Rapid Assessment of Squatting Report (NOTE: LARGE FILE)

The majority of squatter settlements are located in watershed area (Figure 12). Noticeably too, is
the percentage of squatter settlements located along the coastline and in a wetland area.
Figure 13 shows the major type of land use within squatter settlements as residential. This is
followed by residential and agricultural. Residential and agricultural land uses are highest in
those parishes which also had agricultural crops as the vegetative cover (Refer to Figure 11).
Percentage
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
47
6
29
St. Mary
18
33 33 33
Portland
Figure13
Major Types of Land Uses within Squatter Settlements in Jamaica
100
75
17
13
14 14
10 9
5
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Manchester
Clarendon
62
Westmoreland
St. Catherine
100
Trelawny
50
13 13
0 0 0 0 0
Parish
St. Ann
60
40 40 40
St. Thomas
Kingston & St. Andrew
50 50 50
10
0 0 0 0
Hanover
6
25
St. James
6
50
13 13
St. Elizabeth
Residential Agriculture Residential & Agriculture Commercial Residential & Commercial No Response
Environmental Impact
In assessing the environmental impact of squatter settlements, it cannot be isolated from the
associated risk to human health as a result of the damage to the physical environment (both the
natural and the built) arising from the squatting process. Much of the problems stem from the
fact that squatters are not concerned with sustainable development; instead, they are more
interested in satisfying their present needs and do not realize that their livelihood and health are
being compromised.
13
44