Protected Area Project gets $66 Million

The Government has allocated $66.16 million to the Strengthening the Operational and Financial Sustainability of the National Area Protected System project, in the 2016/17 Estimates of Expenditure.

The Project is expected to consolidate the operational and financial sustainability of Jamaica’s National System of Protected Areas (PAs).

This objective will be achieved through three components: strengthening of financial planning and revenue generation; rationalising and integrating the National System of protected areas; and increasing the effectiveness of Protected Area Management.

Physical achievements up to December 2015 included: the establishment of the National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica (NCTFJ); four business plans completed; Business Planning Framework prepared; draft user fee framework prepared; project brochures, web page, banners, newsletters, posters and billboards designed; five management plans completed; draft Protected Areas Policy prepared; and grants to promote revenue generation at Protected Area sites issued.

For the 2016/17 fiscal year, the project hopes to achieve the following: operationalise the NCTFJ and disburse Trust Fund Grants to Protected Area (PA) System; complete four additional business plans; complete and implement revenue generation mechanisms at Protected Area site level; install PA system billboards in strategic locations, such as airports, on buses and cruise ship terminals; complete four additional management plans; declare two new Protected Areas (Black River and Pedro Cays); and develop and finalise overarching Policy and Legislation for PAs.

The project is funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Jamaica.