Fixing Jamaica's water problems
Published:Wednesday | January 5, 2011 | 12:00 AM
THE EDITOR, Sir:
The greatest challenge for the NWC in getting more water to the Corporate Area is centred around the massive deforestation that has taken place over the past 20-30 years in and around catchment areas that serve the surface storage facilities of the NWC.
In the 1970s, the NWC and the Forestry Department had nurseries that cultivated blue mahoe and other trees for planting in watershed areas.
The most debilitating factors, I think, are linked to the proliferation of squatting in rainforest areas and urban drift into the once rural mountains housing oak, cedar, blue mahoe and other trees between 30 and 40 years old. Where are those trees now?
I am suggesting that you do research on the NWC's and Forestry Department's forest development programmes that were in place 40 years ago.
I am, etc.,
ROYSTON FENDER