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The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is set to continue work to pilot Natural Resource Valuation (NRV) within Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) this year. Just over $20 million has been allocated for the initiative in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The undertaking, which commenced in 2008, aims to develop a set of NRV...

Over $10 million has been earmarked in the 2012/13 Estimate of Expenditure, currently being reviewed by the House of Representatives, to continue work on the National Globally Harmonized System (GHS) project, and commence activities on the Regional GHS project. The national project, which commenced in September 2009, and for which $3.5 million has been allocated, is aimed at effecting training...

Further research and development of fruits and vegetables will be facilitated under the Centre of Excellence for Advanced Technology in Agriculture (CEATA), with the construction of two new greenhouses, this financial year. The greenhouses, one of which will be located at Coleyville, Manchester and the other at Elim, in St. Elizabeth, are being constructed with funding from the Spanish Agency...

Just over $200 million has been allocated to the National Water Commission (NWC) Rural Water Supply Company Limited, to execute projects during 2012/13. The allocation, which has been set out in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on May 10, will see some $10 million going to the NWC to assist the entity in fulfilling...

Efforts by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) to strengthen the operational and financial sustainability of Jamaica’s system of protected areas, will be significantly enhanced this year. Just over $101 million has been allocated by the government for the undertaking in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, currently before the House of Representatives. The objectives of the project, which commenced...

The effort to phase out ozone depleting substances, in keeping with the Montreal Protocol, will continue this year with the allocation of just over $4 million to the cause. As outlined in the  2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, the project, which commenced in 1997, seeks to implement ozone depleting substances (ODS) legislation to control and monitor ODS consumption; ensure efficient and...

To boost agricultural production and farmer incomes through improved irrigation management, the National Irrigation Development Project has been allotted $388 million to undertake a number of critical activities this fiscal year. This is contained in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure now before the House of Representatives. Among the activities to be undertaken is the installation of pipes, fitting and appurtenances...

The Government’s efforts at effecting climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction strategies this year, have been boosted by the provision of  $219 million in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure. The undertaking, which commenced in October 2010, aims to increase Jamaica’s resilience to natural hazards, while reducing the associated risks in vulnerable areas, thereby contributing to national development. Attendant activities...

The Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded Focal Point Support Project is slated to receive $783,000 to carry out a number of activities this fiscal year. Being implemented by the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, the project, which got underway in January, is intended to assist in strengthening the work of the Operational Focal Points office. The aim is...

A sum of $23.8 million has been allocated in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, to further fund efforts by the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change to enhance the resilience of the local agricultural sector and the island’s coastal areas to the impact of weather related elements. The programme, which commenced in January, aims to increase sectoral resilience...

The country’s capacity to effect sustainable land management (SLM) has been strengthened by the provision of $25 million in the 2012/13 Estimates of Expenditure, currently being reviewed by the Standing Finance Committee of the House. The project, which falls under the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change and is being implemented by the Forestry Department, aims to build...

Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Robert Pickersgill, says there is need for a strong regional mechanism geared towards facilitating co-operation and collaboration among Small Island Developing States (SIDS), especially on issues surrounding climate change. Addressing the National Consultations on the United Nations (UN) Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20) at the Wyndham Hotel in Kingston on May...