Jamaica bans mining in Cockpit Country forest

Jamaican President Andrew Holness announced a ban on mining in one of the country's largest forests.

The ban will cover 74,726ha of land declared a protected area in Cockpit Country, an inland forest in the west of the island, following a petition created by NGO Jamaica Environment Trust (JET).

The move will mean the country forgoes potential earnings of billions of dollars from the exploitation of millions of tonnes of high-grade bauxite and limestone within the boundaries of the Cockpit Country protected area, Holness, pictured, said in a statement to parliament.

"The government is of the view that this area is too valuable in terms of its ecological and hydrological importance and uniqueness to allow mining which may result in permanent and irreversible harm and deprive future generations of the benefit of this national asset," he added.

Existing licenses will be amended to close the area to mining.

In defining the boundary of the protected area, authorities took into account Cockpit Country's biodiversity, water resources and historical and cultural sites. The area contains 41% of Jamaica's primary forests, Holness said.

Substantial mineral deposits located outside the Cockpit Country boundary will also be subject to more rigorous scrutiny and will require cabinet approval for development, the statement said.

Jamaica was the world's sixth biggest bauxite producer in 2016 at 8.50Mt, according to the US Geological Survey.

Bauxite producers in the country include Alpart, where Chinese owner Jiuquan Iron and Steel Company is investing US$3bn in an expansion.

Other bauxite miners include Jamalco, a JV between Noble Group and Clarendon Alumina Production, and Noranda Bauxite, owned by US-based DADA Holdings.