Jamaica receives GEF financial support to safeguard its mangrove ecosystems and biodiversity
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Through funding from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), Jamaica’s Forestry Department, supported by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) are working to advance policies for the sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems.
Jamaica is home to a wide array of biodiversity and ranks fifth of the world’s islands for its endemic life. Our few species of mangroves, although not endemic to Jamaica provide homes for many important faunal species belonging to a range of taxonomic groups, offer necessary shoreline protection from hurricanes, provides food, wood, materials for fishing, and livelihood opportunities thus making them vital resources for coastal and in-land dwellers alike.
While many efforts continue to support restoration, protection, and the sustainable use of mangrove forests in the country, the lack of sustainability policies that strengthen mangrove management remains a serious concern.
In an effort to address this concern, Jamaica requested support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and was earmarked to receive financial support valued at USD 1.6 million towards mangrove management and protection. The funds will be used to implement a project developed by Jamaica’s Forestry Department with support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). The project, ‘Jamaica Mangroves Plus’, aims to promote a more enabling policy environment as well as support mangrove ecosystem restoration and expand knowledge on mangrove habitats.
Financial support from the GEF will move the Government a step further in the implementation of the National Mangrove Management Plan for promoting a biodiversity-positive approach towards sustainable management of mangrove ecosystems. Within the scope of this plan are efforts to establish new mangrove protected areas, restore mangrove ecosystems to improve the services they provide whilst providing data and information to better inform policy that ensures the protection of key habitats and species within protected areas.
“Jamaica is very happy to be benefitting from these funds that will advance work being done to protect and conserve the mangroves remaining in the country. As an island, Jamaica is heavily dependent on the protection offered by our very finite and highly threatened mangrove and swamp forests in dealing with hurricanes and other storm events. We are grateful that this fund has come to help us collect and collate more socio-economic and physical information about our mangroves which will be used collaboratively to develop strategies to improve their protection and management, for the benefit of all Jamaicans”, said Ms. Donna Lowe, Principal Director of Forest Science and Technology Services at the Forestry Department.
As the country continues efforts to improve its climate resilience and increase its biodiversity whilst promoting infrastructure development, the approval of the project is timely in expanding on-going efforts for the long-term and sustainable management of mangroves.
Following this approval by the GEF Secretariat, the next step is now to develop a project document detailing the activities of the proposed interventions. This project preparation phase will be concluded by August 2022 with the execution of the project scheduled to start towards the end of 2022.
The Jamaica Mangroves Plus project is expected to last four years following its inception and will receive in kind support from various national agencies, and regional partners. As a partner agency of the GEF, FAO will provide technical assistance to the Forestry Department and be responsible for the project’s implementation in the country.
For more information:
Francine Black Richards
Forestry Department
876-578-7155/876-618-3205
Claus Eckelmann
FAO Forestry Officer
Chrishane Williams-James
FAO Communications