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Best Management Practices for Agricultural Non-Point Sources of Pollution | |
| Caribbean Environment Programme Technical Report #41 1998 | All CEP Technical Reports |
SECTION 6. MEETING SUMMARY
This section provides a summary of the discussions at the Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution Experts Meeting held on January 22 and 23, 1998, in Castries, St. Lucia, to discuss best management practices (BMPs) for controlling agricultural nonpoint source (NPS) pollution in the Wider Caribbean (as defined by UNEP). The purpose of the meeting was to gather expert input from professionals in the WCR who are involved with agricultural nonpoint source pollution control and have an understanding of the technical, economic, and social issues in the region. Their input is necessary to assist UNEP-CAR/RCU, as Secretariat to the Cartagena Convention and its protocols, in developing a draft Annex on appropriate controls for agricultural nonpoint source pollution under the protocol on marine pollution from land-based sources and activities. The experts discussed a draft report on agricultural BMPs prepared prior to the meeting and provided input and comments on the draft report. Changes have been made to the report based on appropriate comments. The experts identified issues that need to be addressed by negotiators of the land-based sources protocol under the Cartagena Convention. Issues identified included environmental impacts of agricultural nonpoint source pollution; pollutants of concern, causes, sources, and control practices; and obstacles for controlling agricultural nonpoint source pollution in the region and potential solutions. This summary is not the minutes of the meeting but rather a compilation of comments and discussions. A list of the invitees and participants is provided in Section 6.8.
Report Comments
The following general comments on the draft report were offered. Specific report comments are as follows:
The report should be organized according to pollutants, sources, and measures for controlling them, not by crop because most of the pollutants and control measures are not crop-specific.
More case studies are needed. (Experts were asked to provide these.)
A better matrix for BMP selection needs to be developed.
Most "problems" come from small farms; therefore, the report should distinguish between small, medium, and large farms.
Livestock should be added.
Grey literature should also be used, including recommendations from the experts.
The fact that monitoring BMP implementation and effectiveness should be part of a nonpoint source pollution control and monitoring plan needs to be included in the report.
The link between the "greening" of consumers and controlling nonpoint source pollution should be discussed, as well as how farmers/countries can capitalize on this for economic and environmental purposes.
Additional Issues
The following issues should be conveyed to the annex negotiators as concerns/issues raised by the group:
Nonagricultural pesticides can be a source of nonpoint pollution and need to be addressed (e.g., mosquito control measures).
Agriculture-related point sources (e.g., sugar refining, coffee processing) need to be addressed.
National land planning activities are needed.
There is a lack of an "inventory" of environmental impairments due to agricultural nonpoint source pollution.
Funding for pollution control programs continues to be a problem.
There is a need for more consistent pesticide regulations among the countries.
Trade standards impact prices and therefore impact growing conditions.
Regional monitoring programs are needed, including development of monitoring procedures and protocols specific to tropical environments.
Problems Related to Agricultural Nonpoint Source Pollution
Several environmental problems related to agricultural nonpoint source pollution were identified:
Decreased biodiversity
Loss of coral reefs, fisheries, and seagrass beds
Bacterial contamination
Increased turbidity
Algal blooms
Siltation
Increased cost of remediation
Soil depletion*
Loss of mangroves*
Reduction in river base flow*
Flash floods*
(* Caused by physical alteration of the environment, not pollutant loading.)
Contaminants/Pollutants, Sources, Causes, and Practices for Control
The experts spent a considerable amount of time determining the main environmental contaminants related to agricultural nonpoint source pollution, their sources, their causes, and practices for controlling them. The practices identified were focused on low-cost, low-tech options and were categorized as source reduction practices or pollutant transport reduction practices. The experts agreed that the primary contaminants/pollutants related to agriculture are sediment, nutrients, pesticides, pathogens, and solid waste. The information in Table 6-1 will provide the basis for the guidance provided in the final report.
Obstacles and Potential Solutions
The experts identified four main obstacles for implementing controls to agricultural nonpoint source pollution. These obstacles were considered to be related to education/public awareness, economics, natural resource assets, and legislation and national/international policy. The experts also recommended possible ways to overcome these obstacles. This discussion became the basis for developing the Annex for agricultural nonpoint source control. Table 6-2 provides a summary of the discussion.
Recommendations from the Meeting
The following is a summary of the recommendations made by the experts that they felt should be incorporated into the draft Annex addressing agricultural nonpoint source pollution in the WCR.
Each country should develop a National Action Programme for the control of agricultural nonpoint source pollution. Such a plan should contain, at a minimum, the following components:
– Assessment of water quality impairments due to agricultural nonpoint source pollution.
