F A C U L T Y O F Pure & Applied Sciences - mona.uwi.edu · 35 FACULTY OF Pure & Applied Sciences Research Co-ordinator: Professor Anthony Chen Department of Physics Research Fellow:

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Research Co-ordinator: Dr. David BarkerDepartment of Geography and Geology

Research Fellow: Dr. Clinton Beckford

The aim of this research project was to investigate economically viable and environmentally sustainable alternatives to the traditionalmethods of sourcing and staking yams. The use of the traditional yam sticks has been characterized by increasing scarcity, high costand poor quality of saplings used to stake yam hills in the principal yam growing areas of Central Jamaica. Work carried out underthe project included the establishment of field trials and the investigation of several alternatives to the traditional yam sticks. The studyalso documented the farmers’ views about these alternatives. As part of the project effort, 250 “live yam sticks” (Quick stick –Gliricidia sepium) were supplied to farmers in Lichfield, South Trelawny.

Of all the alternatives studied, there was overwhelming support from the farmers for the use of plastic manufactured yam sticks whichwere available at reasonable cost. The farmers’ suggestions for the improved utilization of these inputs were incorporated into thedesigns for other planned interventions and spin-off project activities.

However, field trials involving the live yam sticks yielded inconclusive results owing to a number of factors. For example, a numberof logistical problems arose in relation to the scheduling of farmers’ activities during the stages of land preparation and planting, whichdelayed the introduction of sticks to the plots. Although most of the sticks sprouted initially, the long drought which occurred dur-ing the growing season adversely affected their survival.

There were many recommendations that came out of this project experience. One such suggestion is that greater use should be madeof the lands owned by the various bauxite companies as the lands could provide alternative sources of yam sticks while at the sametime reducing the pressure on forested areas such as the Cockpit Country. Yam sticks could be harvested immediately before the landis cleared for bauxite mining activities. In addition, mined-out bauxite lands could be used for the establishment of agroforestry plan-tations and the planting and sustainable harvesting of saplings of sturdy or fast-growing tree species.

Research findings were documented in many technical papers including several peer-reviewed articles, conference presentations andbook chapters. Plans are underway to develop links with the South Trelawny Environmental Agency and various funding agenciessuch as the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ) and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) on mattersrelated to the use of plastic yam sticks in Central Jamaica.

An Evaluation of “Live Yam Sticks” as a Solution to the Yam StickProblem: Pilot Project in Central Jamaica

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Research Co-ordinator:Professor Anthony ChenDepartment of Physics

Research Fellow:Dr. Albert Owino

The purpose of this research project is to study the impact of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and other effects on floodand drought conditions and also on the interannual climate variability in the Caribbean. The knowledge gained will enable scien-tists to predict seasonal climate for the Caribbean and to utilize the information to make better management decisions in areas suchas agriculture, water resources, disaster preparedness and climate change. Although the predictive models are either statistical ordynamic (general circulation models and regional models), all have to be calibrated and validated. Much of the work done in theproject has been devoted to the testing of these models.

The approach adopted by the study is based on the use of synoptic climatology, which is defined as the study of climate from theviewpoint of atmospheric circulation with an emphasis on the connection between circulation patterns and climate differences.Having determined the structure and properties of synoptic systems that affect the Caribbean region, statistical and dynamic mod-els have been compared to see how well they simulate the regional climate.

Results of the study to date have been used to produce 4 manuscripts on different rainfall seasons, namely: the early rainfall season(May to June), late rainfall season (August to October), early dry season (November to January) and late dry season (February toApril). The papers for the first two seasons have been submitted for publication in the International Journal of Climatology, and theothers will follow. An example of the research findings is given below:

The Caribbean region is shown in the colored boxes. In La Niña conditions (left box), anomalous downward air motion (shown byclear areas) leads to subsidence and dry conditions in May, June and July. In the year after an El Niño event (right box), anomalousupward air motion (shown by shaded areas) leads to convection and wet conditions in June.

