CATADUPA  CONSERVATION  ACTION  PLAN
FINAL STAKEHOLDER  WORKSHOP REPORT
(Springfield, 8 April. 2015)

Catadupa  Stakeholders’ Workshop:

Finalising the Catadupa

 Conservation Action Plan

 

Venue:  Springfield Baptist Church Education Centre

Date:  8^th April 2015

Facilitator:  Mike Schwartz (Windsor Research Centre [WRC])

Invited Speaker:  Diana McCaulay (Jamaica Environment Trust [JET])

Participants: 53 persons from 25 communities

Funded by:

 

 

Goal: 

To define actions to abate and eliminate the highest-ranked threats to the Catadupa ecosystem and its associated communities.

 

Background:

Catadupa is the name we use for western Cockpit Country.  It is a Key Biodiversity Area (KBA) with many special plants and animals, some of which are found only in Catadupa and nowhere else in the World.  “KBA” is a globally-recognised designation, recognised both by conservation-oriented entities such as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and by financial-development agencies such as the World Bank and the Inter-America Development Bank.

 

In previous workshops attended by community members and representatives from National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and Forestry Department (FD), stakeholders identified six Conservation Targets (Table 1) which, if protected, would ensure the health of the Catadupa ecosystem and the maintenance of key services, including provisioning of clean water, biological diversity, and   heritage (culture and current community values).  Stakeholders identified the major threats to the Conservation Targets (Table 2) and identified key stakeholders who can influence positively or negatively on whether the threats will continue (Figure 1).

 

Bauxite mining is the highest-ranked threat to the Catadupa KBA. Its threat status is VERY HIGH

TABLE 1.  Catadupa Conservation Targets

 

TARGET	REASON TO INCLUDE
1.  Wet Limestone Forest	Umbrella for all forest-dependent plants & animals
2. Cave Communities (non-aquatic)	Unique cave-dwelling species; can be harmed by human activities inside a cave
3. Karst Freshwater Ecosystems	Vulnerable to pollution
4. Amphibians	Not only a quality indicator of forest health (e.g., the “canary in the coal mine” for forests) but also potentially threatened by alien Chytrid fungus
5. Giant Swallowtail Butterfly	Endangered endemic butterfly; range is entirely restricted to Cockpit Country and Blue Mtns.
6. Plain (aka Blue) Pigeon	Illegal hunting may threaten the population

 

 

TABLE 2.  The highest-ranked threats to the Catadupa KBA

 

FIGURE 1.  Stakeholder Situation Diagram for the highest-ranked threat to Catadupa:  Bauxite Mining.

 

           

 

Springfield Workshop:

Stategies & actions to abate and eliminate critical threats

 

 

09:35:  The workshop was opened with an update on the committee which formed during the previous workshop in Elderslie on 18^th February 2015.  The committee members met on 1^st April to define a vision and objectives and to develop their organisational structure.  The committee is now called Cockpit Communties for Conservation (CCFC).

 

A.  Identification of actions to address Very High and High – ranked threats to Catadupa biodiversity

 

1.  Bauxite Mining (current threat; ranked Very High)

a.  Stakeholder Situation Diagram

Building from the previous workshop in which stakeholders involved directly and indirectly in bauxite mining were identified, Mike Schwartz presented a diagram of the relationships amongst the various stakeholders, their “lines of influence”, and some of the factors which motivate them (Figure 1).   Workshop participants reviewed the diagram and identified gaps (e.g., National Water Commission, Jamaica Tourist Board, and Jamaica National Heritage Trust were omitted inadvertently).  By diagramming the relationships, we can look for the most effective routes to influence decision-makers.  In this case, with communities calling for “No Mining in Cockpit Country”,  a critical strategy will be to ensure that  no mining leases are signed by the Minister of Science, Technology, Energy & Mining; this will include no leases for the Catadupa KBA, the western flank of Cockpit Country. 

