KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica is making sweeping moves to safeguard its ecological heritage, with the Government unveiling an ambitious plan to designate more lands as environmentally protected spaces and launch a new wave of reforestation efforts.
At the heart of this new strategy is the historic Constant Spring Golf Club in St Andrew, which is now being considered for designation as a Forest Management Area. This move is designed to permanently protect the treasured urban green space from unchecked development and ensure its preservation for future generations.
This announcement came during Environment Minister Matthew Samuda’s first address in the Sectoral Debate in Parliament. He emphasized that protecting these green lungs of the nation is a vital part of Jamaica’s broader sustainability agenda.
Beyond the golf course, Samuda detailed the Government’s intention to formalize the protection of four additional natural zones under the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act. These include:
- Canoe Valley, straddling Clarendon and Manchester
- Montpelier, in St James
- Long Mountain, in St Andrew
- Bengal, in St Ann
“These designations are not just symbolic,” Samuda said. “They ensure that biodiversity and natural ecosystems are legally safeguarded from exploitation.”
In a notable technological leap, Jamaica has also acquired its first tree relocator — a specialized piece of machinery that allows mature trees to be moved and replanted without damaging them. This is expected to play a pivotal role in urban development projects that previously might have resulted in the loss of established forest cover.
Looking ahead, Samuda announced a renewed commitment to tree planting with a new target of three million trees over the next five years. This builds on the success of the 2019 National Tree Planting Initiative, which also saw three million trees planted, with over 80% surviving.
“As we continue to develop as a nation, we are proving that growth and green can coexist,” Samuda told the House. “This is not just about planting trees; it’s about planting a future.”
Jamaica’s evolving green strategy positions the island as a regional leader in environmental preservation, balancing modern growth with a reverence for nature’s irreplaceable resources.
