Head of Forestry Dept. Highlights Economic Opportunities in Sector

Economic potential for enterprise and employment abounds in the forestry sector, says Conservator of Forests, Ainsley Henry.

Mr. Henry, who is also Chief Executive Officer of the Forestry Department, was speaking at the inaugural two-day National Forestry Conference, held at the Jamaica Conference Centre in Kingston, from December 7 to 8.

The World Economic Forum published that forest conservation and restoration can create millions of green jobs to boost rural economies and provide long-term sustainable growth.

Additionally, a report from the Inter-American Development Bank and International Labour Organization stated that the transition to a greener economy has the potential to create 15 million net new jobs in Latin America and the Caribbean, 60,000 of which are expected to be in the forestry sector.

Referencing these studies, Mr. Henry shared that the Forestry Department employs hundreds of persons in rural Jamaica annually to assist with the implementation of various forest management activities, adding that this could multiply exponentially.

“As the agency transitions into an increased focus on urban forestry and mangrove forest management activities, the potential for employment is expected to increase across the length and breadth of our island, including within urban spaces. We anticipate that thousands of Jamaicans will be engaged in the implementation of projects and activities geared towards securing forests and expanding the island’s tree cover,” said the Conservator of Forests.

Mr. Henry added that the potential also exists for privately owned forests to become more productive and significantly impact job creation, as private landowners become actively engaged in sustainable forest management.

Additionally, he acknowledged that the economic empowerment of local communities must extend beyond simply the creation of jobs.

“As multilateral, bilateral and local funding opportunities to execute activities within the forest sector increase, more livelihood activities and enterprises can be established and expanded,” Mr. Henry added.

He commended the European Union delegation to Jamaica on their funding of 46 alternative livelihood projects at a cost of $240 million as part of their budget support for the forestry sector.

These projects, he said, have already created employment for stakeholders and hold the potential for great economic benefit with additional support.

The National Forestry Conference was held under the theme ‘Forestry as Business: Unlocking the Economic Potential of Jamaica’s Forests’.

The conference brought together stakeholders to discuss the potential of the forestry sector and to have the consumers and producers of wood functioning in harmony.