Environmental Planning in the Caribbean (review)

In a case study approach, Environmental Planning in the Caribbean explores a wide variety of environmental planning techniques implemented within the Caribbean region. Th editors examine a diverse array of strategies for improving the region culturally, socially, politically and economically using both geographical and historical precedents. Hence, the text provides an assortment of techniques using specific examples within a specific context. Readers will find creative solutions as well as examples of failed plans along with a theoretical discussion as to their outcome.

The introduction by Momson provides information about participatory and tourism planning, and also looks at the influence of external forces on the Caribbean planning programs. "Environmental planning has become a major thrust of Caribbean governmental and non-governmental organizations across the region" (p. xi). Chapter Two is an empirical look at the history of various physical development planning techniques in Anglophone Caribbean. Its focus is on how some Caribbean countries handle changing discourse suggestions from their previous colonial office, and more recently, "the West" (p. 7). Specifically, Pugh states that building institutional capacity is being adopted in the Caribbean because donor agencies have been so heavily criticized for projecting their own vision so that the emphasis is now on "local solutions to local problems."

The following chapter is a theoretical examination of the environmental policies of the Windward Islands under colonial British rule. Beth Mills points out that while the emphasis is normally on the mistreatment of African and Afro-Caribbean people, the British used very progressive land reform policies within the region which still impact the land and people of the area today. Chapter Four illustrates the challenges of agro-biodiversity within the past fifty years in Jamaica, including the loss of plant varieties and therefore reduction in farm management techniques. Thomas-Hope and Spence suggest that agriculture is more important than ever, which is why this example is integral in the implementation of small farm agri-techniques.

In Chapter Five Skinner demonstrates the challenges of disaster planning using the tragic example of Montserrat's reluctance to plan accordingly for contingencies and demonstrates the consequences. This study includes figures illustrating two integrated action plans as well as a demonstration of volcano monitoring. The point of the chapter is not that these natural phenomena are the major threat for disaster, but the "maladaptation to an environment" within urban development creates the real disaster (p.53).

Chapter Six illuminates the challenges of the up-and-coming trend of heritage tourism. Instead of the "steel-and-glass" tourist industry of places like Cancún, heritage tourism highlights the history and unique culture of particularly antiquated areas. In this chapter, Scarpaci uses Cuba as an example of focusing on heritage. Tourist comfort stems from familiarity with amenities. At times, however, this ruins the point of heritage tourism. This chapter illustrates these and other challenges, within three different environments in Cuba. Each has a heritage that appeals in its unique way using similar planning entities.

In Chapter Seven, David and Jane Dodman use Jamaica as an example of how implementing participatory plans can be unsuccessful and reveal that respect for local citizens is the key to success. Success comes when participants can clearly see why the research needs to be done and what benefits participants will receive. Listening to the "locals" is a large sign of respect which will lead to benefits for both the citizens and researchers and, more importantly, the area under study.

Jamaica is again the subject of Chapter Eight. Here Kingsbury focuses on the corporate element of the tourism industry that can be applied to the entire Caribbean. The rising popularity of sustainability within large hotel chains such as Sandals Resorts International provides an optimistic view for sustainability. Sandals Negril, a 21-acre site with a quarter mile of private beach, has implemented plans within the resort to be ecologically sensitive, but desensitizes its customers by removing them from the...