5.2.1. Specific Adaptation Strategies
Based on the Long-Term Strategy (LTS) objectives, a series of targeted adaptation strategies were developed to strengthen forest governance, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem restoration in Jamaica. For forest governance and biodiversity conservation, actions include revising the Forest Act, integrating the forest sector into national decision-making, improving land tenure management, expanding boundary verification, and developing invasive species control plans. These are scheduled for implementation primarily between 2027 and 2031, with some extending to 2050. In the area of agroforestry and ecosystem restoration, key interventions aim to increase forest and mangrove cover across over 18,000 hectares, strengthen conservation efforts, and implement 72 Forest Management Plans. Additional measures include plant nursery expansion, silviculture training, tree data monitoring, and the establishment of demo plots and permanent sample plots. Other innovations involve installing a tissue culture lab, planting 1.2 million native trees, and running awareness campaigns and legal reforms for ancient tree protection. Monitoring and reporting mechanisms are aligned with REDD+ and Cancun safeguards and supported by national plans such as the PMER PLAN 2021–2026 and validated stakeholder inputs. Together, these strategies provide a structured path to improve forest resilience, governance, and ecosystem sustainability
LTS action |
Specific strategy |
Target |
Source |
|---|---|---|---|
Forest governance and biodiversity conservation |
Implementation of a mechanism for integrating the Forest Sector into national decision-making processes |
Implementation to continue from 2027 to 2031 |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Forest governance and biodiversity conservation |
Amend the Forest Act and its regulations |
Implementation to continue from 2027 to 2031 |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Forest governance and biodiversity conservation |
Development Orders prepared and updated regarding forest management priorities |
Implementation to continue from 2027 to 2031 |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Forest governance and biodiversity conservation |
Transfer by the Commissioner of Lands, crown lands to the Forestry Department |
Implementation to continue from 2027 to 2031 |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Forest governance and biodiversity conservation |
Strengthening of the approaches governing issues of tenure and trespass on forest estates |
Implementation to continue from 2027 to 2031 |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Forest governance and biodiversity conservation |
Development of regulations that permit and license activities such as special recreational use, research and others |
Implementation to continue from 2027 to 2031 |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Forest governance and biodiversity conservation |
Expansion of the boundary verification programme for forest estates |
Implementation to continue from 2027 to 2031 |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Forest governance and biodiversity conservation |
Develop and Lead Forest Invasive Species Control Plan |
Implementation to continue from 2027 to 2050 |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Forest governance and biodiversity conservation |
Pilot Conservation Plans and Species Mapping |
Implementation to continue from 2027 to 2050 |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Increase forest cover |
14,500 hectares |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Increase mangroves cover |
4,000 hectares |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Increase forest conservation |
14,500 hectares |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Improvement and development of Forest Management Plans (FMP) |
72 plans |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Protection and enforcement in forests, includes patrol plans and rangers reports, surveillance |
14,500 hectares |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Riparian forest guidelines and management practices developed and implemented |
Implementation to continue from 2027 to 2030 |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Implementation and expansion of the plant nursery program |
Implementation to continue from 2025 to 2028 |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Implementation of silviculture trainings for relevant agencies staff |
12 trainings |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Establishment of Permanent Sample Plots (PSP) |
96 plots |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Establishment of Agroforestry Demo plats in degraded land scopes |
96 plats |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Installation of tissue culture lab |
1 lab |
Input from workshop |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Processing of weather data |
Monthly data processing of 4 weather stations |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Improvement of tree species data availability |
12 tree species data (1 species every two years) |
(PMER) PLAN 2021–2026 (NFMCP) |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Native trees planting initiative in urban and rural areas |
1,200,000 trees |
Input from workshop |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Strengthen legal protection for ancient and native trees |
Implementation from 2026 to 2029 |
Validated during workshop |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Public awareness campaigns of ancient and native trees |
5 campaigns |
Validated during workshop |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Monitoring and reporting about ancient and native trees |
1 monitoring every two years |
Validated during workshop |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Improvement of governance and decision making processes to complement the REDD+ and Cancun safeguards across the forestry sector |
Implementation from 2026 to 2050 |
Input from workshop |
Agroforestry and Ecosystem Restoration |
Carbon (MRU) under REDD+ monitoring, reporting and verification |
1 monitoring every two years |
Input from workshop |