The impact of Climate Change on Coastal Areas in Jamaica:

The importance of Coastal Zone Management

Ms. Leiska Powell

The Impact of Climate Change The Impact of Climate Change on the Coastal Areas of Jamaica: on the Coastal Areas of Jamaica: The Importance of Coastal Zone The Importance of Coastal Zone

ManagementManagement

Presentation by Leiska PowellPresentation by Leiska Powell

The University of the West Indies and Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre Conference

Climate Change: Impacts on the Caribbean June 15-17

Outline of PresentationOutline of Presentation

What is causing climate and impactsWhat is causing climate and impacts What are coastal zones?What are coastal zones? Importance of Coastal Areas is JamaicaImportance of Coastal Areas is Jamaica Impact of Climate Change on Jamaica’s Impact of Climate Change on Jamaica’s

Coastal AreasCoastal Areas Integrated Coastal Planning and Integrated Coastal Planning and

ManagementManagement Case Study: BarbadosCase Study: Barbados ConclusionConclusion

What is causing What is causing ClimateClimate Change?Change?

GHGs such as Carbon Dioxide, GHGs such as Carbon Dioxide, Methane and CFCs trap heat Methane and CFCs trap heat radiating from the earth’s surface radiating from the earth’s surface

These GHGs prevent the heat from These GHGs prevent the heat from immediately escaping into space.immediately escaping into space.

The part of the atmosphere that is The part of the atmosphere that is closest to the earth’s surface closest to the earth’s surface warms, resulting in Global warms, resulting in Global Warming.Warming.

Impacts Impacts ResultingResulting from from Climate ChangeClimate Change

The impacts are expected to include the The impacts are expected to include the following:following:

Average temperature rise in the Average temperature rise in the region of approximately 3ºC by 2080region of approximately 3ºC by 2080

Average sea level rise of 5 mm/year Average sea level rise of 5 mm/year over the next centuryover the next century

Increased intensity and potentially Increased intensity and potentially increased frequency of extreme increased frequency of extreme weather events such as hurricanesweather events such as hurricanes

Changing patterns of rainfallChanging patterns of rainfall

CriticalCritical Facts Facts

SIDS SIDS account for less than 1% of GHG account for less than 1% of GHG emissions (IPCC, 2001emissions (IPCC, 2001).).

However, SIDS However, SIDS are among the most are among the most vulnerable to the potential adverse vulnerable to the potential adverse effects of climate change and sea level effects of climate change and sea level rise. rise.

This is because SIDS are :This is because SIDS are : 1. Ecological Fragile1. Ecological Fragile 2. Small in size 2. Small in size 3.Geographic dispersion3.Geographic dispersion

Critical Critical FactsFacts Cont’d Cont’d

4. Vulnerability to natural disasters 4. Vulnerability to natural disasters

5. Limited natural resources5. Limited natural resources

6. Isolation from markets 6. Isolation from markets

7. Limited commodities and 7. Limited commodities and dependence on importsdependence on imports

8. Vulnerability to external economic 8. Vulnerability to external economic and financial shocks.and financial shocks.

What are What are CoastalCoastal Zones? Zones? Define using two approaches:Define using two approaches: 1. Physical- It views the coast from a spatial 1. Physical- It views the coast from a spatial

perspective, incorporating all those areas that drain perspective, incorporating all those areas that drain out to the sea and , those that are periodically out to the sea and , those that are periodically inundated by tides …This definition embraces the inundated by tides …This definition embraces the coastal watersheds, plains and shoreline; the coastal watersheds, plains and shoreline; the rivers, and wetlands that drain them; and the rivers, and wetlands that drain them; and the beaches, seagrass beds, reefs and other marine beaches, seagrass beds, reefs and other marine formations.formations.

2. Stresses relationships and interaction that are 2. Stresses relationships and interaction that are linked by physical, biological or human interactions linked by physical, biological or human interactions as a result of tides, drainage, waste discharge, as a result of tides, drainage, waste discharge, storms, resource utilization etc.storms, resource utilization etc.

