News and Events

Draft Forest Policy proposes regulated access for communities

A proposal under the Draft Forest Policy, if accepted by the legislature, could see the provision of regulated access to communities living on the fringe of the forests managed by the Forestry Department.

This is according to Honourable Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change. He was while speaking at the launch of the Sawyers Local Forest Management Committee recently in Trelawny.

“Our energies must be focused on reforestation, not just in the Cockpit but in all reserves islandwide. That is why we have crafted a new Forest Policy for Jamaica which will give community stakeholders such as the Sawyers LFMC greater access to utilize our forest areas in a sustainable manner,” he said. Read more

Environmental programme for Portmore coming soon says Mayor Lee

Portmore residents are to benefit from a soon to be implemented comprehensive environmental programme that will seek to, among other things, significantly reduce the mosquito population in the community.

His worship, George Lee, Mayor of the Portmore Municipal Council announced the programme while speaking at the National Tree Planting Day ceremony held at the Bridgeport Primary School on Friday, October 5. While the details of the programme are still being ironed out, the Mayor indicated that tree planting will be an integral part of the programme.

“We will be embarking on a tree planting programme, which is a part of a wider environmental programme. We intend to plant trees along the drains that will help to deter mosquitoes,” Mayor Lee said. Read more

Jamaica to get Forest Fire Management Plan

Jamaica will soon have its own Forest Fire Management Programme as attempts are to stem the continued loss of key forest resources due to forest fires.

Over the past three years there have been 45 forest fires destroying about 57 hectares of forest. To curtail the loss, the Forestry Department assisted by the United States Forest Service is drafting the programme to guide the island’s response to forest fires.

Honourable Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change announced the drafting of the policy, while speaking at the launch of the Westphalia Local Forest Management Committee (LFMC) on Wednesday, September 12. Read more

Northern Clarendon residents to benefit from Bull Head Forest Plan

Residents of the Northern Rio Minho area of Clarendon are to gain a range of benefits with the implementation of the community’s Local Forest Management Plan.

The Bull Head Local Forest Management Plan, which was developed by the Forestry Department and the Northern Rio Minho Local Forest Management Committee (NRMLFMC) was officially launched on Thursday, June 14, 2012 in a ceremony at Bull Head Forest Reserve in Northern Clarendon.

Among the benefits that residents are expected to receive are income earning opportunities, increased environmental benefits, improved income for farmers and greater training opportunities. Read more

Hundreds participate in Forest Trek 2012

The Forestry Department’s second staging of Forest Trek 2012 was a resounding success with more than 600 persons turning out to participate in the 12 km hike to and from the Cinchona Botanical Gardens in the Blue Mountains.

This year’s staging of the event had a truly international flavor with participants hailing from Asia, North America, Central America, Europe and the Caribbean. Read more

Smithfield Community partners with Forestry Department to manage forest

More communities islandwide are signing up to co-manage the forest resources in their area through the establishment of partnerships with the Forestry Department.

On Wednesday, March 28, 2012, at the Cascade Complex, Smithfield in Hanover became the eleventh community to enter into such a partnership with the Agency with the official launch of a Local Forest Management Committee (LFMC) in the community. Five additional LFMCs are expected be launched in the coming financial year. Read more