Jamaica bans mining in Cockpit Country forest
Jamaica’s government has banned mining in the Cockpit Country forest following concerns over potential environmental damage.
Prime Minister Andrew Holness confirmed mining and related activities will not be allowed in the 78,000ha of Cockpit Country which has been declared a protected natural area, state press agency Jamaica Information Service reported.
The size of the protected area has increased from around 74,700ha included in 2017, Holness said.
Local residents and NGOs warned previously that open pit bauxite mining could have negative impacts on communities in Cockpit Country and hamper attempts to have the forest placed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Campaign group Save Cockpit Country says bauxite mining would remove forest cover, block and pollute waterways and displace residents in Jamaica’s largest remaining natural forest.
Mark Hansen, CEO of Concord Resources which acquired a 49% stake in bauxite miner Noranda Jamaica Bauxite Partners, told the Jamaica Observer last year that the company has no plans to mine in Cockpit Country.
Jamaica was the world’s seventh biggest bauxite producer in 2021, with estimated output of 5.8Mt, down from 7.5Mt the previous year, according to the US Geological Survey.
Its bauxite reserves of 2Bt are the fifth biggest globally, and second in Latin America and the Caribbean after Brazil.
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