Development of Climate Resilient Strategies and Action Plan for the Forest Sector under the National Forest Management and Conservation Plan

Counterpart / Lead agency

Forestry Department

Objective

The project will strengthen the Forestry Department’s institutional capacity to plan, implement and monitor climate-resilient strategies by revising Jamaica’s National Forest Management and Conservation Plan (NFMCP) for 2027–2037. The revised plan will integrate adaptation and mitigation measures, climate-smart actions, sustainable financing, and results-based monitoring and evaluation, while fostering inclusive forest-sector growth and investment that safeguards biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Expected results

The project is expected to provide Jamaica with a climate-resilient, evidence-based framework for forest-sector planning. Through analytical work, prioritized interventions and inclusive validation, the revised plan is intended to strengthen adaptive capacity, support feasible financing, and improve accountability while protecting biodiversity and forest-dependent livelihoods.

1. Forest sector diagnostic. A consulting team will prepare a diagnostic report drawing on baseline data, policy and performance reviews, climate modelling, and risk and vulnerability assessments, alongside a stakeholder engagement plan to guide the plan revision.
2. Climate options and draft plan. The project will identify and prioritize adaptation and mitigation measures, assess their costs and effectiveness, and prepare a draft 2027–2037 NFMCP with implementation scheduling, financing, monitoring and evaluation, and sub-sector strategies.
3. Consult, finalize and disseminate. Island-wide consultations will gather input from communities and public, private and civil-society stakeholders, including women and youth. Feedback will inform a validated final plan, supporting legislative review and communication products promoting adoption.

Beneficiaries

Direct beneficiaries are the Forestry Department, relevant ministries and agencies, private-sector actors, private landowners, farmers and other forest-dependent communities. The wider Jamaican population may benefit from improved forest ecosystem services, while Caribbean countries can adapt lessons from Jamaica’s experience.