Give river room

THE EDITOR, Madam:

The recent period of heavy rains has once again demonstrated our careless planning and development practices, with tragic consequences for many. Jamaica is fortunate to have abundant freshwater resources held in rivers and aquifers, but we have allowed and tolerated formal and informal development in floodplains and along riverbanks.

Rivers have considerable absorptive capacity if their natural systems, including their watersheds, are allowed to regenerate. If we continue to respond with ‘river training’, we will forever face significant clean-up costs, not to mention risking lives and property. Given climate crisis realities of more frequent, more intense rain events, we must urgently remove settlements and infrastructure from the banks of rivers and floodplains, starting with areas that present the most extreme threat.

Of course, this is an easy thing to say and a very difficult thing to do, but we must make a start and stop allowing new developments in these places. The Dutch government, experts in water management for centuries, has pioneered a ‘room for the river’ programme and the Jamaican Government should investigate this innovative and sustainable approach.

DIANA MCCAULAY

JAMAICA ENVIRONMENT

TRUST