OVERVIEW Strengthening the Operational and Financial Sustainability of the National Protected Area System

Background The first Forest Reserves (Blue Mountains, Clydesdale and Hardware Gap) were declared in Jamaica's first Marine Park (Montego Bay Marine Park) was established in The first National Park (Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park) was established 1993.

Background Over eighty locations are currently conserved under approximately seventeen different land use categories. Jamaica generally recognizes only thirty-two distinct protected areas as members of the National System of Protected Areas (NSPA)

Background Terrestrial protected areas within the NSPA currently cover over 200,000 hectares or approximately 18% of Jamaica’s lands. The NSPA covers approximately 180,000 hectares or 15% of the archipelagic waters Four organizations are principally responsible for Jamaica's NSPA: the Forestry Department, the Fisheries Division, the Jamaica National Heritage Trust, and NRCA/NEPA.

Background Protected areas provide important ecosystem functions and services Tourism depends directly on the quality of protected areas not only for ecosystem services (e.g. good coastal water quality provided by healthy forests and wetlands), but also as a tourism product

Background Every dollar invested in the protected area system would generate $100 additional dollars to the Jamaican economy (PASMP). And yet, tourism invests very little in protected area management

The Problem Jamaica's biodiversity is threatened on a variety of fronts. The cumulative impacts include the accelerated loss of vulnerable habitats and associated species, the reduction of ecological functionality and the growing insecurity of ecosystem services.

The Solution Consolidated NSPA supported by a unified institutional framework equipped with the legislative mandate, management capacity and financial support required to ensure protected area conservation

Purpose of Project Build upon and facilitate the implementation of the PASMP The PASMP is intended to serve as a road map to improve management effectiveness, support sustainable financing, and increase protected area system coverage The Project also represents a significant advancement towards fulfilling the agreements made at the 7th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD

Project Preparation The preparatory phase of the project placed strong emphasis on stakeholder participation. In depth discussions were held with a host of stakeholders, including national and regional government agencies, NGOs, donors and, most importantly, local stakeholders in the pilot areas

Project Preparation Activities included: Holding several workshops with stakeholders (innovative participatory METT scoring exercise) Facilitating logical framework workshop to generate in-depth discussions and agreement regarding project strategy

Project Preparation PAC was heavily involved in the process Final project document was designed with stakeholders' full involvement and thorough vetting by representatives of key organizations (PIOJ, IOJ, Forestry etc.)

PROJECT GOAL & OBJECTIVE Goal Safeguard Jamaica's globally significant biodiversity Objective Consolidate the operational and financial sustainability of Jamaica’s national system of protected areas Duration – 6 years ( )

COMPONENTS Strengthening of financial planning and revenue generation Rationalizing and integrating the national system of protected areas Increasing the effectiveness of protected area management

Strengthening of Financial Planning and Revenue Generation Establish Protected Area Trust Fund (PATF) and Revolving Fund Develop model site-level business plans Develop revenue generation mechanism in five (5) key PAs Create operational plan for PA system financial strategy

Rationalizing and Integrating the National System of PAs National Protected Areas Legislation and supporting Legal Framework New and expanded PA network

Increasing the Effectiveness of PA Management New and updated PA management plans Monitoring and evaluation system for PA management Conservation-based economic development established in or near 5 PAs Communication strategy to raise key stakeholder awareness and build national constituency

PROJECT ACTIVITIES harmonize management practices to secure cost-effective conservation build capacity for strategic conservation and financial planning create new protected areas to serve as replicable models for improved practices

PROJECT ACTIVITIES establish additional income sources for protected area management

PROJECT BUDGET Total budget - US$ 7,820,585

PROJECT BUDGET

PROGRESS 2010 – Setting up of the Project Management Unit - Engagement of Project Manager - Preparation & submission of reports - Expenditure - J$945,484

PROGRESS 2010 – Project initiation meeting with UNDP - Caribbean Challenge Initiative & Proposed Caribbean Biodiversity Fund meeting - Plan and implement Project Inception Workshop - Presentation of project to PIOJ - Plan first PSC meeting

The Way Forward