Languages: English and Patois
Ethnicities: Black 91%, Mixed ~6%, Other~3%
Population: 2,868,380
Age Breakdown:
0-14 years: 30.1% (male 438,888/female 424,383)
15-64 years: 62.3% (male 882,548/female 904,242)
65 years and over: 7.6% (male 97,717/female 120,602) (2011 est.)
Unemployment Rate:
12.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 130
11.4% (2009 est.)
People's History: Cockpit Country was initially settled by former freed slaves and mercenary soldiers in the 17th and 18th Century. Later called Maroons, they have religious and political stake in Cockpit Country due to the battles they fought and won by against the British through guerilla warfare. The thick foliage in the area gave them a chance to cloak themselves while they surprised the British soldiers.
Religion: The history of Jamaica is very diverse and has led to the development of many religious entities throughout the nation. The people who live in the Cockpit have religious backgrounds including various forms of Christianity, worship of West African deities and sects of Rastafarianism. Many forms of the worship within the country require the use and display of the natural surroundings Jamaica, more specifically Cockpit country.
A Threatened Cockpit Country
Currently the Cockpit of Jamaica is threatened by bauxite mining, illegal bird hunting, rare plant gathering, logging and the conversion of forest land into agricultural land by local farmers. Deforestation on preserved lands is an international threat. However, in the ockpit deforestation is more severe because it leads to the spread of foreign entities throughout
the heart of the jungle. These foreign threats include foreign plants and animals that pose threats to the natural wildlife, temperature change that effects the survival of the natural wildlife in the area, and the opening of roads in that give poachers easy access to wildlife. Roads also give way to mining opportunities from the companies.
Mining produces an array of negative effects to the Cockpit's natural habitat. It is currently leading to depletion and contamination of soil and water resources because of machinery output and liter from workers. This will also causes the displacement of small rural communities surrounding the mining, many of which were established near water resources. The mining Act of Jamaica is a law that has been loosely enforced and gives mining companies the opportunity to continue work regardless of the effects mentioned above.
Solutions
The Local Forest Management Committee (LFMC), Jamaican Forestry Department, The Jamiacan caves Organisation, and the Southern Trelawny Environmental Agency (STEA) and the people of throughout the countryside have come together to cultivate eco-tourism, agriculture and development. STEA ahs headlined the movement making a strong socio-environmental impact in the north eastern part of the country. They have several initiatives in place that build conservation awareness, healthier and more sustainable schools, youth development, water resource management. Their staff is comprised of volunteers, a small staff and board of Directors that have a social and financial stake in the Cockpit Country.
Source & Helpful Links
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