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PARTNERS IN DEVELOPMENT
The Trees for Tomorrow Project
Background
The Trees for Tomorrow Project (TFT) was initiated in 1992. Its goal is to improve the management and conservation of forests and tree crops for the sustainable benefit of the people of Jamaica. The Project is funded by the Government of Jamaica and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Phase I was carried out between 1992 to 1994. It was undertaken by the Jamaica Forestry Department (FD) and a Canadian Co-operant, with the assistance of Jamaican and Canadian consultants. As a preparatory stage for Phase II, the main activities included providing technical assistance to the Forestry Department, training staff, preparing a proposal to reorganise the FD, drafting a new land use/forest policy and new legislation, selecting a pilot watershed to demonstrate sound forest and watershed management practices, and conducting land use and socio-economic studies in the pilot watershed. Phase II started in January 1998 and is
scheduled to end in December 2002. This five-year project, endowed with
a total budget of C$ 8.0 million, is executed by a Canadian consortium
under a contract with CIDA. TFT comprises three main components:
The achievements to date of the various
activities of the Project are highlighted in the sections which follow. Forest Reserve
Boundaries Under this activity, TFT is to identify
priority reserves, survey and demarcate boundaries, establish
a protection system and patrolling plan and propose new reserves to
be gazetted. Priority boundaries totalling 120 km have been identified
and some 53 km surveyed to date. Surveying and demarcation of boundaries
has been more complex and costly than originally anticipated, as forest
reserves have been considerably encroached. The FD is working with the
Commissioner of Lands to work out a procedure to deal with forest reserve
occupation. The patrolling plan has being drafted and
is presently under review. A lawyer has joined the FD in February 2000
and has
provided some training and support to forest wardens and foresters in
the field, as well as follow up with Commissioner of Lands. As a result,
enforcement of the protection of forest reserves has improved in some
areas. Training The training or human resource development
activity includes long-term degree and diploma programmes in Canada
and Trinidad & Tobago; short-term training courses and seminars;
and on-the-job training. On-the-job training has been particularly
successful in providing hands-on experience to FD staff, as well as
persons from government agencies and NGOs, in the areas of biophysical
inventories, GIS, photo-interpretation and extension. Long-term training activities include:
A Forestry Field Skills Training Programme was launched in May 2001. Based on information gathered during needs assessment, the programme consists of a series of training courses for foresters and wardens, from basic maths to forest law, silviculture and communication, and ranging from three to ten days in length. A 3-day Forest Law and Enforcement Training Course was given to all forest officers as well as five persons from outside agencies. A dendrology course (tree identification) is schedule for early 2002. Forest Management
Planning The purposes of this activity are to create
an effective system of national planning for the forestry sector and
to ensure that TFT activities are in line with the national forestry
programme. The National Forest Management and Conservation
Plan (NFMCP) together with the updated forest land use policy, Forest
Policy 2001, have been prepared.
Cabinet approved the adoption of the NFMCP in July 2002. The TFT project
assisting FD to hold a Roundtable of Partners in Development to present
the Forest Plan to international development agencies and the local
private sector for endorsementand financial support for its
implementation. Other on-going actions include the collection and production
of data and costs for forestry and sawmill operations, and the collection
of data on establishment and harvesting costs of timber trees on smallholder
farms and selling prices by smallholder farmers. Forest Awareness
Programme The purposes of this activity are to gain
support from the public and key stakeholders for the sustainable management
of forests and upper parts of watersheds and to improve the image and
visibility of the FD. The programme works closely with other organisations
involved in environmental awareness. Activities undertaken by the programme
include:
Other activities underway include the production
of a series of 3-minute videos based on a "forest heroes"
theme and the production of a dendrology manual for the trees of Jamaica. Forest Land
Use Data Bank A forest resources data bank has been designed
and is being implemented. A Geographic Information System (GIS) Unit
has been established in the FD with trained personnel and the required
equipment. Information is readily available and is being provided to
outside users, including government agencies, NGOs, consultants, research
institutions and students. The success of the GIS Unit was internationally
recognised when the FD was presented with a "Special Achievement
in GIS" award at ESRI's 20th Annual Users Conference held in California
in 2000. Collect and
Analyse Forest Resource Information This activity is intended to provide FD
with the capacity and capability to continue a periodic forest inventory
and re-inventory programme and to provide the forest land use and inventory
information required for national and local forest management plans.
Outputs include:
The biophysical inventory and mapping of
the Buff Bay/Pencar Watershed Management Unit (WMU) has been completed.
The inventory of the Rio Minho WMU as well as Dolphin Head Mountain
(which is being proposed for a national park) is also completed and
work has begun in areas of the Cockpit Country. Reforestation The purpose of this activity is to promote
tree planting initiatives and to develop the capacity to produce, distribute
and successfully plant tree seedlings. The main achievements reported
under this activity are:
The production and distribution of seedlings
as well as the provision of technical assistance to tree growers is
one of the key functions of the FD and one that is crucial to watershed
management and protection. Local Forest
Management Plans The purpose of this activity is to promote
sustainable management of forests on Crown land and forest reserves;
effective conservation of forests; and development and protection of forests
on private land. This is to be achieved through the development of:
Two Local Forest Management Committees (LFMC)
have been convened, one for the Buff Bay sub-watershed and another for
the Pencar sub-watershed. Membership in the committees is drawn from
government agencies/organisations, NGOs, CBOs, and the private sector.
Both committees have held several meetings, elections have been held
and the committees' constitutions have been ratified by its members.
The process to convene the LFMCs has involved discussions with other
Parish and national level agencies involved with local government. A draft Local Forest Management Plan (LFMP)
for Buff Bay/Pencar WMU has been prepared and is about to be circulated
for review. The process to consolidate the LFMP will include a series
of meetings in the watershed to inform and receive input from the general
public on the draft local plan. A participatory monitoring system still
needs to be developed. Feedback will be required to guide the actions
in the pilot area and also in the other areas where FD/TFT plans to
replicate the model, eg, the next Local Forest Management Plan is scheduled
for the Rio Minho WMU. Forestry Extension The development and implementation of technological
packages that are compatible with traditional land use, the needs of
the people, the biological limitations of the ecosystems and the economic
constraints of the market place are essential for the management of
the watershed by its inhabitants. The FD's extension programme is now well
developed in the Buff Bay/Pencar and is being put in place in the Rio
Minho watershed. Activities to date include:
The extension programme works closely with, and in collaboration with other institutions such as the Jamaica Agricultural Society, the Rural Agricultural Development Authority, the Coffee Industries Board and local NGOs.
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One
of the activities supported by the Trees for Tomorrow Project is
the establishment of a GIS for strategic planning purposes. Development
of the database includes a biophysical inventory of forest lands and
aerial photography as well as acquisition of relevant data from other
agencies.