Land & Preservation Measures to Combat Climate Change Pressures in Cockpit Country's Martha Brae Watershed
(No co-financing required for concept)
The Cockpit country is Jamaica?s last remaining wilderness area with 50,000 acres of forest reserve, and large tracks of crown lands and private land holdings. The area experiences on average 250-380cm of rainfall annually (Windsor Research Centre), which recharges and supplies the main river systems. The heavy rainfall season of April - May and September - October account for 47% of the total annual rainfall.
Climate change impacts in Jamaica and the Caribbean as a whole will lead to increasing climate variability, and stronger storms and cyclones against a backdrop of overall declines in rainfall (IPCC AR4). In the Cockpit country, this will lead to increase will lead to increased risk of flooding, which in turn will increase erosion risks and threaten lives and croplands. Stronger floods will destroy crop production in close proximity to fresh water systems, increase erosion, and will lead to increased contamination due to the larger uptake of agricultural chemicals and pollutants by higher flow levels.
The Martha Brae watershed which falls within Cockpit Country encompasses several residential communities which are affected by flooding and are eager to abate the impact of increased seasonal streamflows in light of the ongoing and developing climate change impacts. Although the communities have seen some effect and benefit from the environmental projects in soil conservation, these benefits and their livelihoods and are still at risk from the effects of climate change.
The objective of this project is to stabilize and reinforce river bank slopes to protect against the loss of agricultural lands from the threat of climate change-driven increases in flood risk, due to stronger hurricanes and higher-intensity rainfall.
Outcomes
?Community members, crops, and soil resources increasingly resilient against flooding and erosion, which is expected to increase in the context of climate change.
Outputs
?Reinforce points prone to erosion with ?natural? stone barriers and topsoil coverage planted with indigenous plant species to protect against soil and bank erosion. Process is known as Bioengineered bank treatments
?Establish step drains in seasonal flow streams to prevent erosion and slow the rate at which water flows downstream.
?Sensitization of residents on the effects and methods of flooding/erosion abatement to respond to climate change impacts
The Cockpit country is Jamaica?s last remaining wilderness area with 50,000 acres of forest reserve, and large tracks of crown lands and private land holdings. The area experiences on average 250-380cm of rainfall annually (Windsor Research Centre), which recharges and supplies the main river systems. The heavy rainfall season of April - May and September - October account for 47% of the total annual rainfall.
Climate change impacts in Jamaica and the Caribbean as a whole will lead to increasing climate variability, and stronger storms and cyclones against a backdrop of overall declines in rainfall (IPCC AR4). In the Cockpit country, this will lead to increase will lead to increased risk of flooding, which in turn will increase erosion risks and threaten lives and croplands. Stronger floods will destroy crop production in close proximity to fresh water systems, increase erosion, and will lead to increased contamination due to the larger uptake of agricultural chemicals and pollutants by higher flow levels.
The Martha Brae watershed which falls within Cockpit Country encompasses several residential communities which are affected by flooding and are eager to abate the impact of increased seasonal streamflows in light of the ongoing and developing climate change impacts. Although the communities have seen some effect and benefit from the environmental projects in soil conservation, these benefits and their livelihoods and are still at risk from the effects of climate change.
The objective of this project is to stabilize and reinforce river bank slopes to protect against the loss of agricultural lands from the threat of climate change-driven increases in flood risk, due to stronger hurricanes and higher-intensity rainfall.
Outcomes
?Community members, crops, and soil resources increasingly resilient against flooding and erosion, which is expected to increase in the context of climate change.
Outputs
?Reinforce points prone to erosion with ?natural? stone barriers and topsoil coverage planted with indigenous plant species to protect against soil and bank erosion. Process is known as Bioengineered bank treatments
?Establish step drains in seasonal flow streams to prevent erosion and slow the rate at which water flows downstream.
?Sensitization of residents on the effects and methods of flooding/erosion abatement to respond to climate change impacts
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Project Snapshot
Grantee:
Bunker's Hill Community Development Committee
Country:
Jamaica
Area Of Work:
Land Degradation
Land Degradation
Land Degradation
Grant Amount:
US$ 2,000.00
Co-Financing Cash:
Co-Financing in-Kind:
Project Number:
CBA/JAM/SPA/08/03
Status:
Satisfactorily Completed
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Project Characteristics and Results
Promoting Public Awareness of Global Environment
Community Benefits
The community will benefit from a safer environment from potential flooding, a reduced risk of crop loss from flooding, and controlled flows of waterways. The use of indigenous species in vulnerable areas will strengthen the resilience to climate change, including variability (particular species to be used will be identified during the planning phase, and described in the full proposal).
Capacity - Building Component
In the Planning Phase
There will be an analysis of stakeholders to determine the persons that are affected by this project.
There will be a focus group consultation with the Bunkers Hill Community Development Committee which represents 7 community organizations to conduct the VRA to define the interests of the different groups and the kind of participation.
There will be consultation with the state institutions to secure the commitments and services needed in the collaboration effort.
There will be data collection and surveys to determine the inputs required and the availability.
There will be the formulation of the first draft of the project document
Indicators
Biophysical
VRA1: Vulnerability to present climate change hazards
10
Biophysical
VRA2: Efficacy of coping mechanisms to current climate risks
10
Biophysical
VRA3: Vulnerability to future, anticipated climate hazards
10
Biophysical
VRA4: Efficacy of coping mechanisms in face of projected climate change
10
Biophysical
VRA5: Magnitude of barriers to adaptation
10
Biophysical
VRA6: Sustainability of project intervention
10
Biophysical
VRA7: Development of adaptive capacity beyond the scope of the project intervention
10
SGP Country office contact
Ms Hyacinth Y Douglas
Phone:
(876) 978-2390-9 ext. 2030
Email:
Ms. Faradaine Forbes-Edwards
Email:
Address
1-3 Lady Musgrave Road
Kingston 5, LA and the Caribbean
Kingston 5, LA and the Caribbean
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