of manner are the Ministry of Health’s policies
pertaining to environmental and pollution control.
The
Government of Jamaica through the NRCA is working on a Biodiversity Strategy and
Action Plan Development Project. One of the sectors being examined under this
project is Tourism.
Decision-Making:
Major Groups involvement
The
Office of the Prime Minister (Tourism) has involved the following public private
sector groups in the sustainable tourism planning process:
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The Resort Boards which are found in all resort areas. (Public/Private)
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Individual Local Environmental NGOs, which are found in twelve parishes.
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The Local Advisory Committee in the Blue and John Crow Management
National Park.
The
relationship which the Tourism Division of the Office of the Prime Minister has
with its agencies, the private sector tourism interests, other public sectoral
groups and the community based and environmental non governmental organizations
is that of a participatory mode which embraces a public-private sector
partnership.
The
following steering committees or technical working groups are chaired either by
the Minister of Tourism or the Director General and are represented by a wide
cross section of stakeholders:
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The Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development;
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The Tourism Industry Advisory Council;
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The Resort Boards; and,
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The Green Tourism Networking Groups.
In
addition to the steering committees chaired by OPM (Tourism) heads, there are
other Steering Committees or technical working groups of other Ministries which
OPM(T) are members of, namely: Council
of Coastal Zone Management; Coastal Water Improvement Project (CWIP); South
Coast Sustainable Tourism Project; Spanish Town Redevelpoment Committee; and,
the National Integrated Watershed Management Programme.
Programmes
and Projects
In
our drive towards sustainable tourism development in Jamaica, it is envisioned
that the quality tourism demanded is achievable. In fact, the World Travel and
Tourism Council (WTTC) and Green Globe International have selected Jamaica as
the pilot destination to launch the Green
Globe Hotel Certification Programme. The United States Agency for
International Development (USAID) funds this programme under the Environmental Audits for Sustainable Tourism (EAST) initiative which
is implemented by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA). In this
regard, Negril and Port Antonia, which are two of our six resort areas in
Jamaica, became the first destination in the world to have hotels selected,
audited and registered for this certification programme. The ten (10) hotels in
the Greening Negril 2000 Programme
being implemented by EAST in conjunction with the Negril Chapter of the JHTA are
as follows: Sea Splash; Grand Lido; Negril Tree House; Negril Gardens; Sunshine
Village; Coral Seas Gardens; Negril Cabins; Rondel Village; Mariner’s Inn;
and, T Water Cottage.
Fern
Hill hotel in Port Antonio is the first hotel in Port Antonio to undergo the
audits for the EAST Programme. The second phase of the EAST Programme was
launched in Port Antonio. Four hotels- Dragon Bay, Jamaica Crest, Goblin Hill
and Trident plus one attraction – Blue Lagoon were audited. By becoming
“Green properties,” these hotels will be required to establish environmental
management system which incorporates ISO 14000 standards.
Hotel operations therefore should reflect energy efficiency, water
conservation and waste management practices.
To
date, four Jamaica hotels became the first hotels in the world to attain
certification by Green Globe as green hotels. These hotels are Mockingbird Hill,
Beaches Negril, Spa Splash and Negril Cabins.
The
NRCA recently developed a policy for Jamaica’s System of Protected Areas and
one of the goals through this policy is to provide recreational and educational
opportunities to improve the quality of life for all Jamaicans and visitors.
Ecotourism
and nature based tourism are being promoted and marketed as community based
cultural and ecological events. The examples are as follows:
1)
The Blue and John Crown Montain National Park has developed a nature
trail – “the Oatley Mountain Trail,” in the parish of Portland;
2)
There is a community based NGO, “Valley Hikes,” which promotes and
develops ecotourism activities in the Rio Grande Valley through their hike and
other outdoor activities; and
3)
In the parish of Trelawny, the local environmental NGO, the Southern
Trelawny Environmental Association, promotes and markets a cultural event which
is the “Yam Festival.”
Blue
and John Crow Mountain National Park are geared both to sustainable tourism and
to ecotourism and nature-based tourism.
Status
The
government’s product development company, the Tourism Product Development
Company (TPDCo), has developed guidelines/checklists for ecotourism,
nature-based tourism, and heritage tourism developemts. These conditions are,
however, voluntary.
There
is general acceptance to these codes/guidelines; however there is some degree of
antagonism displayed in individual cases. For one of our major river based
attraction – “YS Falls”- the operations have instituted a carrying
capacity for the number of person visiting the waterfall, which is very
effective.
