Questions from 2009 (2)
Marjorie Henry, Contributor

Question 10 is the third question given in section D (Human-environment Systems) of the 2009 paper and it is also the last question for the paper 02 geography examination. In part (a) of this question, a map of the world time zones was provided. This is not included in today's lesson, however, you can view it in the text from which it was taken - General Geography in Diagrams by R.B. Bunnett. You were asked to state the difference in hours between Jamaica and four named cities, simply by stating if the time is ahead or behind. No actual calculation is required. To guide you in answering this part of the question, let me remind you that the cities found to the east of Jamaica would be ahead in time while those to the west would be behind.

Here is part (b) of the question:-

Describe TWO sources of marine pollution in the Caribbean. (4 marks)

• Chemical pollution from industries usually ends up in waterways and along the coast. Many industries in the Caribbean are at or near seaports. Inadequate facilities for disposal means that waste materials end up in the sea.
• Solid waste and other bulky materials from industries such as scrap metal processing are difficult to dispose of. Sewage and raw effluent from factories sometimes end up in waterways, eventually reaching the sea.
• Urban populations are the source of most domestic solid waste in the Caribbean. Large populations and increased consumer demand are producing huge quantities of garbage. Much of this is being dumped in gullies and rivers and eventually along the coast because official landfill sites are ineffective in handling these huge quantities of waste.
• Chemicals from fertilizers, herbicides and pesticides from agricultural areas are washed to the sea by rainwater.
• There may be accidental oil spills from ships.

In part (c) of the question, you are asked to:

Describe TWO measures that have been introduced to reduce the effects of marine pollution in the Caribbean. (4 marks)

• With specific reference to the Kingston Harbour where pollution is a problem, the textbooks inform us of the following measures:
• The setting up of a large sewage treatment plant at Soapberry, close to Hunt's Bay, which would treat effluent from most of Kingston and St Andrew and reduce its organic content.
• Sewage from the housing developments at Portmore to the west of Kingston is properly treated. After initial treatment, effluent flows into reed beds, mangroves and the Great Salt Pond to the south.
• Cracking down on industries polluting the harbour.
• Building a separate facility for ships to get rid of their waste and empty their tanks without polluting.
• Educating the public to encourage them to pollute less.

Part (d) of the question requires that you:

Explain how any TWO measures can help to reduce deforestation in a named Caribbean territory. (6 marks)

Please note that the measure you choose to discuss MUST be linked with a particular territory in the Caribbean. Whenever a question has 'in a named Caribbean territory', you MUST give the name of a territory. If not, you will lose marks. Here is information on how Guyana is tackling deforestation from the text Geography for CSEC by Nelson Thornes.

• Iwokrama project has been set up to promote the conservation and sustainable use of a tropical forest 'in a manner that leads to lasting ecological, economic and social benefits to the people of Guyana and to the world in general'.
• The Barama Company's forests in the west of Guyana uses low-impact logging measures to make sure damage to the forest is kept very small.
• The Guyana government has set up a number of reafforestation (replanting) projects engaged in replanting local species of trees that have been lost because of deforestation.

Here is the last section of the question:

(e) Explain how any TWO measures can help to reduce coral reef destruction in a named Caribbean territory. (6 marks)

The text, Geography for CSEC by Jeanette Ottley et al, gives us some measures that are being used to reduce coral reef degradation in Jamaica. Here are some of those measures:

• Signature to international protocol: In 1994 a number of nations came together to launch the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) to protect coral reefs in partnership with coral reef nations. Jamaica is a signatory to the ICRI. The University of the West Indies supervises Jamaica's monitoring programme.
• Marine parks or marine-protected areas: Jamaica has established marine park areas to help with the management of coastal zones. Theses are Montego Bay Marine Park; Negril Marine Park; Ocho Rios Marine Park and Palisadoes/Port Royal Marine Park. Under the Policy for Jamaica's System of Protected Areas, there is restriction on development in the above-mentioned areas. Where development is necessary, a licence must be sought.
• Awareness and education campaigns: In Jamaica, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) such as Negril Area Environmental Protection Trust (NEPT) and Friends of the Sea (FOTS) have embarked on area-specific environmental education programmes for schools and the general public aimed at specifically protecting reefs along the Negril and Ocho Rios coastlines.
• Environmentally safe practices: Some hotels have now been certified by global environmental organisations for the conservation methods they employ in the running of the resort.
• Alternative tourism: Heritage and ecotourism are being encouraged as a sustainable tourism plan.

References

• CSEC New Integrated Geography by Sheldon G. Bleasdell et al
• Geography for CSEC by Jeanette Ottley et al
• Geography for CSEC by Nelson Thornes
• The Caribbean Environment by Mark Wilson

Marjorie Henry is an independent contributor. Send questions and comments to kerry-ann.hepburn@gleanerjm.com