Located on the eastern tip of Jamaica, the parish of Portland is prone to extremely heavy regular annual rainfall. Because storms and prevailing winds generally approach from the east, this region is exceptionally vulnerable to devastation by tropical storms or hurricanes. Portland, and by extension the Drivers River Watershed, is particularly susceptible to flooding and landslides as a result of its topography, fast flowing rivers and the nature of the soils underlying the normally thick vegetation. Regrettably, the thick vegetation protecting the slopes and the valley floors is rapidly being cleared for agricultural purposes.

A steady increase in population density has pressured small subsistence farmers to farm higher altitude sites and close to many major water sources. The farming methods practiced includes slash and burn and other improper farming methods resulting in the deforestation of important watershed areas, increased soil erosion, nutrient depletion and other environmental degradation. In addition, the improper use of pesticides and herbicides, the improper disposal of solid waste, and the absence of a reliable solid waste collection system have exacerbated the problems.

The issue of increasing environmental awareness is hampered by the economic situation of the communities affected; the reduction in soil fertility and hence the productivity as resulted in reduced yields and increased production costs. As a result, environmental stewardship or management is not seen, as an important factor in community development and in many cases is perceived to hamper rather than enhance development. Despite these challenges, the Drivers River watershed is one of the healthiest watersheds in the parish. However, urgent action must be taken to sensitize the members of the target community and introduce alternate sustainable farming practices to arrest the continued degradation of the watershed.

It has become evident based on reports from the Forestry Department, Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management (ODPEM), that the increased rate of land degradation over the past ten to fifteen years is a contributing factor to the increased incidents and severity of land slippage over the corresponding period.

Currently the Forestry Department and RADA are working in the area to promote better land use practices and a private tree-planting programme with farmers. These initiatives have been in place for less than 7 years with minimal but significant participation from watershed communities. Government agencies are not able to extend their services where needed due to staff and budget constraints as a result; while the activities have been successfully implemented on a small scale the level of participation has severely hampered the impact of these activities at a watershed management level.

Alternative approaches and appropriate methods need to be assessed and implemented such as composting, alternative biological fertilizers and pest management, endemic plant introduction, agro-forestry, riparian setbacks, soil erosion controls and other methods suited to that watershed as well as introducing alternative sustainable forms of livelihood. RADA and Forestry, along with PEPA have compiled a list of communities and landowners who would benefit from these interventions with a multiplication effect reaching over 20 communities and thousands of watershed residents. It is our hope that through this project the activities of both agencies will be replicated on a larger scale resulting in the reduction of land degradation through out the watershed.

The primary goal of the project is the education of community stakeholders about the functions of a watershed, the values of the watershed to the community, and the specific actions community members can take to protect the watershed to ensure the continued provision of essential services for economic and/or social development and empowerment.

General Purposes
? To promote sustainable community-based watershed management practices in the Drivers River watershed.
? To develop and implement a community environmental education programme to encourage sustainable watershed management practices.
? To support the watershed conservation programmes of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA) and the Forestry Department.
? To preserve the environmental integrity of the Drivers River Watershed, ensuring the sustainability of its occupants.
? To assist with the development of the target communities through the identification of alternative livelihoods and the increased productivity of current livelihoods.
Specific Project Focus
? To establish land use practices that reduce or eliminate negative impacts to water quality.
? To create a sense of watershed stewardship in the Drivers River Watershed.
? To provide an opportunity for local stakeholders to become involved in the watershed management process through dialogue and action.
? To identify long-term objectives and creative community-level planning for sustainable development activities in the Drivers River Watershed.