KINGSTON, Jamaica—The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) in collaboration with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean (IUCN ORMACC) convened stakeholders in a recent workshop to advance preparations for a project to conserve Jamaica’s endangered plant species and to restore the critical ecosystems that sustain them.

The “Restore for Sure: Conserving Endangered Flora through Critical Ecosystem Restoration in Jamaica,” project is being funded by a US$4.52 million grant from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with co-financing support from the Government of Jamaica. The aim is to target at least 53 globally threatened plant species through ecosystem restoration and strengthened conservation measures.

Restoration work is being planned across five conservation landscapes covering over 740 hectares of priority areas. They include Quaco Rock in Clarendon; the Montpelier Ecologically Sensitive Area in St James and Hanover; Dolphin Head Forest Reserve in Hanover; the Long Mountain Ecologically Sensitive Area in St Andrew; and the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park. Specific intervention sites, higher level outcomes and the associated activities will be further assessed and refined during the preparation of the detailed Project Document.

Stakeholders discuss strategies for a roll-out of the Restore for Sure project to safeguard Jamaica endangered plant species.

Held at the Courtleigh Hotel & Suites, the workshop brought together government agencies, technical experts, community members and international partners to advance the planning phase of the initiative. The detailed project document is being prepared through a collaborative effort involving NEPA, the IUCN ORMACC, and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).

In his welcome remarks, NEPA’s deputy chief executive officer, Anthony McKenzie, stated that the project is in response to a growing national need for ecosystem restoration and biodiversity protection.

“The facts reinforce an important reality that ecosystem restoration is no longer simply an environmental aspiration; it’s a national necessity,” McKenzie informed participants.

“Jamaica is internationally recognised as one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Our island is home to an extraordinary number of endemic plant species, many of which occur nowhere else on Earth. Unfortunately, many of these species are increasingly threatened by habitat degradation, invasive species, unsustainable land use, climate change and more frequent and intense weather events.”

McKenzie said the ‘Restore for Sure’ project “represents an important step toward addressing these challenges,” adding that targeted restoration of critical ecosystems and focused conservation efforts for endangered flora will help strengthen ecological resilience while supporting Jamaica’s commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.

Deirdre Shurland, programme management officer and officer in charge of the UNEP Caribbean Sub-Regional Office, said the timing of the project was significant, coming as Jamaica continues its recovery from Hurricane Melissa.

Left: Jackie Stiles, Gender Specialist, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature), Right: Domenique Finegan, Liaison for the Caribbean, Regional Office for Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean, IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature)

“The country is very much within the post-hurricane Melissa recovery and reconstruction phase. Every dollar spent on helping communities and ecosystems recover, counts,” Shurland said, urging stakeholders to bring their “time, talent and sweat equity” to the design process.

Regional Director at the IUCN ORMACC, Ursula Parrilla, highlighted the importance of collaboration among partners and stakeholders in advancing the project during the workshop. In a statement, Parrilla said: “This workshop marks an important milestone in the development of the “Restore for Sure” initiative and reflects the strong partnership between NEPA, UNEP, IUCN and a wide range of national stakeholders committed to safeguarding Jamaica’s unique biodiversity. Through this collaborative process, we aim to ensure that the project is grounded in national priorities, informed by the best available knowledge, and supported by the partnerships needed to achieve lasting conservation outcomes.”

The regional director added, “IUCN looks forward to working closely with stakeholders throughout the project preparation phase to develop a robust proposal that strengthens ecosystem restoration efforts, conserves endangered flora, and creates sustainable benefits for local communities.”

During the workshop, participants reviewed the approved project concept and provided input on restoration and conservation interventions, institutional roles and implementation arrangements, stakeholder and community participation, co-financing, livelihood opportunities, and environmental, social and gender considerations.

NEPA said the recommendations generated during the workshop will guide further technical consultations, baseline data collection and refinement of the detailed Project Document, including the project’s activities, results framework, safeguards and implementation arrangements