A new-look Forestry Department

If on hearing the word ‘forestry’, you immediately thought, ‘trees’ or ‘greenery’, you would have correctly guessed the core function of Jamaica’s Forestry Department. The Agency is the Government’s lead agency responsible for the management and conservation of the country’s forest resources. The functions of the Department are mandated under the Forest Act 1996 and are aimed at managing forests on a sustainable basis to maintain and increase the environmental services and economic benefits they provide.

In 2004, the decision was taken by the Cabinet Office to transform the Department into an Executive Agency. As an executive agency, the new Forestry Department will be completely enhanced in its staffing, infrastructure, tools and methodologies. This will enable the agency to meet the service needs of the forestry sector, as a result of its greater organisational capacity, capability and accountability.

The administrative structure of the Department supports a determined drive towards greater efficiency, effectiveness, productivity and accountability. There are four (4) divisions: Field Operations, Legal and Enforcement, Corporate Services and Forest Science and Technology. The structure of the Department’s Forest Operations consists of two (2) zones; the Western Zone and Eastern Zone. Each zone is further divided into two (2) regions. The office of the Eastern Zone is housed at the Department’s Head Office, located in Kingston. The parishes served by the Eastern zone are Kingston, St. Andrew, St. Catherine, St. Thomas, St. Mary, Portland and Clarendon.

The Western Zone has its office in Moneague and encompasses the parishes of St. Ann, Hanover, St. James, St. Elizabeth, Manchester, Westmoreland and Trelawny.

Mission

The mission of the new Forestry Department is:
“Manage Jamaican forest ecosystems according to national environmental policies.”

Vision

The vision of the new Forestry Department is:
“To become an effective Executive Agency in Jamaica; protecting and improving the forests of Jamaica and the first to ensure technology transfer to other Caribbean territories.”

Goal

The Goal of the new agency will be:
“Manage and conserve the forest resources of Jamaica for the benefit of present and future generations.”

Mandate of the Forestry Department

The Department is committed to the realisation of its mandates. These mandates will guide all other objectives and policies and procedures of the agency and include:

• Maintain the forest cover at not less than 30% of the country
• Increase forest cover to at least 2% over the next 10 years
• Transfer the local experience and technology to two other territories in the region in the first five years

Strategic Objectives

In 2009, the Department prepared its Draft Strategic Forest Management Plan which identified the following strategic objectives as being key to addressing the fundamental goal and challenge over the period 2009 -2013.

• Develop and implement updated National and Local Forest Management and Conservation Plans
• Maintain forest cover on the Forest Estate
• Increase the participation of private sector and non-government organisations in conservation and reforestation
• Encourage well-informed and participative stakeholders
• Ensure that appropriate forestry activities are properly authorised
• Achieve compliance with forestry legislation
• Provide policy and technical advice of a high standard
• Build an efficient and effective service delivery organisation, with well trained and customer-focused staff

Core functions of the Forestry Department

• National and Local Forest Management and Conservation Planning
• Management of the Forest Estate
• Authorisations – applications management
• Legal services and enforcement
• Communications
• Strategic Planning, policy guidance and project development
• Provide technical forestry/forestry related information and services
• Corporate Management
• Internal audit

The new Forestry Department will be a Performance-Based Institution. This means that the following principles will be adhered to:

• Clearly stated performance indicators will be set against which the quality, timeliness and efficiency of service delivery will be measured.
• Senior managers will be employed under performance contracts, which will be renewed only if the agreed performance standards have been met.
• A performance appraisal system will be implemented in keeping with the Government of Jamaica’s Performance Management and Appraisal System (PMAS), and clear output-based performance standards will be documented in every employee’s job description.

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