Jamaica

When did you join the CCI?

Jamaica joined the CCI initiative at the Global Island Partnership High Level Event, Bonn, 27 May 2008 and signed the memorandum of understanding in May 2013.

Why did your government join the CCI?

Jamaica has long recognized the importance of responsibly managing its coastal and marine resources and participated actively in the development of the Island Programme of Work under the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Programme of Work on Protected Areas. For Jamaica, as an island, particularly vulnerable to climate change, and needing to develop in a sustainable way, it is clear that protection of our resources is a wise investment for avoiding long term and possibly irreversible damage to those resources in the future. Given the opportunity presented by the CCI to encourage partnership and promote sustainable financing for our coastal and marine protected areas, Jamaica joined this initiative. Jamaica's ultimate goal is for the sustainable use of its resources in support of the development and wellbeing of our people. This is clearly stated in the National Strategy and Action Plan on Biodiversity for Jamaica and was also set out in Vision 2030 Jamaica - National Development Plan which was being prepared in 2008.

How is the CCI important to marine and coastal conservation in the Caribbean?

Caribbean countries all share a common characteristic which is they are bordered by the Caribbean Sea. Coastal and marine activities support the livelihoods of a significant part of the population of these states. This fact further heightens the need to sustainably manage these coastal resources. The CCI thus affords us an opportunity to identify a sustainable source of funding to implement effective conservation/management programs for these important areas.

How has the CCI enhanced conservation in your country (What have you achieved since the CCI was established?)

In Phase I of the CCI, Jamaica developed a project for the strengthening of the operational and financial sustainability of the protected areas system and committed US$750,000 to the Caribbean Biodiversity Trust Fund. In Phase II, Jamaica is in the process of developing a National Action Plan for implementation. The CCI has however been very instrumental in raising public awareness with respect to the importance of our coastal and marine resources.

What are your country's main conservation priority actions under the CCI?

Jamaica made a commitment for effective management of the areas already declared protected as well as those priority sites identified in the national ecological gap assessment. At the Summit of Political and Business Leaders Jamaica committed to protecting 25% of our marine and terrestrial area by 2020.

The country aims to focus on:

• Financial sustainability for protected areas  
• Integration of climate change adaptation and mitigation measures in protected area planning and management strategies
• Provision of an enabling environment (policy, institutional and socio-economic) for protected areas

How is the CCI approach different from past approaches to marine and coastal conservation?

The CCI promotes environmental collaboration between International/Local Business Leaders and Governments in the region.

Who is your CCI focal point?