KINGSTON, Jamaica – A sum of $95 million has been earmarked for continued implementation of the Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (IWEco) project during the upcoming fiscal year.

The provision is contained in the 2024/25 Estimates of Expenditure, which was recently tabled in the House of Representatives by Minister of Finance and the Public Service, Dr Nigel Clarke.

The project, which commenced in 2016, has several specific objectives. Among these are restoring hydrological and other physical processes in the Negril Great Morass, enhancing and re-establishing native vegetation communities to provide habitat to wetland fauna, eliminating conflicts that degrade ecosystem functions, and implementing institutional arrangements to ensure the long-term sustainability of wetland biological resources.

Up to December 2023, a total of 11 consultancies were completed, including the initial Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Behaviour Study; Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Behaviour assessment; development of the Negril Environmental Protected Area Management Plan; and the West Indian Whistling Duck population assessment.

Additionally, under the small grants programme, a 1,500 square feet greenhouse and hydroponics unit was constructed and 162 farmers engaged and exposed to training in areas such as climate smart agriculture, budgeting and personal financing, and integrated pest management.

For 2024/25, the targets include commenced application of hydrological solution in the Negril Great Morass; conducting second Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Behaviour study; revising and updating the Negril Environmental Protected Area management plan; and conducting final evaluation and audit.

The project, which is being implemented by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) with co-funding from the Government of Jamaica and the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), is slated to end in September 2024.

-JIS