The Cuban Tree Frog (Osteopilus septentrionalis) has made its way to Jamaica, bringing with it significant ecological and economic concerns. While this invasive species, first identified in Clarendon, has rapidly spread across eight of the island’s 14 parishes, experts from the National Environmental Planning Agency (NEPA) and the Caribbean Coastal Area Management Foundation (CCAM) are working to mitigate its impact...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) will be observing National Environment Awareness Week 2024 with a slew of activities from June 1 to 7, under the theme: ‘Accelerating Ecosystem Restoration – A Call to Action’. The Week, being celebrated globally from June 3 to 8, aims to focus public attention on environmental issues thereby heightening awareness and stimulating action...

Jonell Banton, a young Jamaican who has experienced first-hand the impact of irresponsible garbage disposal, is urging citizens to dispose of their waste properly. Mr. Banton, a resident of Rae Town in Kingston for more than eight years, is employed as a deckhand at Clean Harbours Jamaica (CHJ). In February 2022, The Ocean Cleanup, in collaboration with GraceKennedy Foundation and...

Jamaica took another major step in becoming a greener and more sustainable island with the recent opening of a new plastic recycling facility in Naggo Head, Portmore, St. Catherine. The plastic waste management facility, which was opened late last year, has expanded the collection capabilities of Recycling Partners of Jamaica (RPJ). RPJ is an extended producers organisation and the designated...

Most persons would gasp in horror at the waves of trash crashing on to the beaches, threatening the island’s pristine shoreline and quickly move on, leaving the responsibility of addressing the issue to someone else. But not Paige Garnett. This young environmental activist is determined to keep Jamaica clean, one beach and community at a time. Her aim is to...

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) have joined forces to reduce the amount of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Jamaica. POPs are a group of organic compounds that have toxic properties, persist in the environment, accumulate in food chains and pose a risk to human health and the environment. Human exposure, even...

With approximately 40 per cent of land parcels in Jamaica unregistered, the National Land Agency (NLA), through the Systematic Land Registration (SLR) process, is looking to reduce that number and extend property rights to more citizens. Developed to assist persons who have been in open, undisturbed and undisputed possession of their land for 12 years or more, SLR aims to...

Young environmental advocate, Eleanor Terrelonge, is encouraging aspiring activists to be outspoken in raising awareness about topics or issues that they are passionate about. Drawing on her own experiences, she says that young people should not be afraid to reach out to others in trying to draw attention to and support for their cause. “You know, as young people, a...