– Inventory of land resources and land use for identification of areas most suitable for agriculture.
– Development of an education, awareness, and outreach program explaining the importance of natural resources, problems related to agricultural nonpoint source pollution, and structural and nonstructural BMPs for control of agricultural nonpoint source pollution.
– Requirements for implementation of appropriate BMPs on small, medium, and large farm operations.
– Development of economic incentives for implementation of agricultural BMPs.
– Survey of existing legislation and policies related to controlling agricultural nonpoint source pollution and those responsible for implementation, including land use policies and legislation.
Table 6-1. Contaminants/pollutants of concern, sources, causes, and
practices for control
(Practices were classified as source reduction (sr), transport control (t),
or both and are indicated as such on the table.)
Contaminant |
Source(s) |
Cause(s) |
Practices for Control |
| · Fertilizers (organic and inorganic | · Artificial drainage · Placement of fertilizer (in soil vs. on soil) · Overfertilization · Poor crop siting (land use) · Lack of buffers · Timing of fertilization · Erosion (adsorbed nutrients) · Leakage from containers |
· Soil and plant analysis (sr) · Nutrient management (sr) - timing, application, type, placement, handling, and container disposal · Ground covers (including drainageways) (sr/t) · Buffer zones and reforestation of riverbanks (t) · Leguminous plants (sr) · Proper water management (t) · Proper use of organic fertilizers (sr) · Erosion control measures (sr/t) · Good housekeeping practices (including record keeping) (sr) |
|
| · Soil mineralization (natural N) | · Irrigation techniques | · Proper water management (t) | |
| · Manure | · Animals in drainage ways · Confined animal facilities · Volatilization of animal waste |
· Exclusion of animals from drainageways (sr/t) · Waste management (sr/t) · Proper grazing management (sr) |
|
| Sediment | · Eroded stream banks and land (including wind and raindrop erosion) | · Planting on steep slopes · Deforestation · Clear-cutting · Improper tillage methods · Improper timing of site preparation · Animal trampling · Improper irrigation methods and water management practices · Channelization and artificial drainage |
· Ground covers (including drainageways) (sr/t) · Buffer zones and reforestation of riverbanks (t) · Proper water management (sr/t) · Erosion control measures (sr) · Proper grazing practices (sr) · Conservation tillage (sr) · Terracing in proper areas (t) · Wind erosion controls (t) · Sediment basins (t) · Use of organic "trash" (e.g., palm and banana fronds) as sediment fences (t) · Diversions (t) · Grassed waterways (t) · Contour farming (t) · Contour drains (t) |
Table 6-1. (continued)
Contaminant |
Source(s) |
Cause(s) |
Practices for Control |
| Pesticides | Pesticides | · Improper application (timing,
method, amount, etc.) · Sedimentation · Cropping systems (e.g., monocultures) · Improper equipment washdown · Spilling · Inappropriate selection · Inappropriate handling, storage, and disposal · Leaching · Improper water management · Artificial drainage · Volatilization |
· Education of workers and farm management (sr/t) · IPM (sr)
|
| · Animal Waste (manure and manure used as fertilizer) | · Animal use of water sources · Improper location of animals · Improper application of manure |
· Proper grazing management (sr/t) · Exclusion of livestock from drainage ways (sr/t) · Manure management (sr) · Provision of alternative shade and water for livestock (sr) |
|
| · Dead animals | · Improper handling and disposal | Composting and proper disposal of dead animals (sr) | |
| · Plastics (bags, twine, mulch, containers, etc.) | · Improper handling and disposal
of plastics · Lack of disposal alternatives |
· Integrated waste management (reduce, reuse, recycle, remediate) (sr) · Catchment basins (t) · River traps (on small-flow rivers) (t) |
|
| · Organics | · Improper disposal of waste ag products (e.g., waste bananas) |
· Composting facilities (t) · Catchment basins (t) |
Table 6-2. Obstacles to implementation and suggested solutions
Obstacles |
Solutions |
| Education/Awareness | |
| · Lack of technical expertise
and good extension services (technology transfer) · Lack of understanding by decision makers, farmers, and the general public on the importance of natural resources and the impact of nonpoint source pollution on these resources · Overcoming cultural barriers as they relate to inappropriate agricultural practices · Inadequate user knowledge on environmentally sound farming practices · Lack of understanding of the link between tourism and agricultural pollution control · Lack of research and available data |
· Development of national plans