Benefits that Coastal Benefits that Coastal Ecosystems ProvideEcosystems Provide

Provide benefits under four categories:Provide benefits under four categories: 1. Regulating- protection of shores 1. Regulating- protection of shores

from storm surges and waves; from storm surges and waves; prevention of erosion and water quality prevention of erosion and water quality maintenance. maintenance.

2. Provisioning- fisheries, medicines and 2. Provisioning- fisheries, medicines and construction materials.construction materials.

3. Cultural- tourism and recreation, 3. Cultural- tourism and recreation, spiritual and aesthetic appreciation.spiritual and aesthetic appreciation.

4. Supporting- cycling of nutrients, fish 4. Supporting- cycling of nutrients, fish nursery habitat.nursery habitat.

Importance of Coastal Importance of Coastal Areas in JamaicaAreas in Jamaica

It is a source of livelihoodIt is a source of livelihood Generates millions of dollars- eg. Tourism Generates millions of dollars- eg. Tourism

[[foreign exchange earnings in 2000 estimated foreign exchange earnings in 2000 estimated at US$1332.6m and approx. 20% (directly at US$1332.6m and approx. 20% (directly and indirectly ) of employed labour force].and indirectly ) of employed labour force].

As a result, approx. 2/3 of the population live in As a result, approx. 2/3 of the population live in coastal towns and cities and most commercial coastal towns and cities and most commercial and industrial activities are concentrated and industrial activities are concentrated along the coast.along the coast.

Cont’dCont’d

However, However, coastal ecosystems undergo coastal ecosystems undergo stress from competing multi-usage stress from competing multi-usage demandsdemands often result in conflicts and often result in conflicts and the destruction of the functional the destruction of the functional integrity of the resource system.integrity of the resource system.

Degradation of coastal resources can Degradation of coastal resources can increase Jamaica’s vulnerability to the increase Jamaica’s vulnerability to the impacts of climate change.impacts of climate change.

Therefore, the marine environment Therefore, the marine environment should be incorporated into should be incorporated into development planning agendas.development planning agendas.

Impact of Climate Change on Impact of Climate Change on Jamaica’s Coastal AreasJamaica’s Coastal Areas

Change Factor Potential Impacts on the Coast

Sea Level Rise

1. Flooding and inundation of low lying areas and coastal communities

2. Dislocation of coastal communities

3. Land loss

4. Saltwater intrusion

Hurricanes/Storm Surge

1. Increased coastal erosion and damage to coastal infrastructure and buildings

2. Loss of Tourism Investments and subsequent negative impact on employment

3. Increased likelihood of flooding

4. Increased risk to human life and risk of infectious disease

5. Damage to coastal resources such as coral reefs, seagrasses and mangroves

Temperature

1. Coral bleaching from higher sea surface temperatures

Rainfall1. Increased rainfall duration/intensity may result in

higher incidence of flooding

Selected Hurricanes in the Selected Hurricanes in the Caribbean and their Impact- Caribbean and their Impact-

1988-20051988-2005 Hurricane Year Country Impact (GDP %)

Gilbert 1988 Jamaica 65

Hugo 1989 Monsterrat 200

Debbie 1994 St.Lucia 18

Luis and Marilyn 1995 Antigua 65

Luis and Marilyn 1995

St.Kitts and Nevis 85

George 1998St.Kitts and

Nevis50 (sugar

Harvest)

Lenny 1999 Barbuda 95

Michelle 2001 Jamaica 1

Ivan 2004 Grenada 200

Ivan 2004 Jamaica 8

Dennis and Emily 2005 Jamaica 1

Impacts of Hurricane IvanImpacts of Hurricane Ivan

Hurricane Ivan impacted on 8% of the Hurricane Ivan impacted on 8% of the country’s GDP.country’s GDP.

All productive sectors – agriculture and All productive sectors – agriculture and livestock, manufacturing, mining and livestock, manufacturing, mining and tourism etc were affected.tourism etc were affected.

Agricultural Sector- US$137.9 mi in Agricultural Sector- US$137.9 mi in damages. Approx. 8,000 farmers were out damages. Approx. 8,000 farmers were out of work during the recovery phase as their of work during the recovery phase as their farms were damaged.farms were damaged.

Tourism Sector- US$25.7 mi damage and Tourism Sector- US$25.7 mi damage and losses. losses.

