By Francine Black, Staff Reporter
A section of Hellshire Hills that falls within Portland Bight.
THE URBAN Development Corporation (UDC) has received permission from the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to manage lands within the Portland Bight (environmentally) Protected Area, specifically in the Hellshire area where UDC owns most of the lands.
Portland Bight covers 724 square miles of land and sea from the Hellshire Hills in St. Catherine to Rocky Point, Clarendon. It is a terrestrial and marine protected area comprising dry limestone forests, wetlands, game reserves and marine space including cays.
Lorna Clarke, communications officer at UDC, disclosed that the Corporation had established an environmental management plan, but she noted that most of the area will continue to be managed by the Caribbean Coastal Area Management (C-CAM) Foundation.
However, George Johnson, environmental spokesperson for the Hellshire Leadership Council, a community-based organisation, believes the granting of the responsibility for environmental conservation in Hellshire to UDC presents "the potential for conflict of interest since the Corporation is the biggest land owner in the area".
WILLING TO WORK WITH UDC
But, Peter Espeut, executive director of C-CAM has expressed his willingness to work with the UDC.
"We are responsible for the management of the protected area; we do not own the land. However if UDC takes over management of the land then we will have to work with them," he said.
A five-year agreement for the management of the Portland Bight Protected Area was signed by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) and C-CAM last year.
The agreement gives C-CAM the authority, under the Natural Resources Conservation Act, the Watersheds Protection Act, the Wildlife Protection Act, the Beach Control Act and the Endangered Species Act, for the effective management of the physical environment of the specified area to ensure conservation, protection and sustainable use of its natural resources.
The area contains mangroves which are at risk of total wipe-out with infrastructural developments and its use in areas like charcoal making and construction material.
The area was declared protected in 1999 and the C-CAM was given responsibility for initiating conservation programmes.
While the UDC has not disclosed its intentions for the land, The Gleaner understands that the Corporation will be pursuing eco-tourism development projects for the area.
In addition a meeting is to take place among C-CAM, UDC and NEPA to review both management plans being proposed.
