THE EDITOR, Sir:
THE RAINS are pouring down in showers for days now and the soil is saturated. The perfect scenario is that all ground water storage should be recharged and the excess water runs off as overland flow in rivers, streams and man-made drainage systems. Of course, when I saw the rains pouring as it has, I knew what the news would be even without seeing or hearing it. Floods, landslides and break-aways in the same old places with new ones added to the list would make the headlines. The cry from citizens for help, the cry for justice and the pointing of fingers in all directions will follow. The increase in devastation reeked on communities and infrastructure when it rains is caused by three factors that are intricately related: Over-population, poverty and environmental degradation. The last is a cause and effect of the other two.
DANGEROUSLY ARROGANT
We've become dangerously arrogant to the consequences of our actions on the environment. Ignorance can no longer be an excuse and so the thrust toward environmental education had better become a priority so as to raise awareness and change our attitudes and behaviour towards the environment.
Jamaica is a hilly country with the Blue and John Crow Mountains covering one-third of the island. These uplands became a forest reserve and later on a national park because of the need to conserve the trees for the stability of the fragile shale soil and steep slopes as well as protection of one of the largest watersheds and subsequently the rich bio-diversity. However, many people seem to be either ignorant of these facts or too arrogant to care. Unsustainable farming practices, illegal logging, poor road and building construction are some of the issues that lead to the devastation being experienced.
The impact of storms and continuous rainfall like what we are now experiencing is greater in the mountains, especially if the slopes are bare. During the dry season farmers continue to burn down the hillsides. Many of these fires blaze out of control, especially during droughts, destroying far more forest than is intended for use. The bare soil left behind moves in sheets during the rainy season and in more fragile areas the entire hillsides collapse. The eroded soil moves all the way downhill increasing the volume of rivers for flooding on low-lying areas. The silt is added to garbage and other debris which erodes river banks, blocks drains, flood communities and the result in many instances is disastrous. All it is however is a 'ridge (mountain) to reef (sea)' impact. What is done upstream affects downstream and if downstream is bad they get it double dose.
EDUCATION THE BEST MITIGATION
A weather system is only a hazard when it affects humans. The impact of a single storm event will not be as great if mitigation is taken. Education is the best mitigation. Building houses in riverbeds (Taylor Land) and in swamps (New Haven) is like going between a crossfire of bullets when a storm comes. NGO's along with the Public Education Unit of NEPA, Forestry and other agencies have taken on the task of environmental education in Jamaica. However, if population continues to outstrip resources, poverty continues unabated and government agencies continue to turn a blind eye to environmental breaches then changing behaviour and attitudes will be almost impossible. The reduction in poverty and environmental degradation is listed as two of the UN millennium goals.
It is our responsibility and not a choice to take care of the environment. Instead of expending money on cleaning drains and giving hand-outs after each flood event, the money should be spent on environmental education and enforcement. Education is the only instrument that can raise a people from poverty. Prevention is better at all times than cure.
MAROLYN LUCY GENTLES
Jamaica Conservation & Development Trust.
marolynlucygentles@hotmail.com
