Forestry - MOA

The Forestry Department is mandated to conserve and protect the island's forests, to manage the forested watersheds and forest lands, to direct and control the exploitation of forest resources through the introduction of appropriate systems for the renewal of those resources, the promotion and regulation of forest industries, forest research, public education and forestry training and education. The Government has revised legislation to reflect these policies and has also strengthened and upgraded the Forest Department to an autonomous body, thus enabling it to develop a Forest Management and Conservation Plan. The plan was recently launched in Kingston and has been taken island-wide to get the comments of the farming public. The Government has received assistance from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to establish the Trees for Tomorrow project which has assisted the department in developing the institutional framework and the capability to undertake long-term planning of forests and improved watershed management.

Objectives

The objectives of the Department are as follows:

Develop and maintain recreational sites at suitable locations in the forest reserves to provide forest recreation in the form of camping, hiking and general appreciation for the forest environment.
To ensure annual incremental increases in forest cover within the upper and middle watersheds.
To regulate the orderly development of the forest estate.
To improve the planning and management of the Forestry Department and National Environmental Societies Trust members and other government institutions to manage the project cycle.
To strengthen the institutional capabilities in the Jamaican forest sector, to plan and implement sustainable forest management, and increase awareness of forest throughout the country.

Functions

The functions of the Forestry Department are as follows:

sustainable management of forests in Crown lands or in forest reserves and the effective conservation of those forests.
directing and controlling the exploitation, in a rational manner, of forest resources by the introduction of adequate systems for renewal of those resources;
preparing and implementing a national forest management and conservation plan;
promoting the development of forests on private lands;
promoting, establishing and maintaining a forest research programme with a view to:
- enhancing forest management and development;
- identifying and obtaining silvicultural data to be used in improving financial yields of species important to the national economy;
- ensuring reforestation of suitable lands
establishing and promoting public education programmes to improve understanding of the contribution of forests to national well-being and national development;
establishing and maintaining recreational facilities in such forest conservation areas and forest management areas as may be designated for that purpose;
promoting agroforestry and social forestry programmes for the benefit of farmers, schools and any other interested persons, or group of persons;
determining with the approval of the Minister, fees for licenses or permits granted under this Act or any services rendered by the Department;
preparation of forest inventories and the demarcation and maintenance of forest boundaries;
control and supervision of the cutting, harvesting, milling and sale of timber and other forest produce;
granting of licenses and permits under this Act;
compiling information and statistics concerning the use of timber and other forest management;
protection and preservation of watersheds in forest reserves, protected areas and forest management areas;
developing programmes for proper soil conservation;
taking steps to enforce compliance with the provisions of this Act; and for this purpose the Conservator for this Act; and for this purpose the Conservator and other forest officers shall have the powers of a Constable under the Constabulary Force Act;
such other functions as may be assigned under this Act or any other enactment.

For more information visit: www.forestry.gov.jm