Prepared by I.

Wilson, The Queen’s School

Fifth Form –

Environmental Degradation - explain the ways in which economic activities can contribute to
environmental degradation in the Caribbean

Agriculture – deforestation, soil erosion and soil exhaustion, flooding, pollution

Quarrying, mining and secondary industries – deforestation, pollution, land degradation

Tourism – coral reef destruction, pollution, destruction of mangroves

What is environmental degradation?

 This is the deterioration of the environment through depletion of resources such as air,
water and soil.
 When natural habitats are destroyed or natural resources are depleted.

A. Agriculture
i. Deforestation – the excessive cutting down of trees and clearing of forests for
planting of crops. It is also the total removal of trees and low growing forest plants.
This is practised all over the Caribbean, especially for large-scale commercial and
subsistence farming.
ii. The loss of trees and other vegetation can cause soil erosion, soil exhaustion and
flooding

Soil erosion is the destruction of the soil as a result of natural or human activities; in
this case deforestation. When vegetation is removed especially from hillsides there
are no tree roots to bind the soil together. The canopy of the forest also limits the
impact of heavy rain on the soil. Therefore when it rains the soil is quickly removed
or eroded. Landslides can also occur especially during natural disasters like hurricane.
This can lead to soil exhaustion. Soil exhaustion also occurs when crops are planted
on the land for many years (over cropping). After this long period the soil losses its
fertility and does not give much crop yields.

Agriculture can lead to flooding as a result of deforestation. Flooding is the overflow

of water from rivers and streams into nearby lands. The soil is removed to plant crops
and when it rains the soil can be washed into rivers and even the sea which will cause
the rivers to overflow their banks. The excess amount of water overflows into nearby
lands. Settlements can be covered under water for days and may damage property.
Agricultural produce may be damaged or destroyed and sometimes the soil may be
saturated which causes leaching. That is where the nutrients in the soil are depleted.

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Deforestation causes a change in the carbon/oxygen balance in the global atmosphere.

Trees are carbon sinks and when they are removed the amount of carbon dioxide in
the atmosphere increases which results in global warming.

Agriculture also causes pollution of the water sources. Pollution is the

contamination of the environment with harmful substances. Pollution occurs because
chemical fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides can be washed into water sources and
poison them. Therefore groundwater sources become contaminated and humans and
animals cannot drink from these sources.

B. Quarrying, mining and secondary industries

i. Deforestation occurs as a result of the removal of the trees as precious metal such as
gold can be found in rainforests, e.g. in Guyana. Forests are also cleared to build
settlements for mine workers and infrastructure such as railways and roads.
Bauxite is mined in Jamaica and other Caribbean territories and vegetation is
removed to get the product
ii. Quarrying also requires the removal of vegetation. In many areas in Caribbean
islands rocks are quarried from hillsides. In Jamaica limestone and shale are
mined from hillsides.
iii. These activities cause pollution and land degradation. Pollution occurs because
quarrying and mining cause dust particles to get into the air and results in air
pollution. Mining waste can be improperly disposed of. For example bauxite
mining results in what is called a red mud lake where the remains of caustic soda
and other chemicals are dumped. The remains seep into groundwater sources
and contaminate them. The lake can become too dry and cause a dust nuisance.
Sometimes chemical waste from the factories gets into rivers and cause fishes to
die. It also causes eutrophication.

iv. Land degradation occurs as scars are left in the landscape and can look unsightly.
Erosion may also result.

v. Secondary industries cause air pollution as harmful gases from factories are let into
the air. The main pollutants are carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen
oxides, sulphur compounds and solid particulates such as soot. Power plants also
add to the air pollution as they burn fossil fuels which also give off some harmful
gases. Construction sites also cause pollution as dust is given off into the air.
Waste can also be dumped in water sources.

vi. Oil refineries also dump waste into the sea and there can be pipeline damage. There
are also oil spills at sea from accidents ships may have.