 

One stakeholder from Forestry Department pointed out that the law ultimately rests with the Minister:  even if all technical advisors, Environmental Impact Assessments, etc.  recommend against mining, the Mining Act (1947) enables resource extraction.  However, at the  Minister’s discretion, he also may declare an area “closed to mining”.  Thus, a second strategy is to advocate to have Cockpit Country (including its Catadupa KBA) “closed to mining”.

 

The first question which arose from the diagram was how do we best reach the Minister.  Participants recognised that, in theory, Councillors and Members of Parliament (MPs) are “our messengers”, but when issues are debated at the national level, MPs will go along party lines and local issues can get pushed aside.  Workshop participants concluded, therefore, that actions must be developed to ensure that local communities remain empowered and that Councillors and MPs are fully-informed of the costs of bauxite mining so as to ensure that local desires are not side-lined in national debates.

 

b.  Actions to eliminate the threat of bauxite mining

Workshop participants identified 20 action items.  These are presented in order of how they were identified, not as a prioritised list.  To prioritise, we must next assess their costs, feasibility, and potential for effectively achieving our objectives.

 

TABLE 3.  Action list for addressing the threat of bauxite mining

 

1.  Create a “No Mining in Cockpit Country” bumper sticker (action already implemented)

QUESTIONS / ISSUES Bumper stickers have been printed (cost $23,000) and distribution commenced on 21st March 2015. Q1:  Has anyone seen one on a vehicle? A:  No Q2:  Was this an effective use of the money?  For example, we could have instead hired a bus for $30,000 for people to meet with the Ministers of Mining and Environment (Ministry of Water, Land, Environment, and Climate Change [WLECC]) A.  Make sure good information-sharing occurs when stickers are distributed to drivers – a small step in raising awareness in the Catadupa KBA

2.  Organise demonstrations

QUESTIONS / ISSUES Must first make sure communities are informed about the issues

3.  Invite Councillors and MPs to meetings

4.  Get Councillors and MPs to invite the Ministers of Mining  and WLECC to the next meeting

5.  TV Broadcast  (Professional media)

QUESTIONS / ISSUES Q1:  Given the high cost, which programme has greatest impact – IMPACT with Cliff Hughes or Hill & Gully? Q2:  To answer Q1:  what are we trying to achieve?  Building local support or national awareness (esp. if objective is to reach the Minister)?

6.  Radio Broadcast (Professional media)

QUESTIONS / ISSUES Cliff Hughes vs. Barry G.:  latter reaches more people, but if we want TV, then we need to work with Cliff Hughes (his radio programme and IMPACT are linked) Note:  WRC was trying to secure funding for an outside broadcast with Cliff Hughes on April 22nd (Earth Day), but that fell through. Q1:  Did anyone hear the series of “Cockpit Country is Our Home” radio programmes with Cliff Hughes in Oct / Nov 2015, paid for by WRC? A:  No

7.  Social Media (Facebook, YouTube, etc.) (Community-based media)

8.  Inform the communities about what bauxite mining really brings to an area (esp. to counter misleading information about what jobs will be created and available to community members).

QUESTIONS / ISSUES Q:  Are we really informed enough?  For example, a community member asked whether everyone is aware that 40% of Jamaica’s freshwater comes from Cockpit Country.  How do we disseminate this information?

9.  Road signage and billboards in strategic locations, with a unifying theme.  For example:  “Cambridge Welcomes You to Cockpit Country”

QUESTIONS / ISSUES Q1:  What permission do we need from e.g., Parish Councils? Q2:  Are there local artistes, such as high school arts clubs, who can help design the signs?   Also bear in mind that a sign’s placement at a focal gathering point can be leveraged to engage with “disaffected youth”, who can be hard to reach without the promise of alcohol or a sound system.

