STATUS, PRIORITIES AND NEEDS FOR SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT IN JAMAICA

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1 STATUS, PRIORITIES AND NEEDS FOR SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT IN JAMAICA Presented by Joan Brown Morrison Rural Physical Planning Division, Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries Global Soil Partnership: Towards Prevention, Conservation and Restoration of Degraded Soils in Central America and the Caribbean 29 September - 3 October 2013 Hotel Melia Habana La Habana, Cuba

2 OUTLINE OF PRESENTATION Jamaica Introduction Status of soil resources in Jamaica Priorities for sustainable management of soil resources Recommendations

3 MAP OF THE CARIBBEAN

4 JAMAICA Jamaica, the third largest island in the Greater Antilles with a total area of 11,244sq km is located 145km (90 miles) south of Cuba and 190km (118 miles) west of Haiti. Topography 384,000 ha have slopes less than 10º 330,000 ha moderately steep slopes 290,000 ha slopes greater than 30º

5 TOPOGRAPHIC DIVISIONS Highlands - (Igneous and metamorphic shales and conglomerate tuffs) e.g. Lithosols and clays Upland plateau - Limestone - terra rosa and redzinas or black marl soil)cockpit Country) Alluvial plains and valleys

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9 STATUS OF SOIL RESOURCES Over 75 major soils (USDA, local classification) e.g. Highgate clay #43, Bonnygate stony loam #77 Geology Slope gradient Rainfall regime Average annual precipitation 1,980 mm 890-5,000 m (April/May and September/ November Organic content vegetation & decayed material

10 SOIL SERIES (CLASSIFICATION) The major soil series are grouped according to parent materials. Recent Alluvial soils Old Alluvial soils Soft White and Yellow Limestone Purple Conglomerate Soils, Shales, Conglomerates Tuffs and Sandstone Soil from Granite and Porphyry

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14 STATUS OF SOIL RESOURCES Soil erosion average soil loss 30 tons per ha, illegal removal of forest, squatting, Cultivation on steep slopes Poor agricultural practices slash & burn Heavy rainfall Over use of fertilizers Nutrient imbalances in the soil Competing uses for arable land (Class 1,2 & 3)- residential, industry & tourism

15 STATUS OF SOIL RESOURCES Urban encroachment onto agricultural land Bauxite mining Quarrying limestone, sand and tone Poor construction practices

16 Workers from RPPD collecting a SOIL MONOLITH for exhibition

17 Soil Monoliths shows the profile of the soil and the variations in soil, colour, texture. From left: Leith Hall Clay, Bundo Clay, Carron Hall Clay, Killancholly Clay, Union Hill Stony Clay

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20 PRIORITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE SOIL MANAGEMENT IN JAMAICA Continuous cropping Unregulated and or over se of fertilizers Illegal hillside settlement squatters Low compliance to established building codes Lack of enforcement of land use regulations and zoning guidelines Deforestation settlement, charcoal, lumber, yam sticks

21 Landslide along roadside in rural Jamaica

22 Landslide in Portland

23 Landslide in Portland

24 Landslide in Portland

25 Landslide in Hope Pastures, St. Andrew

26 Storm Surge, Hurricane Ivan 2004 Caribbean Terrace

27 PRIORITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF SOILS IN JAMAICA Management of soil resources not considered priority for national development Absence of legislative framework ; Soil Policy Land Policy (Agricultural land Use policy Improve guidelines/regulations quarrying and mining Poor agricultural practices on steep slopes Top down macro planning of major projects

28 PRIORITIES FOR SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF SOILS IN JAMAICA Need for protection of watersheds Economic and social problems e.g. unemployment and theft of agricultural produce Lack of coordination in spatial planning and management of natural resources Poor coordination in project planning and implementation Urban sprawl

29 Landslide on hillside

30 RECOMMENDATIONS Strengthen institutional capacity - land evaluation, soil survey, monitoring soil health Improved extension services to farmers - Soil conservation, cropping practices Training soil health, conservation, engineering, land suitability, spatial planning Watershed protection- hillside farming Land zoning based on land utilization criteria Updating national soil database Agroforestry