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C. Tourism – coral reef destruction, pollution, destruction of mangroves

Coral reef destruction

Construction of hotels and tourist attractions along the coast causes sedimentation. This is where
a large amount of sediments from the land gets into the water and smother coral reefs. The
sediments block out the sunlight from the sea water which reduces the amount of oxygen the
corals get and can eventually die.

Divers pick at corals or disturb reef life which can damage them. The cruise ships are said to
throw their anchor on coral reefs when they come onshore. This practise also causes damage to
the reefs.

Pollution
Sewage from hotels and other attractions sometimes discharge untreated sewage into the sea.
This causes the growth of algae (eutrophication) which also reduces the oxygen level in the
water which affects coral growth.

Destruction of mangrove
Construction of marinas, hotels and other buildings related to tourism along coastal areas has
caused a high rate of destruction of mangroves. They are said to be disappearing faster than
forests. Tourist boats also cause the damage to mangrove roots with anchors and propellers.
Mangroves are breeding grounds for fish. If they are destroyed then the fish stock will decrease.

Measures to ensure sustainable management of resources – Individual, National and

Regional Responses

Pollution
Level Measures to reduce air pollution
Individual Use products that do not cause much pollution

National level Pass laws to reduce poisonous gas emissions

Have government agencies monitor and check
on the industries that are polluting e.g. NEPA
in Jamaica. Impose fines for noncompliance

Regional Participate in cooperation seminars

Sign agreements to reduce air pollution

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Level Measures to reduce water pollution

Individual Dispose of waste in designated areas

National Pass laws to prevent disposal of waste in

rivers and seas
Have government agencies monitor and check
on the industries that are polluting e.g. NEPA
in Jamaica. Impose fines for noncompliance

Regional Participate in cooperation seminars

Sign agreements to reduce water pollution

Level Measures to reduce land pollution

Individual Do not litter
Dispose of waste in proper disposal bins
Practise “reduce, reuse and recycle”

National Pass laws to make open dumping of garbage

illegal
Make citizens pay a fine for improper
disposal of garbage
Regional Participate in cooperation seminars
Sign agreements to reduce land pollution

Other mitigation strategies that can be used to ensure sustainable management of resources

 Education – education programmes can be launched to make citizens aware of the

benefits of resources they use and how their misuse of them can cause destruction of the
resources. For example, how improper farming practices can cause soil erosion which
will affect the amount of crops can be grown. Their actions can be direct and indirect.
Individuals can also be educated about the importance of forests and mangroves by
visiting reserve areas. These educational programmes can be done for schools and
colleges, as done for example in Jamaica and Guyana

 Organic farming – this is a method that does not involve the use of fertilizers, pesticides,
genetically modified organisms, antibiotics and growth hormones in growing crops and
rearing animals. It decreases pollution, reduces soil erosion and maintains soil fertility.

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 Fisheries management – this draws on fisheries science in order to find ways to protect
fishery resources so sustainable exploitation is possible.
Governments can formulate rules and regulations that define where, how and how many
fish can be caught each year. The aim is to harvest as much as possible without damaging
the delicate ecosystem which should ensure the availability of fresh-caught fish to future
generations. An example of this is the creation of fish sanctuaries such as Pedro Cays in
Jamaica.

 Ecotourism – this can assist in sustainable tourism. It focuses on local cultures,

wilderness adventures, volunteering, and learning new ways to live in order to protect our
vulnerable environment. Persons travel to destinations to view flora, fauna and cultural
heritage.

 Forest and soil conservation measures

i. Establish forest and mangrove reserves
ii. Enacting laws to prevent illegal clearing of forests
iii. Practicing sustainable forestry
iv. Replanting trees in deforested areas.
v. Practise soil conservation methods – crop rotation, terracing, contouring
ploughing, mulching

 Improved mining and manufacturing methods

Mining and manufacturing companies are asked to practise proper disposal methods to
prevent the dumping of the waste in water bodies and on land where it can be dangerous.

(See section on pollution)