9.  Establish a contact list for international media allies

Important to maintain a diverse list of local contacts – reinforces broad support base and credibility

10.  Visit schools to share information

11.  Visit churches to share information

12.  Survey community groups to develop an Inventory of Community Assets

13.  Prepare books (eg., exercise books, colouring books) to distribute to schools

QUESTIONS / ISSUES Q1:  What role could the Ministry of Education play in distributing books?  Q2:  Do materials distributed to schools have to be approved by the Ministry?

14.  Create a calendar, including declaration of a “Cockpit Country Day”

15.  Find a DJ who would be willing to create a “music platform” to: (a) excite young members in the communities; and (b) create a jingle that “sticks” in the minds of listeners.

16.  Call for the results of the Cockpit Country boundary consultations

17.  CCFC, WRC and JET meet with the Ministers of Mining and WLECC

18.  JET will convene an expert panel of lawyers to ensure our constitutional rights and freedoms are upheld, esp.” the right to enjoy and healthy and productive environment free from the threat of injury or damage from environmental abuse and degradation of the ecological heritage.”

19.  Hire a drone for high quality / high impact images of the landscape.

20.  Organise a site visit to areas currently being mined (esp. to sensitize community members who are uncertain about the social and environmental costs of mining.

 

 

 

 

INVITED SPEAKER: Ms. Diana McCaulay (CEO) Jamaica Environment Trust   Ms. McCaulay was invited to share her experiences in engaging with the media, local communities, and national and international stakeholders to call for better environmental governance in Jamaica.  She began by recalling how in 2006 Government of Jamaica (GoJ) had been dismissive of local concerns about mining in Cockpit Country.  It was only when overseas Jamaicans and international media outlets started asking “what g’wan” that GoJ began to respond.  Ms. McCaulay’s message was that the fear of bad international press can be a strong motivator for GoJ to “do the right thing” and she further recommended that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs & Foreign Affairs be added to the our Stakeholder’s Diagram of Bauxite Mining.   Workshop participants next learned “how” media outlets work.  She said that it is generally recognised that TV has the farthest reearch in Jamaica while newspaper and (surprisingly) radio have minimal effect.  In response to a query from a community member, Ms. McCaulay explained how we can make initial contact with a show’s producer (with a warning that producer turn-over rates are high).  We should always be thinking “how can I make the producer’s job easier”:    ·      always offer to speak on-air ·      speak “on the record” and give your name ·      have 5-10 people available to answer questions from the media, with good representation from a broad range of your stakeholders ·      make sure your representatives have a solid foundation of general knowledge of Cockpit Country, as well as their local expert knowledge (analogy:  building a wall – everything is needed, but if the foundation is weak, the wall will collapse) ·      for press releases, always list 3 contact names and rotate the names so it’s not just one person always responding or one “type” of person ·      develop a good, sustainable strategy, which includes awareness that “public fatigue” develops with long-running stories ·      unfortunately, the press likes “catastrophe”, so you need to think about how to package your story when you are trying to take a positive, pro-active action   Ms. McCaulay brainstormed an example for the last point: For immediate release:  Forty percent of Jamaica’s water sources are threatened by proposed bauxite mining in Cockpit Country.  This globally unique region, a symbol of our heritage of resistence and triumph is threatened. . . etc.   She reiterated comments already expressed during previous workshops, namely that all compaigns need to be grounded in firm foundations of knowledge:  everyone needs to know what we’re defending, especially when it will be an irreversible destruction of our heritage.  She further recommended creating tag lines to connect with the wider public (ex.  “Defending Home”).   At this point, the discussion became lively as the pros and cons of the word “defend” were deliberated.  Some participants felt it was too strong, hostile, and militaristic.  Others felt it made clear our position and there would be no misunderstanding of our passion for our heritage and for the legacy we want to leave for future generations.   Ms. McCaulay focused next on the issue of defining the boundary of Cockpit Country, a necessary precondiition for declaring the area “closed to mining” and an issue which has been debated since before 2006.  