At points I felt like laughing at the sheer lunacy of this, and other points I felt like crying as I searched for what a viable answer might be. Perhaps it all comes down to that side of human nature which appears dominant now. It may be that we won’t learn the lesson until “When the Last Tree Is Cut Down, the Last Fish Eaten, and the Last Stream Poisoned, You Will Realize That You Cannot Eat Money,” as the Native American proverb warns. Still we have to keep going. Thank you for your efforts
It was a crime against Jamaica that that parcel was ever offered to the Chinese. That said, the GoJ should offer a parcel that has already been razed in exchange for that forest tract, and preserve it in perpetuity (as should have been done in the 2000s). . . The Chinese engineers and the EIA people obviously have no idea how those waterways can rise 6-10 feet overnight and will take out everything in their path over time. Also, a pre-cleared more level tract (even with some elevation for views) would pose significantly less expense for the developers (Chinese) and in the long term be much less vulnerable to disaster. Diana, what do you think and can you posit this to the powers-that-be? The bottom line savings should make it an attractive proposition to the Chinese. There must be a parcel somewhere that would appeal to them.... Great piece- your writing echoes my sentiments to the T.
I am also really concerned re the endemics. Human disturbance will push them out and MOST will never return. Secondary forest in good condition should be left alone. It is so value for ecosystem services, and carbon sequestration.
What happened to Jamaica's commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). I thought we were a signatory? Ironically, China is currently one of the featured articles that flash on their homepage (regarding their own national plan), here: https://www.cbd.int/
Words fail me Diana. Thank you for caring. I am beyond sad.
It certainly is very sad...
At points I felt like laughing at the sheer lunacy of this, and other points I felt like crying as I searched for what a viable answer might be. Perhaps it all comes down to that side of human nature which appears dominant now. It may be that we won’t learn the lesson until “When the Last Tree Is Cut Down, the Last Fish Eaten, and the Last Stream Poisoned, You Will Realize That You Cannot Eat Money,” as the Native American proverb warns. Still we have to keep going. Thank you for your efforts
Thanks for writing. I think there are many people who are upset at our current approaches to development, but it's hard to know what to do about.
It was a crime against Jamaica that that parcel was ever offered to the Chinese. That said, the GoJ should offer a parcel that has already been razed in exchange for that forest tract, and preserve it in perpetuity (as should have been done in the 2000s). . . The Chinese engineers and the EIA people obviously have no idea how those waterways can rise 6-10 feet overnight and will take out everything in their path over time. Also, a pre-cleared more level tract (even with some elevation for views) would pose significantly less expense for the developers (Chinese) and in the long term be much less vulnerable to disaster. Diana, what do you think and can you posit this to the powers-that-be? The bottom line savings should make it an attractive proposition to the Chinese. There must be a parcel somewhere that would appeal to them.... Great piece- your writing echoes my sentiments to the T.
I am also really concerned re the endemics. Human disturbance will push them out and MOST will never return. Secondary forest in good condition should be left alone. It is so value for ecosystem services, and carbon sequestration.
What happened to Jamaica's commitment to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). I thought we were a signatory? Ironically, China is currently one of the featured articles that flash on their homepage (regarding their own national plan), here: https://www.cbd.int/
I've never found that the treaties Jamaica signs mean anything... :-(