The Forestry Department is distributing a variety of timber and ornamental seedlings in observance of National Tree Planting Day (NTPD), October 6. The distribution period, which started on September 25, will run until October 13. During an interview with JIS News, the Agency’s Principal Director, Forest Operations, Jerome Smith, shared that the seedlings will be available for free at its...

The Government is seeking to increase Jamaica’s land mass protection to close to 40 per cent by 2030. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for Water, Environment and Climate Change, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, who made the disclosure, said this target surpasses the international goal of 30 per cent protection by...

The soon-to-be-legislated Deposit Refund will seek to improve recycling activities locally. This will boost the effort to improve the country’s environmental and waste management thrust. To date, the scheme, which is voluntary, provides a cash refund to consumers who return their plastic bottles after use. Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation with responsibility for...

Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Senator the Hon. Matthew Samuda, says the Government will be looking at developing initiatives geared towards creating a culture of environmental cleanliness. The Minister made the disclosure while participating in International Coastal Clean-up Day (ICCD) activities at Shipwreck Beach on the Palisadoes Road in Kingston on Saturday (September...

Members of the Jamaica Information Service (JIS) were among thousands of Jamaicans who turned out to participate in International Coastal Clean-up Day (ICCD) activities on Saturday, September 16. The 30-member-strong JIS team collected several bags of recyclable and non-recyclable garbage, totalling 105.9kg, from the Shipwreck Beach along the Palisadoes Strip in Kingston. Manager of the JIS’s Public Relations and Marketing...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is looking to establish refrigerant recovery and recycling centres in Jamaica. Refrigerants are substances used in mechanisms designed to maintain cold temperatures. These include refrigerators, freezers and home and motor vehicle air conditioning systems. Manager for the National Ozone Unit and NEPA National Ozone Officer, Vivian Blake, told JIS News that consequent on...

Consular Assistant at the Embassy of Belgium in Kingston, Evelien Vanghaecke, collects debris deposited along Foreshore Road in Port Royal on Saturday (September 16) as part of activities by representatives of the Delegation of the European Union (EU) in Jamaica for International Coastal Cleanup Day. The day is observed annually on the third Saturday in September.

Members of the National Solid Waste Management Authority (NSWMA) team, along with volunteers, use a pontoon boat to collect debris which accumulated along sections of the east Kingston coastline, on Saturday (September 16). The exercise formed part of activities for International Coastal Cleanup Day, which is observed annually on the third Saturday in September. The NSWMA and Esirom Foundation partnered...

A total of 2.7 million trees have already been planted under a national initiative targeting three million, the Forestry Department has reported. Speaking on Nationwide 90 FM’s ‘Ask the Minister’ segment on Tuesday (September 12), Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Conservator of Forests, Ainsley Henry, said the remaining 300,000 trees are to be planted by year-end. The three million trees...