Tourism
expenditure for 1997 is US $1,121 billion. The industry employees 71,568 people
with 33,927 in accommodation sector. The 1997 JTB Economic Impact Analysis
reveals that 7.6% (71,568) of the workforce is employed in the sector.
The
current impact of tourism on the sustainable development pertains to the
following:
Environment
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Beach erosion, beach pollution, maintenance and development
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The introduction of Green Technologies to support the EAST Programme
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The commissioning of environmental impact assessments for river based
attractions along the Black River and the Rio Grande.
Preservation
of culture
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The commission of a cultural heritage tourism study
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The restoration of Georgian Architecture in the town of Falmouth,
Trelawny, which is a declared heritage site by the government of Jamaica.
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The Restoration of the Historic core of Spanish Town, St. Catherine.
There
is also the Green Tourism Network Group, whose mission is to ensure the
sustainable development of Jamaica’s tourism. One of the main objectives of
this group is to facilitate co-operation of environmentally friendly tourism
interests with segments of the tourism sector such as government agencies as
well as international donors.
Environmental
initiatives being implemented by the Jamaica Hotel and Tourist Association (JHTA)
are:
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Healthy Hotels initiative; and,
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Solid Waste Management project with the theme being “BE green and be
clean.” Through this initiative, each chapter of the JHTA will sensitize
organizations to implement sustainable solid waste management projects.
The
marketing of tourism products to attract the environmentally conscious tourist
is being done through the Green Globe Programme, for the four Jamaican hotels
which have become the first hotels in the world to be certified as Green Hotels.
Similarly, individual hotels, such as the Half Moon Hotel and Golf Club which
has won on an annual basis international awards as an environmental steward does
its own marketing.
Challenges
The
resources are not always available to sustain training in sustainable tourism.
Further the educational process to promote sustainable tourism initiative
is slow.
Capacity-Building,
Education, Training and Awareness-Raising
Team
Jamaica Programme is provided for employees in the tourism industry to assist
them in understanding, applying and promoting sustainable tourism.
The
ENACT Programme, which is sponsored by the Canadian International Development
Agency, has sustainable development programmes/projects targeted at the public
and Private Sector.
Public
awareness on the issues pertaining to sustainable tourism are achieved through
the Jamaica Tourist Board public education programmes, the tourism infusion
programme in primary and all age schools and the community consultations and
seminars held to discuss the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development.
Information
The
Office of the Prime Minister (Tourism) prepared a synopsis on the diagnosis and
strategic options of Jamaica’s tourism industry. This 30-page booklet was
circulated to the general public for their information and feedback which will
help guide the development of action plans for the Master Plan.
Research
and Technologies
Sewage Treatment
Currently,
new secondary sewage treatment facilities, financed partially by international
donors are under construction in the three major tourist resorts --- Montego
Bay, Ocho Rios, and Negril. Additional Systems are being planned for Antonio.
Water
Supply
With
regard to water supply, infrastructure projects have either been completed or
are in the pipeline for the resort areas. Montego Bay: water supply was recently
upgraded and the supply for the treatment plant is sufficient to meet demand for
the next ten years. Negril: the Lago Water treatment plant is being upgraded at
present in order to move it from a treatment capacity of 3.5 million gallons per
day to 7 millions/day. Ocho Rios: the region has excess freshwater capacity.
Financing
See
also under Cooperation.
Commonwealth
Secretariat partially funded the Master Plan for Sustainable Tourism Development
in Jamaica, Carrying Capacity Studies and Sanitation Studies for three resort
areas.
Funds
are provided by USAID to the following projects: Coastal Water Improvement
Project (CWIP) Programme; Ridge to Reef; Hillside Agriculture Project; Trees for
Tomorrow; and, Environment Audits for Sustainable Tourism (EAST).
Watershed
project in the Buff Bay Pencar Area is funded by CIDA.
European
Union provides support to Morant Yallahs project and Beach Erosion and Coral
Reef Degradation.
Projects
of Rio Grande Valley Agro Forestry, River Rafting, and EIA are funded by
Netherlands Government.
Inter-American
Development Bank provides funds to Watershed Management Programme in Hope River
and Great River Watersheds, Solid Waste Management Project, South Coast
Sustainable Development project, and, Cultural Heritage Tourism Project.
Cooperation
See
also under Financing.
With
the help from UNDP, the Jamaican government launched the following projects:
Forestry capacity project; and, Planning and Managing of Heavily Contaminated
Bays and Coastal Areas in the Caribbean ---Global Environmental Fund.
Jamaica participates in the CARICOM Resource Assessment and Management Programme (CFRAMP).
This information was provided by the Government of Jamaica to the sixth and eighth sessions of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. Last update: October 2001.
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