Jamaica's Environmental Issues

by Harry
(United States)

Question:
Does Jamaica have any issues with its environment? If so, what are they?


AnswerOct-24-2008 by W.Gayle
Hi Harry,
Yes we do, just like every other nook and cranny in the world.

In the name of growth, industrialization and globalization, our environment has been damaged greatly.

This excerpt was pulled from NationsEncylopedia and proved very helpful.

'The major environmental problems facing Jamaica involve water quality and waste disposal.

Jamaica has 9.4 cu km of renewable water resources with 77% used for agriculture and 7% used for industrial purposes.

About 85% of the people living in rural areas and 98% of the city dwellers have access to pure drinking water. Coastal waters have been polluted by sewage, oil spills, and industrial wastes.

Another major source of water pollution has been the mining of bauxite, which has contaminated the ground water with red-mud waste.

Another environmental problem for Jamaica is land erosion and deforestation. Forest and woodland decreased 7% annually between 1990 and 1995.

Jamaica's coral reefs have also been damaged. The nation's cities produce over 0.3 million tons of solid waste per year.

Kingston has the waste disposal and vehicular pollution problems typical of a densely populated urban area.' (NationsEncylopedia, retrieved Oct 24 2008)





I hope this was helpful. For more background facts on Jamaica, please visit this page:
http://www.my-island-jamaica.com/facts_about_jamaica.html

Please keep in touch Harry.