The island’s forest resources will be the main focus when representatives of the international donor agencies and corporate Jamaica, meet at a roundtable hosted by the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture on February 26 and 27 at Le Meridien Jamaica Pegasus.

The group is expected to discuss, the National Forest Management and Conservation Plan (NFMCP), developed by the Forestry Department with funding assistance from the Caribbean Industrial Development Agency (CIDA) Trees For Tomorrow project and the United National Development Programme (UNDP) Forestry Capacity Project.

Approved by Cabinet last July, the NFMCP is designed to promote and improve the conservation and sustainable use of the forest resources of the country to meet local and national needs.

The Forest Plan recognises the primary importance of environmental services forests provide and their role in maintaining biological bio-diversity. At the same time, the plan promotes integrated land use systems which are environmentally sensitive and which offer income diversification opportunities for small holder farmers.

Roundtable participants will benefit from presentations by a range of speakers including permanent secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Aaron Parke; Marilyn Headley, conservator of forests; Franklin McDonald, executive director of the National Environment & Planning Agency (NEPA); Jacqueline DaCosta, permanent secretary, Ministry of Land and Environment; Devon Rowe, deputy financial secretary, Ministry of Finance and Paula Hurlock, project co-ordinator, Dolphin Head Trust.

Topics will include forestry and the environment in Jamaica, Forests & watersheds, integrating watershed management in the context of the NFMCP; and the Forestry Sector and Rural Development: Working with Local Communities.

A field trip of several forested areas will follow the roundtable on February 28.