Impact of El-Niño and Other Effects on Climate Variabilityin Jamaica and the Caribbean

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Research Co-ordinator:Professor Tara DasguptaDepartment of Chemistry

Collaborators:Ms. Sacha CampbellMs. Lisa LindoDepartment of Basic Medical Sciences

The biosynthesis of s-nitrosothiols (RSNO) is due to the reaction between nitric oxide (NO) and high molecular weight and lowmolecular weight thiols. Over the past decade, research has been geared towards the synthesis of novel RSNOs that have been shownto have great therapeutic value such as facilitating smooth muscle relaxation. The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of onesuch RSNO, CapSNO, on blood glucose concentration and blood pressure in conscious rats. CapSNO, a derivative of Captopril, isa hybrid comprising a nitrosothiol moiety and an angiostensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor moiety. RSNOs have been shownto act via NO release, which is responsible for the increase in blood glucose concentration and decrease in blood pressure. In addi-tion, Captopril, an ACE inhibitor, has been known to reduce blood pressure owing to its ability to prevent the constriction of bloodvessels.

The determination of blood glucose concentration was done using the oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT). A fasting blood glucoseconcentration was determined after which CapSNO was administered orally. The effect of dosages 20, 30 and 40 mg/kg body weight(BW) was investigated. A glucose load was then administered (1.75g/kg BW), after which blood glucose samples were again taken.Captopril was used as control since it has been shown to have no effect on blood glucose concentration. The effect of CapSNO andCaptopril on blood pressure over a one-hour period after drug administration was also determined using an LE 5002 Pressure StorageMeter. Results showed that CapSNO caused an increase in blood glucose concentration in a dose dependent manner, in comparisonto Captopril, which had no significant effect. In addition, both Captopril and CapSNO caused a reduction in blood pressure.However, the effect of the latter was more significant. Therefore, the use of CapSNO as a blood pressure lowering drug could not beprescribed for diabetics as this drug also results in an increase in blood glucose concentration. These findings should provide addition-al information for understanding the mechanism by which CapSNO operates under physiological conditions. The findings have beenused in the preparation of many technical papers including those presented at various regional and international conferences.

To date the project has generated the following papers:

A New Generation of Vasodilators: S-Nitrosothiols and Mechanism of Nitric Oxide Release, Tara Dasgupta, Danielle Aquart, Lisa Lindoand Sacha Campbell: Cardiovascular Conference, Trinidad and Tobago, March 2002

The Effect of S-Nitrosocaptopril on Blood Glucose Metabolism and Studies on Haemodynamic Parameters, Sacha Campbell, Lisa Lindo and

Tara Dasgupta: 6th Biennial Pure and Applied Sciences Conference, Jamaica, March 2003

The Effect of S-Nitrosocaptopril on Blood Glucose levels and Haemodynamic Parameters, Lisa Lindo, Sacha Campbell and Tara Dasgupta:

18th International Diabetes Federation Congress, Paris, August 2003

The Effect of S-Nitrosocaptopril (CapSNO) on Blood GlucoseMetabolism and Studies on Haemodynamic Parameters

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Researcher:Professor Tara DasguptaDepartment of Chemistry

Scientists have found that Nitric Oxide (NO), a relatively unstable molecule, plays an important role in a variety of biologicalprocesses including neurotransmission, immune defense, the regulation of cell death (apoptosis), platelet inhibition, penile erectionand muscle relaxation. Because of its transient nature, the thiol groups of aminio acids are largely responsible for the molecule’stransportation, interaction and redox modifications. This occurs by the formation of s-nitroso thiols (RSNO) in biological fluidwhich then acts as reservoirs for the NO molecule.

The objective of this research project is to design and synthesize a series of novel NO releasing compounds that will meet the neces-sary criteria of the compound’s releasing capability at a moderate rate and achieve the desired hydrophilicity for optimum druginteraction. The characterization of the compounds will be carried out by various spectroscopic techniques and kinetic studies toinvestigate rates of release. The bio-efficacies of the compounds will be conducted on rats and dogs.

This investigation should provide information that could assist in the development of pharmaceutical drugs for the treatment ofvarious diseases such as hypertension and congestive heart failure. Results from the study should also be helpful in clarifying ideasregarding the liabilities of nitrosothiols in the presence of biological reductants. This should also provide a better understanding ofthe mechanism of transnitrosation which influences the movement of NO in the body and the interaction at the active site. Earlyevidence from the work confirms that the NO or its releasing compounds can impair the body’s ability to metabolize glucose effec-tively, and significantly lower blood pressure.

