The Forestry Department disrupted an illegal logging operation on Friday, July 26, 2024, and was impeded in conducting its lawful duties by more than 200 community members and the illegal loggers. We aim to provide an accurate account of the events and address the misleading and false narrative circulating on social media.

Over the last five years, it is the Forestry Department that has facilitated the declaration of the Cockpit Country Protected Area, managed some 122,573 hectares of Forest Reserves and planted more than 2.9 million trees. It is forest protection and sustainable management that is the mandate of the Agency and any assertion to the contrary is patently false.

On the afternoon of July 25, Forest Rangers from the Agency identified an extensive illegal timber harvesting operation in Lewis Patent in the Cockpit Country Forest Reserve, part of the Cockpit Country Protected Area near Quickstep, Trelawny. Upon receiving this report, the Agency dispatched a team on the morning of July 26 to seize the illegally harvested timber. It was reported that at approximately 7 a.m. a truck loaded with lumber was seen leaving the area before their arrival.

Upon arrival, the team, consisting of two Agency vehicles and seven staff members, discovered significant illegal harvesting activities, including the cutting and conversion of several Jamaican Mahogany trees into lumber. More than 500 pieces of lumber were located at multiple points along trails within the Reserve. The team began retrieving the lumber, loading 150 pieces into the Agency’s three-ton truck. However, their exit was blocked as trees and boulders were used to obstruct the road. The team contacted the Head Office, and a secondary team was dispatched, coordinating with the police for their release.

Around 10 PM, the secondary team, along with eight police officers in three service vehicles, attempted to clear the blockage but were met with resistance as stones were thrown at them from the surrounding hills. Both teams were forced to spend the night on-site, awaiting further assistance.

A Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) team arrived at approximately 5:30 AM on Saturday, providing the necessary support to retrieve the Agency personnel by 8 AM. However, the vehicles were left behind, pending additional state resources. With the combined efforts of the Jamaica Constabulary Force (JCF), JDF, and Jamaica Fire Brigade (JFB), all state officers and equipment were eventually retrieved. A convoy attempted to depart the area around 5:30 PM on Saturday, July 27, 2024.

The convoy was once again impeded in Quickstep Square by a group of residents. They attempted to illegally claim the seized lumber and obstruct the police. The Superintendent on site successfully ensured the safe departure of the Forestry Department personnel and the evidence, which has been secured in Kingston for further investigation.

We will provide additional information as it becomes available. The Forestry Department remains committed to protecting Jamaica's natural resources and upholding the law.