and program strategies for education. Plans may include (but need not be limited to): - community education programs - field demonstrations and follow-up site visits - school and community workshops - more aggressive outreach and extension programs, including courses for workers - use of media (TV, radio, videos, etc.) - required school environmental education curriculum · Education of political and policy leaders in the WCR · Development of a commission or similar mechanism for coordinating educational policy for the region · Appointment of one responsible coordinating agency (e.g., Ministry of Agriculture) · Use of nongovernment organizations (NGOs) · Economic incentives for implementing education programs · Assessment of environmental impairments due to agricultural nonpoint source pollution |
| Economics | |
| · World commodity prices · Poor resource allocation · Small scale of some farms · Foreign debt · Inequity of benefit allocation (poverty) · Land tenure |
· Development of incentives for
implementing agricultural nonpoint source pollution control programs (e.g., tax breaks,
official "environmentally sensitive" farms, etc.) · Allocation of government resources for agricultural nonpoint source pollution control program |
| Natural Resource Assets | |
| · Steep topography · Climate · Soil suitability (fertility/infertility) · Availability of land suitable for agriculture (being used for other purposes) · Pest diversity |
· Development of a resource and land use inventory to help identify the areas most suitable for agricultural use · Development of national land use plans · Compilation of a list of traditional practices that are innovative and based on sustainability for use in the education program |
Table 6-2. (continued)
Obstacles |
Solutions |
| Legislation and National/International Policy | |
| · Tariffs and quota systems · International quality standards · Subsidies that are detrimental to environmental quality (both production- and crop-related subsidies) · Lack of enforcement of existing regulations and implementation of existing programs · Overlap in governmental responsibility · Lack of interagency cooperation |
· Survey and review of relevant
existing legislation, policies, and responsibilities for their effectiveness in
controlling agricultural nonpoint source pollution · Development and implementation of plans to modify/create legislation (including enforcement) for agricultural NPS pollution control |
Education of decision makers, farmworkers, and the general public should be coordinated and standardized at the regional and national levels.
The private sector needs to be involved in the control of agricultural nonpoint source pollution.
Experts Meeting Invitees and ParticipantsParticipants
Janice Reid
Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and UWI
P.O. Box 113
Kingston, Jamaica
(876) 927-1321Felix Jaria
Agriculture Engineering Services Division
Ministry of Agriculture
Waterfront
Castries, St. Lucia
(758) 450-2337 (phone)
(758) 453-6314 (fax)Alberto Beale-Cosio
Chairman, Caribbean Food Crop Society
Agricultural Experiment Station
P.O. Box 21360
San Juan, Puerto Rico 00928
(787) 767-9705Carlos Vega
Tropical Environmental Coordinator
Chiquita Brands International
P.O. Box 10076-1000
San Jose, Costa Rica
(506) 255-3424Jean Spooner
North Carolina State University
Water Quality Group
Research 4, Suite 3200
909 Capability Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 515-8240Carlos Hernández
EARTH School
P.O. Box 4442-1000
San Jose, Costa Rica
(506) 255-2000Brian Cooper
Ministry of Tourism, Culture, and Environment
Environment Unit
Queen Elizabeth Highway
St. Johns, Antigua
Phone: (268) 462-4625
Fax: (268) 462-2836Julie Wright
University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service
#2 John Brewers Bay
St. Thomas, VI 00802
Phone: (340) 693-1082
Fax: (340) 693-1085Tim Kasten
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Water
401 M Street, SW (4101)
Washington, DC USA 20460
Phone: (202) 260-5994
Fax: (202) 260-5711
Bryan Wood-Thomas
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of International Activities
401 M Street, SW (2660R)
Washington, DC USA 20460
Phone: (202) 564-6476
Fax: (202) 565-2409Kjell Grip
United Nations Environment Programme
Caribbean Environment Programme - Regional Coordinating Unit
14-20 Port Royal Street
Kingston, Jamaica
Phone: (876) 922-9267
Fax: (876) 922-9292Nelson Andrade Colmenares
United Nations Environment Programme
Caribbean Environment Programme - Regional Coordinating Unit
14-20 Port Royal Street
Kingston, Jamaica
Phone: (876) 922-9267
Fax: (876) 922-9292Mary Beth Corrigan
Tetra Tech, Inc.
10306 Eaton Place, Suite 340
Fairfax, VA USA 22030
Phone: (703) 385-6000
Fax: (703) 385-6007Invited but Unable to Participate
Wayne Hunt
Belleairs Research Institute
McGill University
Holetown, St. James, Barbados
(246) 422-2087Chris Wille
Rainforest Alliance
Apdo. 138-2150, Moravia
San Jose, Costa Rica
(506) 240-9389
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