The workshop participants were already fully-informed about the extensive public consultations conducted by the University of the West Indies in 2013 on defining the boundaries of Cockpit Country and at least on community member heard Minister Paulwell announce on the radio earlier this year that there will be “no mining in Cockpit Country” . . . so everyone is wondering “what is the problem, why isn’t GoJ doing what the communities want”?  Ms. McCaulay reported that Minister Paulwell appears prepared to declare an area closed to mining, but he does not want to relinquish control of the resources only to have the area destroyed by other activities (e.g., housing, conversion to agriculture, etc.).   One community member astutely noted that if mining does, indeed, occur, people would have to move further into the interior forest to e.g., farm and that cause further harm to the Conservation Targets (i.e., mining has to account for unintended consquences and cumulative impacts when stakeholders are displaced!).  Mr. Schwartz added to Ms. McCaulay’s comments by noting that Cabinet wants the Ministries of Mining and WLECC to reach an agreed-upon boundary, as reported to Mr. Schwartz during a meeting at Forestry Department on XX April.   Ms. McCaulay recommended that it is time for everyone to say to Cabinet: “enough is enough, declare the boundary of Cockpit Country.”  She further suggested that a first valuable action for the newly-formed CCFC would be to submit a letter to Cabinet, informing it: (a) of the principles upon which the CCFC was formed; (b) that members are resolute in the founding principles; and (c) that the CCFC calls for a boundary to be declared as a prelude to Cockpit Country being “closed to mining.”   In response to a query as to whether JET has a lawyer who could represent the communities, Ms. McCaulay outlined JET’s plans to convene an expert panel of lawyers to ensure that all Jamaicans’ constitutional rights and freedoms are upheld, esp.” the right to enjoy and healthy and productive environment free from the threat of injury or damage from environmental abuse and degradation of the ecological heritage.”  She went on to explain JET’s current support for communities in areas currently being mined, noting the many problems they have experienced with “milk and honey” promises of post-mining reclamation and rehabilitation.  She gave an example of the installation of green houses, a supposed mitigation for the loss of soil.  When farmers in the area of 9-Mile accepted this solution, they hadn’t appreciated several critical aspects of green houses:   ·      because the green house mesh blocks the rain, irrigation has to be provided by water pumps:  these require a reliable power source and security to prevent damage to the pumps; ·      heat builds-up in the green houses, but creating gaps for ventilation enables insect pests to enter; ·      spraying for insect pests inside green houses carries health risks because of the concentration of sprays in the absence of natural air flow:  wearing protective gear can mitigate . . . but Jamaican farmers are never keen on using protective gear . . .   Workshop participants agreed that it was important to share information such this with everyone in the Catadupa KBA, particularly with farmers who would look forward to selling their land to bauxite companies.  As Ms. McCaulay further noted, the companies do not have to purchase the land, they merely have to compensate for any losses during the period of mining and reclamation, and then return “rehabilitated” land back to the land owner.   Although Ms. McCaulay was unable to stay for the entire workshop, the kind and generous nature of Cockpit communities said goodbye by inviting her back for a personal tour of Catadupa.

 

 

2.  Conversion to agriculture (historic threat with lingering effects and current practices; ranked High)

 

While the historic clearing of forest for agriculture has contributed to the fragmentation and isolation of some forested areas, workshop participants re-confirmed the observations from previous workshops that most “clearing” is restricted to bushing-out old farmlands (i.e. areas are left fallow for several years, with rotational use of multiple plots). 

 

Stakeholders

Farmers, local markets, overseas markets, RADA, 4-H Clubs

 

Actions

·      Forestry Department’s analyses of land use classifications and changes in land use over time provide a good tool for long-term monitoring.

 

·      By keeping up-to-date on best practices, farmers can maintain soil fertility, prevent the introduction of alien diseases, and produce quality products to meet market demand.  Ms. Antonette Brown (Ginger Hill) provided good details of how she achieves this with her pine (pineapple) farm.  “Best Practices” not only serve the farmer, but can help biodiversity because forest doesn’t need to be cleared to replace “over-used and abused” farmland.  Promoting “Best Practices” is one action for promoting biodiversity.

