CBA Jamaica: Reducing Climate Change-Driven Erosion and Landslide Risk through Sustainable Agriculture (JCDT)
The community based adaptation objective is to integrate climate change risks into sustainable community management of natural resources by strengthening the resilience of communities addressing climate change impacts and to generate knowledge and lessons for replication and up scaling. Three impact indicators measure attainment of this objective. First, the number of measures that address the additional risks posed by climate change deployed as a part of sustainable resource management activities. Second, the percentage of area concern in which climate risk management activities, in the context of sustainable resource management is implemented. Lastly, the numbers of local and national level policies are adjusted because of lessons from CBA projects .
CBA projects are centered on the priorities and processes chosen by the community, and does not prioritize the interests of external parties over those communities . The UNDP-GEF for CBA project recognizes that small communities are often those most affected by, yet least equipped to cope with, the impacts of climate change. As a result, the CBA supports pilot projects to build the resilience of communities, their livelihoods, and the ecosystems upon which they rely in the face of climate change impacts .
The upper slopes of Jamaica’s Blue Mountains are an important protected area, while the lower slopes are a key coffee-growing area. Climate change impacts, including stronger hurricanes and more intense drought, threaten to increase erosion and landslide risks. This project sought to reduce climate-driven erosion and landslide risks through reforestation and agro-forestry, while building the capacity of local farmers to manage ongoing climate change pressures .
The objective of this particular project to reduce climate change-driven erosion and landslide risks through sustainable agriculture for safer slopes is to increase the capacity of the targeted farming communities on the slopes of the Blue Mountains to adapt to climate change . The activities include the implementation of sustainable agriculture practices to reduce the vulnerability of the community to climate change-driven increases in soil erosion. This included 40 farmers who were involved in the use of vegetative barriers on farms. Pineapples were used to reduce soil erosion as well as green houses were constructed with community members trained in cost effective soil conservation techniques, organic farming, green house technology, conflict management, and leadership of 100 acres of land sustainably managed .
Jamaica is one of the 10 countries that were globally selected for the GEF CBA initiative and several projects are being implemented. The Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust on “Reducing Climate Change Driven Erosion and Landslides Risks through Sustainable Agriculture for Safer Slopes” are implementing the project particularly relevant to the mandate of CSDI. This project aims to work with two communities of farmers in Jamaica’s Blue Mountains, a highland area where high-value cool-climate crops are grown such as coffee.
The main objective of the project was to increase the community-level capacity to manage climate change induced erosion and landslide risks on the slopes of the Blue Mountains . By promoting more forest cover, the project also contributed to maintaining the misty and cool microclimate required for Jamaica’s signature Blue Mountain Coffee, while reducing pressures that might lead farmers to migrate upslope in search of better land or more suitable microclimates for their crops.
Effective management of protective areas is to assist Jamaica to adapt to climate change by use of mitigation through carbon storage. The protection of natural ecosystems prevents the loss of carbon that is already in the vegetation and soils. This will help reduce carbon emissions as such no further removal of mangroves or
wetlands or old growth forests .
Mangroves provide many ecosystem services, they provide good that contribute to livelihoods and habitat. They also maintain water quality and protect storm surges by reducing the flow of water and absorbing wave energy. Coastal areas with good mangrove forests suffered far less damage and loss of life than adjacent areas without mangroves. A meta-analysis estimated the mean annual value of services provided by mangrove forests around $400/hectare . However, high population pressure and economic development have resulted in significant loss of mangroves over recent decades in many regions.
The specific CBA activities that have been promoted were training in cost-effective soil conservation methods, demonstration of soil conservation practices on farms, which include intensive green house farming and organic farming, and agro-forestry. This project builds on existing JCDT sustainable agriculture activities and addresses additional climate change pressures by reforesting mountain slopes and working with communities to raise awareness and build capacity around climate-resilient natural resource management practices.
The Reducing Climate Change Driven Erosion and Landslides Risks through Sustainable Agriculture for Safer Slopes project is a CBA project aimed to increase communities’ capacity to adapt their agricultural systems to climate change. Communities benefited from more sustainable agricultural practices through improved productivity as well as reduced vulnerability to climate change impacts, particularly increased soil erosion. Best practices were highlighted for replication in surrounding communities, nationally and through global adaptation knowledge platforms. Project activities included training, technical assistance on farms, implementation of pilot projects, reforestation, and planting of trees on farms .
Using sustainable agricultural techniques such as soil conservation, organic farming, and greenhouse farming, farmers are successfully increasing the quality and quantity of their crops. The project has increased economic opportunities for local farmers and has reduced their susceptibility to climate change impacts . Increasing the level of protection for carbon stores within protected area by restoring mangroves and selected forests have been an ultimate success by this project. .
In comparison to the “Impact of Climate Change on Agricultural Production Systems in Turkey”, an extensive assessment and examination on the approach of the agricultural production system on land and water management was done and relations
between the regional climate . In addition, a comprehensive assessment was done on the sensitivity of the system to climate change to identify the motives behind agricultural productivity.
The outcomes of their project have been used as a scientific basis during the climate change adaptation strategy preparation and for the activities done in the context of the “Community-Based Adaptation to Climate Change in Turkey” and also make clear the complex interrelated issues in climate change by identifying region specific adaption opportunities.
The CBA assessment in Jamaica did identify root-causes to solve unavoidable issues by analyzing the local dynamics and conditions systematically and holistically for clarifying the interrelated and complex issues like climate, soil,, water, agriculture, livelihood, health and also provided root-causes of barriers to adaptation and possible site specific adaptation opportunities.
References
Douglas, Hyacinth. “Community-Based Adaptation Project.” The Science of Climate Change and Climate Change Vulnerability and Adaptation. GEF SGP Jamaica: The GEF Small Grants Programme, 28 August 2012.
FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS. Communication Assessment and Action Plan for the Caribbean Region. Communication for Sustainable Development Initiative. Rome: FOA, 2012.
Jose, Anna Lisa and Leanne Harrison. How to Plan and Mainstream Community-Based Adaptation at the Local, Sub-National and National Levels. New York, NY: The GEF Small Grants Programme, March 2014.
Lange, Glenn-Marie, et al. Economics of Adaptation to Climate Change – Ecosystem Services. Washington, DC: THE WORLD BANK, 2010.
T.R. Ministry of Environment and Urbanization. Turkey’s National Climate Change Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan. Enhancing the Capacity of Turkey to Adapt to Climate Change. Balgat, Ankara: General Directorate of Environmental Management Department of Climate Change, 2012.
United Nations Development Program. CBA Jamaica: Reducing Climate Change-Driven Erosion and Landslide Risk through Sustainable Agriculture (JCDT). 2015. 21 August 2016 <http://adaptation-undp.org/projects/spa-cba-jamaica-reducing-climate-change-driven-erosion-and-landslide-risk-through>.