THE National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has begun a demand assessment for charcoal, with particular focus on jerk centres, following a decision by the Government earlier this year to prohibit the export of the product.

Making his contribution to the 2013/14 Sectoral Debate at Parliament on Wednesday, Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change Minister Robert Pickersgill said that to date, the assessment has shown that most establishments use between five and 35 (25 kilogramme bags) of coal per week.

“During this financial year, the agency will finalise this assessment towards instituting a regulatory regime to manage the production of charcoal. My ministry does not, at this time, support the export of charcoal,” Pickersgill said.

The Government is this year to spend $8 million towards activities to encourage proper farming practices, reforestation of 400 hectares of degraded land, sustainable land management and water security within the Yallahs River and Hope River Watershed Management Units. Pickersgill said the ministry will also be working towards the finalisation of the Watersheds Policy of Jamaica.

“It is with the foregoing initiatives in mind that my ministry had to respond decisively to the growing phenomenon of the export of charcoal from Jamaica. Charcoal production is a source of growing concern particularly because of its impact on our forests and watersheds,” he said.

In February this year, NEPA and the Forestry Department joined with the Jamaica Customs Department to prohibit the export of charcoal from Jamaica. According to the authorities, information was that one country was demanding 40 containers of charcoal per month.

“This would have certainly served to devastate our watersheds and create a negative impact on our environment,” Pickersgill said Wednesday.