Total damage and losses caused by Total damage and losses caused by Hurricane Ivan – US$595 miHurricane Ivan – US$595 mi

Integrated Coastal Integrated Coastal Planning and Management Planning and Management

(ICPM)(ICPM)ICPM is dynamic process in which a coordinated strategy is developed and implemented for the allocation of environmental, socio-cultural and institutional resources to achieve the conservation and sustainable use of the coastal zone (Sorensen, 1993).It is an evolutionary and iterative processResponds to changing conditions-effects of climate change

Goals of ICPMGoals of ICPM

The goals of ICPM are to :The goals of ICPM are to :

1. promote sustainable 1. promote sustainable development of coastal areasdevelopment of coastal areas

2. reduce the vulnerability of the 2. reduce the vulnerability of the coastal zone and their people to coastal zone and their people to hazards hazards

3. maintain essential ecological 3. maintain essential ecological processes, life support systems and processes, life support systems and biological diversity.biological diversity.

Functions of ICPM Functions of ICPM Unit/AgencyUnit/Agency

1.1. Area Planning- plan for present and Area Planning- plan for present and future uses of coastal and marine future uses of coastal and marine areas, that is, long-term vision.areas, that is, long-term vision.

2.2. Promotion of Economic Development-Promotion of Economic Development-promote appropriate uses of coastal promote appropriate uses of coastal and marine area eg. tourismand marine area eg. tourism

3.3. Stewardship of Resources-protect the Stewardship of Resources-protect the ecological base of coastal and marine ecological base of coastal and marine areas e.g. preserve biodiversity and areas e.g. preserve biodiversity and ensure sustainable useensure sustainable use

Functions of ICPM Unit Functions of ICPM Unit Cont’dCont’d

4. Conflict Resolution- harmonize and 4. Conflict Resolution- harmonize and balance existing and potential uses and balance existing and potential uses and address conflict among the various address conflict among the various uses.uses.

5. Protection of Public Safety- protect 5. Protection of Public Safety- protect public safety in coastal areas typically public safety in coastal areas typically prone to nat. as well as human made prone to nat. as well as human made hazards.hazards.

6. Proprietorship of Public Submerged 6. Proprietorship of Public Submerged Lands and Waters-manage govt. held Lands and Waters-manage govt. held areas and resources wisely.areas and resources wisely.

ICPM ICPM Unit-Unit- Barbados Barbados ICPM Unit was established in 1996, was seen ICPM Unit was established in 1996, was seen

as as 1. best way for maintaining effective 1. best way for maintaining effective

management of the coastline management of the coastline 2. crucial to Barbados surviving climate 2. crucial to Barbados surviving climate

change impacts.change impacts. Examples of the functions performed by the Examples of the functions performed by the

Unit – coral reef monitoring, Unit – coral reef monitoring, enforcement of building set-backs and zoning of ecologically sensitive areas, public education, beach erosion monitoring and control and review of coastal projects etc.

Results Results AchievedAchieved

Preparation of an Integrated Coastal Preparation of an Integrated Coastal Management Plan for the entire island.Management Plan for the entire island.

Training in key specialist areas- coastal Training in key specialist areas- coastal engineering, GIS, hydrographic engineering, GIS, hydrographic surveying.surveying.

A variety of oceanographic, coastal and A variety of oceanographic, coastal and ecological monitoring programmes ecological monitoring programmes established.established.

Design and implementation of Design and implementation of appropriate solutions to deal with beach appropriate solutions to deal with beach and coastal erosion problems etc.and coastal erosion problems etc.

ConclusionConclusion

There is a close relationship between the ecological, economic and social systems. Global climate change will impact on all these systemsAs such, to maximize flexibility and enhance resilience and adaptation, appropriate policies and national planning much integrate

all three (3) systems.

Relationship between Economy, Society and Environment

RecommendationsRecommendations

Need to establish an Integrated Need to establish an Integrated Coastal Planning and Management Coastal Planning and Management Unit.Unit.

Updating Development Orders for Updating Development Orders for the Coastal Zonethe Coastal Zone

Enforcement of Coastal Setback Enforcement of Coastal Setback DistancesDistances

Thank YouThank You