New Generation of Nitro Vasodilators – Syntheses,Characterization, Nitric Oxide Release and Bioefficacy

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Researcher: Dr. Anthony M. Greenaway Department of Chemistry

The quality of our coastal waters is recognized as an issue of nation-al concern affecting, amongst other things, public health, tourismand fishing. The concentrations of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus(P) in the coastal waters are central to the issue of water quality.Concentrations elevated above the natural levels can lead to exces-sive plant growth which in turn can result in both a loss of waterclarity and an inhibition of coral growth. Rivers and fresh waterseeping through rocks and sand have been identified as the majorcarriers of these and other contaminants.

This research project aimed to investigate the impacts of rivers andsubmarine sources of fresh water on the coastal waters and thecycling of these nutrients within priority seagrass, mangrove andcoral ecosystems. The work undertaken also sought to build on theresearch findings coming from similar projects and/or research insti-tutes such as the USAID funded Coastal Water QualityImprovement Project (CWIP), the ongoing Ridge to ReefWatershed Project (R2RW) and the Discovery Bay MarineLaboratory’s Chemical Analytical Facility (DBML-CAF). Hence,efforts were made to extend the data base on N and P concentra-tions in Jamaican coastal waters.

Data collected from Discovery Bay show that bay and coastal watersremote from fresh water sources have very low N and P concentra-tions but near submarine vents, concentrations in well mixed waterscan be twice the background levels. These waters flush the westernsection of the Bay’s fringing reef and may affect the reef ’s biology.Work was done to investigate this possibility by comparing the Nand P cycling in coral ecosystems on both the western and easternfringing reefs and within associated seagrass beds. A technical paperis being revised to include more recent results which show thatheavy rainfall in the central sections of the island leads to significantincreases in N concentrations in the coastal waters for severalmonths after the rainfall events.

Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Jamaican Coastal Waters

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Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Jamaican Coastal Waters

Studies have been carried out on three river systems, name-ly: the Great River Watershed (St. James, Hanover,Westmoreland) and the Rio Bueno (St. Ann; funded by theR2RW project) and the Black River (in collaboration withthe St. Elizabeth Environmental Protection Association).Data from the field work on the Great River and Rio Buenohave shown that the Great River is contaminated with bac-teria in addition to N and P, with the contamination start-ing in the upper watershed. The Rio Bueno, a shorter andless extensively used river, is free of such contamination. Inthe case of the Black River, the N and P contamination aris-ing from agricultural and industrial activities in the upperriver is effectively removed from the river within the upperand lower morasses. The river studies were designedaccording to the guidelines of the Proposed National WaterQuality Monitoring Programme and carried out by M.Phil.students. By combining information on water quality andwater flow, the importance of the fresh water contamina-tion on the marine waters will be determined.

Work under the project benefited from various types ofassistance from the University of the West Indies, theCWIP and R2RW projects and the DBML-CAF.

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Researcher:Dr. Susan MainsDepartment of Geography & Geology

This research project seeks to explore the experiences of Jamaicanmigrants in the cities of New York and London as well as the expe-riences of returning migrants to the island. The study aims toinvestigate the factors associated with the decisions, challenges andstrategies that migrants face when they move. It will also examinethe various ways people create a sense of community while livingoff the island, and how they keep in touch with family, friends andevents in Jamaica. Very often in many studies, the personal side ofmigration, in terms of the various stories that people carry withthem, has been overlooked. The work attempts to give a voice tothese significant experiences while at the same time, challengingthe many negative media stereotypes of Jamaicans depicted in themainstream media overseas.

In examining the historical context of Jamaican migration to theUnited Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US), the researchwill focus on the responses of the host countries’ residents and alsothe representations of the immigrants. This will involve a review ofvarious literary and audiovisual materials such as past news/filmfootage, newspaper articles, academic literature, policy documentsand demographic statistics.

