Government Launches “RE-LEAF” Initiative to Restore Jamaica’s Forest
The Forestry Department invites volunteers to replant trees destroyed by Hurricane The Government of Jamaica has launched a comprehensive national recovery framework titled “the RE-LEAF Initiative” (Reforestation, Ecological Enhancement, and Landscape Framework) to rehabilitate and strengthen the island’s forest ecosystems following the devastating impact of Hurricane Melissa.
The RE-LEAF Initiative serves as the national operational framework for post-hurricane recovery and long-term resilience. In a statement to the House of Representatives today (January 13), The Honourable Matthew Samuda, MP, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, revealed that while Jamaica’s forest cover increased by 7% as of 2023—covering 47% of the island’s landmass—the destruction caused by Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025, significantly tested the nation’s natural defences.
“Hurricane Melissa carved a west-to-north-west corridor of destruction across Jamaica. In several forests, damage levels reached between 76 and 100 percent,” the Minister stated.
Under Phase 1 (January – June 2026) of the initiative, the Forestry Department will replant 300,000 seedlings, prioritizing 170,000 seedlings in key watersheds, 50,000 in urban and peri-urban areas, and 30,000 fruit trees to support food security and community livelihoods.
Minister Samuda noted that the recovery effort is supported by the “sterling contribution” of Trees That Feed Foundation (TTFF), a United States-based non-profit organization, which has provided a US$50,000 grant for approximately 12,000 fruit trees. This partnership complements the Ministry’s expanded agroforestry strategy to integrate mixed systems into damaged landscapes.
To support this effort, the Forestry Department is expanding nursery capacity in western Jamaica, with new sites being assessed in St. James, St. Elizabeth, and Westmoreland to increase national seedling production by 20% annually.
The Minister further announced the accelerated relaunch of the National Tree Planting Initiative Phase 2 (NTPI-p2), now fully integrated into the RE-LEAF framework and serving as a cornerstone of the government’s long-term forest recovery strategy.
“Under NTPI-p2, we are galvanizing a second national effort to plant three million trees—this time, even faster than planned. We now commit to achieving this target in less than five years, based on the overwhelming response of the Jamaican people who are volunteering in the hundreds," the Minister declared.
The official launch of NTPI-p2 will take place between January 29 and February 2, 2026, with targeted planting activities across forest reserves, private lands, mangrove ecosystems, and urban centres.
Reaffirming Jamaica’s commitment to the ‘30x30’ target—expanding the protected areas network to 30% by 2030—the Minister noted that five new protected areas are now being advanced under the Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act.
Through RE-LEAF and NTPI-p2, along with expanded partnerships and volunteer mobilization, the government is committed to rebuilding stronger, smarter, and more resilient forest landscapes to safeguard our water, land, and future generations.
