The Government has budgeted $23 million to support the development of a payment for ecosystems services (PES) scheme, which is expected to improve the provision of critical ecosystem services in the Hope and Yallahs River watersheds. This is outlined in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives recently. The specific objectives of the programme include decreasing...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will be spending $60.2 million in the new fiscal year on the restoration and enhanced management of the Negril Great Morass. The funds will be used to complete a knowledge, attitude practices, and behaviour survey; conclude hydrological assessment and land use survey; commence an ecological assessment; develop and implement a public education programme;...

A total of $15.5 million has been allocated in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure to strengthen the capacity of Jamaica’s National Designated Authority (NDA), under the Green Climate Readiness Support Project. The money will go towards the establishment of an NDA Toolkit and completing the country programme strategy and regional scoping study. It will also be used to host a...

Approximately 120 farmers in the Yallahs and Hope River watershed areas of the Blue Mountains will be trained in land husbandry best practices in the upcoming fiscal year. A sum of $119 million has been set aside in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure to carry out this and other tasks under the Integrated Management of the Yallahs/Hope River Watershed Area...

Cabinet Secretary, Ambassador Douglas Saunders, says that work is ongoing in the implementation of the Climate Change Policy Framework and Action Plan. The policy seeks to provide a strategic and integrated approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities created by climate change while honouring the country’s commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and related instruments....

The Hermitage Dam Rehabilitation Study will continue during the new fiscal year with an additional $15.6-million provision in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, now before the House of Representatives. The project, which initially ran from April 2017 to March 2018, entails a feasibility assessment of the dam’s proposed rehabilitation. This is being done to analyse the facility’s structural integrity as...

Another $33 million has been allocated to continue roll-out of the Plastic Waste Minimisation Project in the new fiscal year. The sum is set aside in the 2019/20 Estimates of Expenditure, tabled in the House of Representatives on February 14. The project aims to enhance Jamaica’s capacity to undertake integrated waste management and strengthen the policy and legislative framework to...

The Government will amend a number of climate and environment-related legislation in the 2019/20 fiscal year in an effort to strengthen the regulatory framework governing the management and sustainable use of Jamaica’s biological and natural resources. This was disclosed by Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, who delivered the Throne Speech at the ceremonial opening of Parliament...