assessment of the socio-economic and environmental impact

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The environmental impact of the hurricane was categorized broadly to included Direct Damage and Indirect Loss. The assessment was based on field visits undertaken by NEPA, PIOJ, and the Fisheries Division. Direct Damage a) Ecosystem and Habitat Damage Coastal and Marine Ecosystems. Seagrass beds and mangroves not only act as coastal buffers but they provide coastal stability and habitat and nursery for many fish species and other marine organisms. Hurricane Dean uprooted large mats of seagrass beds as seen in Figure 5.2. This is likely to lead to a reduction in fisheries catch in the ensuing months. It will also add to the clean up cost of beaches. Mangroves and seagrass act as sediment sinks and thus reduce turbidity in coastal waters. Figure 5.2: Large mats of seagrass uprooted in Rocky Point, Clarendon Several mangroves suffered crown damage by wind shear and storm surge especially in Clarendon, Manchester and St. Elizabeth (See Table 5.1). However, despite the eye of the hurricane passing closest to Clarendon, about 40% of the mangroves in the Portland Bight Area suffered very little or no damage. This is due mainly to the young state of these mangroves which are just recovering from Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Debris consisting of Gorgonia species 64
(e.g. Sea Fan) was washed ashore along sections of the Palisadoes strip. The impact on the coral reefs by the hurricane, although not yet assessed, is believed to be significant given the magnitude of the storm. High turbidity affects the productivity of coastal ecosystems by lowering the amount of sunlight entering the water thus disrupting photosynthesis and reducing the amount of food available for marine organisms. Loss of coastal ecosystems such as coral reefs has a negative impact on marine fish catch since these ecosystems provide food and habitat for fish and the Jamaican fishery is mainly coralline. Additionally nutrient pollution from land through increase runoff can affect coral reefs leading to excessive growth of algae which stifles reef growth. Table 5.1: Summary of Impacts on Ecosystems by Parish HABITAT Beaches Marshlands Mangroves Forests IMPACT Erosion Lateral Compression Crown Damage PARISH Level % Affected Level % Affected Level % Affected Level % Affected Clarendon High 100 Low 100 Low 40 Low 90 Moderate 30 High 10 High 30 Manchester Moderate 100 Moderate 100 Low 20 Low 95 Moderate 50 Moderate 5 High 30 St. Ann Low 100 St. Catherine Moderate 40 Low 95 High 60 Moderate 5 St. Elizabeth Moderate 100 Low 100 Low 50 Low 95 Moderate 30 Moderate 5 High 20 St. James Low 100 St. Thomas Moderate 20 Low 60 Low 95 High 80 Moderate 40 Moderate 5 Portland Moderate 40 Low 90 High 60 Moderate 10 Trelawny Low 100 Westmoreland Low 100 St. Mary Low 100 Source: National Environment and Planning Agency, 2007 Crown Damage: 0-25% - Low; 26-50% - Moderate; > than 50% - High 65
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ASSESSMENT OF THE SOCIO-ECONOMIC AN
Page 3 and 4:
Executive Summary As at October 26,
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Environmental impacts of Hurricane
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PREFACE This report is prepared to
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Hurricane Dean was upgraded to a ma
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down just after 1800 UTC (1300 loca
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expected for the month of August. O
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and elderly received a special paym
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Figure1.6: Hurricane Dean Affected
Page 19 and 20: In the fishing industry, approximat
Page 21: II. SOCIAL SECTORS 1. Education Dam
Page 24: The total damage to the housing sec
Page 27: ) Heritage Sites The National Herit
Page 30 and 31: Environmental Health In the area of
Page 32 and 33: Losses to the livestock sector amou
Page 34: Estimates reveal that approximately
Page 37 and 38: Table 3.4: Preliminary Estimates of
Page 39 and 40: In addition to crop loss, infrastru
Page 41 and 42: Table 3.8: Growers Summary of Damag
Page 43 and 44: Table 3.9 SCJ Damage to Physical St
Page 45 and 46: 9. The Fisheries Sector Damage with
Page 47 and 48: The preliminary estimate of the dam
Page 49 and 50: In the North Coast Resort Areas, a
Page 51 and 52: In St. Ann, some properties reporte
Page 53 and 54: The restoration of electricity was
Page 55 and 56: FIGURE 4.4: PERCENTAGE OF FEEDERS E
Page 57 and 58: Table 4.1: Allocation of estimated
Page 59 and 60: Figure 4.6: Progress of NWC Custome
Page 61 and 62: Table 4.2.: List of Facilities out
Page 63 and 64: flooded equipment left the area wit
Page 65 and 66: 3. Transport, Roads and Bridges Bot
Page 67 and 68: V. IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT 1. Gen
Page 69: - Traditional agricultural crops su
Page 73 and 74: Habitat Loss. Both terrestrial and
Page 75 and 76: sand on other beaches such as Rolli
Page 77 and 78: VI. SUMMARY OF DAMAGE AND LOSSES AN
Page 79 and 80: for FY 2006/07 budget. Central Gove
Page 81 and 82: The performance of the economy duri
Page 83 and 84: during the final half of the year w
Page 85 and 86: VII. GUIDELINES FOR A REHABILITAION
Page 87 and 88: Kingston, St. Thomas St. Elizabeth
Page 89 and 90: PROJECT TITLE: MAPPING OF COASTAL C
Page 91 and 92: PROJECT TITLE: COASTAL ECOSYSTEM ST
Page 93 and 94: PROJECT TITLE: TO REHABILITATE DRAI
Page 95 and 96: Major Components 1. Evaluation of h
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