 

 

3.  Development of roads and utlilities (possible threat; ranked High)

 

Improving the road surface of the existing paved network does not present foreseeable problems for the Catadupa KBA.  Indeed, proper road surfaces would prove beneficial for communities (i.e. getting farm products to market undamaged; encouraging community-based tourism).   However, any re-alignment or widening of the existing roads would threaten Conservation Targets (especially the Giant Swallowtail Butterfly) by further reducing the connectivity of the remaining forests.  Of particular concern is for the roadway around the community of Jointwood:  any modifications must be desired to ensure no loss of forest connectivity.

 

Stakeholders

Local communities, National Works Agency, Planning Institute of Jamaica, Parish Council, MPs, local contractors who do the roadworks.

 

Actions

Several questions need to be answered: 

·      What is planned for the area in the short term (5-10 years) and long term (> 10 years)? 

·      Do the Parish Development Orders for St. James and St. Elizabeth share the same vision for the western Cockpit Country / Catadupa?

 

NEW ISSUE RAISED DURING WORKSHOP:

Following the recent crash of a minibus near Duncans, Trelawny, which was attributed to the “slick” road surface, the public was again reminded of the chronic problem of road contractors using sub-standard aggregates.  One workshop participant noted that the Maldon Inlier may be a recognised source of high quality Skid Resistant Aggregate.  Quarrying in the Maldon / Tangle River area will have irreversible and profoundly negative consequences for the Catadupa Freshwater Conservation Target.

 

 

4.  Scientific collection (existing threat; ranked High)

 

In the pursuit of scientific knowledge, intellectual curiosity, and even conservation efforts (motivations), care must be taken not to harm or collect-to-extinction any of the biodiversity of Cockpit Country / Catadupa. 

 

Stakeholders

Oversight of research activities, including the issuing of permits, falls at the national level with NEPA; permission from Forestry Department is required to enter a Forest Reserve. 

 

Actions

·      Communities can play a vital role in monitoring to make sure that anyone claiming to be conducting research has all the approved permits in his or her possession.  Talk to strangers and ask what they are doing!  Honest researchers love to share information about the new things they are discovering; dishonest people will tell you they are too busy to talk to you.

·      Community members can explore the possibility of becoming a volunatary Game Warden for NEPA.

 

 

5.  Illegal hunting / poaching (existing threat; ranked High)

 

All of Jamaica’s native and endemic birds are protected by the Wild Life Protection Act, 1945.  Although some species of game birds can be hunted, the season is restricted by NEPA and birds can only be hunted under a license from NEPA, which is renewed annually.  The Ring-tailed Pigeon was identified as a Conservation Target because, although it is never permitted to be hunted as a game bird, illegal hunting is known to occur.  Other birds which are stolen from the wild include the Yellow-billed and Black-billed Parrots and the Jamaican (Olive-throated) Parakeet.

 

Stakeholders

Farmers (whose crops can be damaged by birds), hunters, caged-bird / pet owners, zoos, NEPA, Game Wardens

 

Actions

·      Communities can play a vital role in monitoring to make sure that anyone claiming to be conducting research has all the approved permits in his or her possession.  Talk to strangers and ask what they are doing!  Honest researchers love to share information about the new things they are discovering; dishonest people will tell you they are too busy to talk to you.

·      Community members can explore the possibility of becoming a volunatary Game Warden for NEPA.

·      Improve information sharing:  make sure everyone is informed that all native resident and migratory birds are protected under the Wild Life Protection Act, 1945.  This is particularly important for all endemic birds, including the Jamaican Crow (Corvus jamaicensis), which is frequently seen by Jamaicans as a “bad” bird because it occasionally depredates nestling birds and reportedly can damage crops such as banana.