In order to capture the experiences of Jamaican migrants in NewYork and London, over 65 interviews to date have been conductedand filmed. Interviews will also be held with returning residents toJamaica to get a sense of how people prepare for their return, thefactors that influence their decisions, and how the experience ofreturning to the island meets and possibly even challenges theirexpectations.

The research indicates that many Jamaicans feel that they havebeen able to make important contributions to communities in theUS, UK and in Jamaica. For instance, they are involved in commu-nity and charitable organizations that support events and fundrais-ing overseas and on the island. In addition, many Jamaicans haveachieved considerable success overseas in various areas such as the

Mobility and Migration: Exploring Transnationalismin the Context of Jamaica

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Researcher:Dr. Susan MainsDepartment of Geography & Geology

This research project seeks to explore the experiences of Jamaicanmigrants in the cities of New York and London as well as the expe-riences of returning migrants to the island. The study aims toinvestigate the factors associated with the decisions, challenges andstrategies that migrants face when they move. It will also examinethe various ways people create a sense of community while livingoff the island, and how they keep in touch with family, friends andevents in Jamaica. Very often in many studies, the personal side ofmigration, in terms of the various stories that people carry withthem, has been overlooked. The work attempts to give a voice tothese significant experiences while at the same time, challengingthe many negative media stereotypes of Jamaicans depicted in themainstream media overseas.

In examining the historical context of Jamaican migration to theUnited Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US), the researchwill focus on the responses of the host countries’ residents and alsothe representations of the immigrants. This will involve a review ofvarious literary and audiovisual materials such as past news/filmfootage, newspaper articles, academic literature, policy documentsand demographic statistics.

In order to capture the experiences of Jamaican migrants in NewYork and London, over 65 interviews to date have been conductedand filmed. Interviews will also be held with returning residents toJamaica to get a sense of how people prepare for their return, thefactors that influence their decisions, and how the experience ofreturning to the island meets and possibly even challenges theirexpectations.

The research indicates that many Jamaicans feel that they havebeen able to make important contributions to communities in theUS, UK and in Jamaica. For instance, they are involved in commu-nity and charitable organizations that support events and fundrais-ing overseas and on the island. In addition, many Jamaicans haveachieved considerable success overseas in various areas such as the

Mobility and Migration: Exploring Transnationalismin the Context of Jamaica

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Research Co-ordinator:Professor Ajai MansinghNatural Products Institute

Research Fellow:Dr. Dwight Robinson

The research project sought to develop the technology of integrated management of cabbage pests with companion crops and a botan-ical formulation and to transfer the technology to farmers and extension officers. Work would also be done to explore new plants withpesticidal activity and to improve the botanical formulation, “Ashima” for future commercial production.

There were many achievements as all of the objectives of the project were successfully met. Some of the more notable achievementsinvolved the creation of the botanical formulation ‘Ashima I’ which has strong anti-feedant and growth–regulatory actions. In the firstset of field trials, it was found to be more effective than the commonly used formulations, namely: Bacillus thurengensis and ‘Biogreen’in protecting cabbage from the pest, Plutella xylostella. It only required 6 sprayings of the crop with ‘Ashima’ before harvesting as com-pared to 8-10 with the commercial formulations.

It was also found that intercropping with tobacco delayed the infestation of cabbage by the pest thereby reducing the frequency ofspraying with ‘Ashima I’ from 6 to 3-4 times. Mustard plants planted on the periphery of the cabbage plots had the dual effect ofattracting the pest and protecting the cabbage. However, the trap crop had to be sprayed with toxic insecticide.

Prospecting insecticidal properties of a few selected Jamaican plants provided a positive lead for improving ‘Ashima I’. This led to theproduction of an improved botanical formulation, ‘Ashima II’ with a higher concentration of the active ingredient, neem, an oil derivedfrom a Jamaican plant and a photo-stabilizer. Since 1999, ‘Ashima II’ has been found to successfully control all the pests of cabbageand callaloo as well as thrips on the rose and egg plants on the experimental plots at the King’s House. In laboratory trials, the improvedformulation has shown great promise against the pests, Coffee Berry Borer, Coffee Leaf Miner, the sweet potato weevil, Cylas and cat-tle ticks. On receipt of results from the research on the persistence of the active ingredients in the ‘Ashima II’ formulation, there willbe a final round of field tests against vegetable and coffee pests before any exploration of the issue of commercialization.

