COCKPIT COUNTRY CONSERVATION STRATEGIES

 

Threats:

1.     Forest Conversion

2.     Mining and Quarrying

3.     Invasive species

 

Strategy 1

Within 5 years strengthen the application of those clauses in Jamaica’s mining and quarrying laws that require the minister responsible to give due consideration to the environmental value of CC biodiversity by:

·      Carrying out a water evaluation of CC conservation area to provide socio-economic measures of the value of the area’s water resources,

·      Carrying out a hydrological study of CC water resources,

·      Developing support for this policy change among key constituencies who benefit from the CC water supply (downstream agriculture, municipalities, tourism, fishing) by demonstrating the value of CC water (in part using the results of the CC water valuation and hydrological studies),

·      In coordination with partners, providing information to key decision-makers (minister responsible, Jamaica Bauxite Institute, mining and quarrying companies) to give adequate consideration to CC ecological services in reviewing and issuing mining and quarrying licenses using information from a CC water valuation study and other sources of information.

 

 

Strategy 2

Within 5 years reduce the rate of primary forest converted to other land uses by 50% by:

·      Improving enforcement by providing financial and technical support to GoJ Forestry’s National Forest Management and Conservation Plan activities that will demarcate 50km of critical CC reserve boundaries, involve people in local enforcement in at least 3 key CC communities, and equip and train at least 10 existing enforcement officers,

·      Supporting Forestry Department to carrying out a public education program to thoroughly publicize the existence and regulations covering public lands in CC,

·      Developing appropriate BMPs for small-scale commercial and subsistence farming and successfully disseminating these practices to at least 50 farmers working in close proximity to CC primary forest,

·      Developing techniques to restore abandoned agricultural lands with early succession native species in at least 20 acres in 4 plots.

 

 

Strategy 3

Within 3 years measurably improve the capacity of government agencies, national and local NGOs, and CBOs to sustainably protect CC biodiversity by:

·      Developing and implementing an effective mechanism for co-management of the CC conservation area,

·      Strengthening the organizational structure of local CBOs (measured by TNC’s institutional assessment tool),

·      Improving skills of partner organizations (particularly CC co-management partners) to develop, write and market fund-raising proposals (measured by at least $500,000 of funds raised independently of TNC),

·      Improving CC co-management partners’ skills in meeting facilitation and conflict resolution.

 

Strategy 4

Within 3 years reduce the economic incentives that underlie degradation of CC biodiversity by:

·      Providing sufficient incentives (tax exemptions and/or direct payments) for land owners with crown land in-holdings to maintain at least 100 acres of such forested land in forest until GoJ Forestry Department can declare these in-holdings as forest reserve,

·      Developing a business plan and a field demonstration plot to produce yam-sticks through agroforestry as an alternative source of income to collecting saplings from primary forest.

 

Strategy 5

Within 5 years measurably reduce the threat of invasive species on the health of CC biodiversity by:

·      Supporting GoJ Forestry Department and IOJ to carry out a public education and awareness program that includes the issues of invasive species,

·      Developing best management practices and guidelines for the use and management of bamboo,

·      Developing more detailed data on the presence, impact and control of bamboo, Asian fern, American cockroach and shiny cowbird on CC biodiversity,

·      Carrying out a pilot project to restore land degraded by invasive species through planting with early succession native species in at least 20 acres in 4 plots.