·      Raise awareness about the fines for harming birds and other protected wildlife.  Currently, committing an offense against the Wild Life Protection Act can result in a maximum fine of $100,000 AND / OR sentencing of one year in prison.

 

 

6.  Limestone quarrying (existing and future threat; ranked High)

Although quarrying for limestone (and other aggregates) typically is more highly-localised than bauxite mining, actions can piggy-back on efforts to get Cockpit Country “closed to mining.”

 

As note previously on page 10 under Threat #3:  Road development, quarrying for aggegrates in the Maldon Inlier will significantly affect the Freshwater Conservation Target.

 

Stakeholders:

Ministry of Science, Technology, Energy & Mining, National Works Agency, Ministry of Land, Water, Environment & Climate Change, Water Resources Authority, NEPA

 

Actions:

·      WRC will ontact Mines & Geology Division to enquire whether quality Skid Resistant Aggegates are present in the Maldon Inlier.

 

 

7.   Invasive alien animals (ranked High)

WRC’s Dr. Susan Koenig gave a brief presentation explaining the differences between native species and aliens, the latter being introduced to Jamaica intentionally or accidentally by humans.  Alien species (including bacteria and viruses) which do not harm native ecosystems, agriculture interests, or human health are considered to be benign or beneficial.  Alien species which cause harm are classified as “invasive” and steps must be taken to prevent their introduction into the island as well as to control their spread once they get established in the wild. 

 

Stakeholders

Preventing the introduction of potentially invasive animals to Jamaica falls under the purview of NEPA and Veterinary Services Division.  Stakeholders who wish to import animals (which may or may not be invasive) include:  zoos, livestock interests, aquaculture (food and aquarium trade), commercial pet trade, and private pet owners.

 

Actions

·      Dr. Susan Koenig serves on the national Invasive Alien Species Working Group (IASWG); a key action is to get standardised Invasive Risk Assessments developed and integrated into the pre-importation stage of the permitting process.

 

 

8.  Invasive alien plants (ranked High)

The workshop focused attention on Bamboo (Bambusa vulgaris) because once it becomes established, it is extremely difficult and costly to eradicate from hillsides and bottomland farms.  Indeed, farmers reiterated that it isn’t worth the effort trying to clear it from their farms because the root system is so hard to eliminate.  Dr. Koenig noted that in December 2014, national media outlets reported that GoJ was looking into the feasibility of using mined-out bauxite lands for the wide-scale planting of bamboo, with the aim of tapping into international markets for bamboo products.  One other workshop participant was aware of GoJ’s interests in promoting bamboo.  However, when someone in the workshop asked how the bamboo would be utilized and Dr. Koenig responded that charcoal production had been proposed, several members laughed and noted that it “blows away like dust and doesn’t burn”. 

 

Stakeholders

Ministry of Agriculture, Sugar Cane Growers Association (ref introduction of disease-causing pathogens and parasites in grasses), RADA, Bamboo Working Group, IASWG, Forestry Department, Ministry of Industry, Investment, and Commerce, Bureau of Standards-Jamaica, Planning Institute of Jamaica, Jamaica Bauxite Institute, current holders of bauxite mining leases, Cockpit Country / Catadupa farmers

 

Actions

·      Work with stakeholders who want to spread bamboo farther than its current distribution in Jamaica to ensure that civil society and private land owners don’t bear the eventual costs when: (a) natural forest doesn’t regenerate; or (b) eradication is required.

 

 

B.  Additional actions for raising awareness

·      Plan for an overnight field trip to Cockpit Country, for a “Cockpit Country Night Out” experience;

·      Support “Cockpit Parenting” programmes in your local community;

·      Point Benevolent Society to contact high school art’s programme to get students involved in designing community signage.

 

 

Workshop adjourned at 4:30 pm.

 

 

 

 

 

Summary prepared by:

Susan Koenig, DFES

Windsor Research Centre

 

21^st April 2015