The various project initiatives had many spin-off benefits. The technology of integrated pest management was successfully transferredto farmers and agricultural extension officers of the Rural Agricultural Development Authority (RADA). The findngs were also docu-mented in numerous publications.

Integrated Pest Management of Vegetable and Coffee Pests

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Research Co-ordinators:Professor Ajai MansinghNatural Products Institute

Professor Ronald YoungFaculty of Pure and Applied Sciences

Dr. Trevor YeeNatural Products Institute

Research Fellow:Ms. Arlene Wilson

The aim of this research project is to develop a nutraceutical from a Jamaican plant that would manage and treat the diseasesHypertension, Diabetes and Hypercholesterolemia, and also increase the body’s resistance to these diseases. Results coming out of thedevelopmental process will be used to provide chemical and pharmalogical evidence of the therapeutic properties of the plant extractthat could be used for the product’s registration, certification and quality control.

An economic profile of the plant has been prepared by critically reviewing the published literature on the origin, distribution, taxon-omy, propagation and chemical constituents such as omega-3 and other fatty acids, antioxidants and vitamins. The review also cov-ered the various uses of the plant, namely, its culinary, medicinal, chemical, bactericidal and fungicidal uses.

Significant progress has been made in the chemical profiling of the locally grown plant. The yields (dry w/w) of compounds in theethanol, hexane and acetone extracts were 0.36%, 0.56% and 1.48%, respectively. GCMS analyses of the individual groups of com-pounds in the extracts (separated by PLC, TLC and column chromatography) and the pooled fractions of each extract revealed signif-icant qualitative and quantitative differences. Acetone, hexane and ethanol extracts had one hundred and forty-four (144), ninety (90)and one hundred and forty-four (144) different compounds, respectively. There was only a relatively small number of compounds (0-12) common to the three extracts. Antioxidant phenolic compounds in the aromatic group are to be identified and determined quan-titatively. Fatty acids extracted quantitatively by chloroform-menthanol are being analyzed, qualitatively and quantitatively, by gaschromatography. Mineral and vitamin determination is currently underway.

Preliminary studies on the anti-hypertensive, anti-diabetic and antioxidant properties of the plant extract are being carried out on lab-oratory-maintained colonies of normal, hypertensive and diabetic Sprague Dawley rats. Anti-cholesterol assays will be conducted onrabbits that are on a high cholesterol diet. Toxicological studies (Ld50 and P450 enzymatic assays) would complete the study.

Development of Nutraceuticals from a Jamaican Plant

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Researcher:Dr. Ezra K. MugisaMathematics & Computer Science

This research project aims to build a repository of reusable software assets to support the paradigm, Component-Based SoftwareDevelopment (CBSD). CBSD is primarily concerned with developing software from pre-produced parts or components in a system-atic manner. This approach dictates that software assets are built for multiple reuse in varied applications. These software assets shouldbe easily maintained and customized to produce new functions and features.

The project will focus its efforts on addressing issues such as:

• What makes a repository design appropriate for the CBSD paradigm?

• What types of components should the repository accommodate and in what form? Should the candidates include specifications, designs, documentation, patterns, and executable code?

• Where are the components and how do we know they are trustworthy?

• What tools do we need to support the use of the repository for CBSD?

Work has been undertaken on the formal specification of a reusable software architecture (RSA) using the Z notation as well as on therepository itself. This is important as the researcher needs to unambiguously know what is being built. In addition, there was a sur-vey of various strategies for the determination of a metric that measures component trustworthiness. A hybrid methodology whichshows some promise was derived for determining the metric.

Examination of the existing development environments that support CBSD was undertaken shows some promise. As many of theseenvironments are still at the research stage, an effort will be made as a project initiative to build, through customization or otherwise,a suitable development and integration environment for the MORRESA-based CBSD – the MORRESA Environment. A softwaredevelopment methodology without this tool support is hardly usable.

The MORRESA (Mona Repository ofReusable Software Assets) Project

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Research Co-ordinator:Dr. Mark TaylorDepartment of Physics

Research Fellow:Dr. Albert Owino

With much of the region’s economic activity, namely, tourism and agriculture, tied to the annual onset and demise of the rainy sea-son in April and November, respectively, it is hard to deny the importance of rainfall to the Caribbean region. Prolonged periods ofrainfall extremes (floods or droughts) can significantly affect the economies of the Caribbean islands and ultimately, the social well-being of the region’s population. This has led to growing public interest in matters related to climate variability and change, and inparticular, ways in which the information can be used to benefit the small and more vulnerable Caribbean territories.

The aim of this research project is to produce seasonal rainfall forecasts for the region, particularly for use during the 2004/2005 dryand wet seasons. The development of these forecasts will enable regional policy-makers to mitigate or exploit the effects of anenhanced or depressed rainfall season. The information produced should also provide a better understanding of the synoptic influ-ences that determine the rainfall characteristics of the Caribbean especially during the dry season.

Much of the work will be devoted to determining how Caribbean climate varies with time and also investigating the mechanismsresponsible for producing climate extremes. However, the project is not only concerned with seasonal predictions but also with fore-casts of a longer time horizon, ranging from year to year variations to decadal, or variations over even longer time periods. Projectactivities will also involve the promotion of the use of climate information for mitigation, planning and adaptation.

Much of the work undertaken under the project will strengthen the activities of the Climate Studies Group as it seeks to refine a pre-viously developed statistical model and validate a regional dynamical model for the simulation of the Caribbean climate. The ClimateStudies Group is a research arm of the Mona Campus’ Department of Physics which since its inception in 1992, has been involvedin the investigation of Caribbean climate and other climate related issues.

It is also hoped that model predictions developed under this project will be used as input to be fed into seasonal rainfall forecasts cur-rently issued by the Caribbean Institute of Meteorology and Hydrology (CIMH) thereby complementing current climate relatedinformation in the region.

Generating Seasonal (Three Monthly) Rainfall Forecastsfor the Caribbean

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Research Co-ordinator:Professor Elizabeth Thomas-HopeDepartment of Geography and Geology

Research Fellow:Mrs. Adonna Jardine-Comrie

The vast divergence in the growth of income in the countries across the Caribbean region during the second half of the twentieth cen-tury is unrivalled in any other region of the world. Although the Caribbean was a poor region in 1900, some Caribbean countrieshad become quite prosperous by the end of the twentieth century. However, the majority of the countries remained poor and in somecases, became very poor. Possible reasons have been given to explain these variations such as differences in the types of governancestructures, export profiles and environmental resource management practices. Much attention has been focused on economic andpolitical variables while environmental factors have been relatively ignored. This research project aims to examine the nature of therelationship between the environment and poverty in some parts of the region and the environment and wealth in other parts. Thestudy should serve to provide policy guidelines and to assist in the development of programmes that ensure the sustainability of eco-nomic activities and the environment in the region.

The focus of the study will largely be on issues of environmental management but it is grounded by the view that the role that envi-ronmental management plays in a country is very much an outcome of its economic priorities. Hence, the practices and strategies ofenvironmental management cannot be considered in isolation from these priorities. Given that the study is regional in its scope, theanalysis will consist of mainly inter-country comparisons and case studies.

Much of the work to date has focused on the establishment of a database that will be sufficiently comprehensive to be used for ana-lyzing regional economic disparities in relation to environmental degradation. The database currently covers traditional economicindicators as well as those relating to water resources, air pollution, coastal resources, mineral resources, tourism, biodiversity loss,forestry resources, agricultural activities and energy use for the period, 1960 - 2000. The environmental database developed for useunder the project is to be made available to other researchers as well as national and regional agencies through the web page of theEnvironmental Management Unit on the UWI web site.

The Role of Environmental Management in CaribbeanEconomic Performance

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F A C U L T Y O F Pure & Applied Sciences - mona.uwi.edu · 35 FACULTY OF Pure & Applied Sciences Research Co-ordinator: Professor Anthony Chen Department of Physics Research Fellow: