The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is committed to promoting sustainable environmental practices that assist to preserve Jamaica's diverse natural resources, whilst contributing to efforts at reducing poverty and natural resource depletion. UNDP interventions focus on institutional strengthening of the key Jamaican government institutions that are involved in the management of the island's natural resources, as well as assisting the government with fulfilling the requirements of the international conventions and protocols to which Jamaica is a signatory.

Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building in the  Forestry & Watershed Management Sectors

• Environmental Management of Watersheds
• Development of Institutional Capabilities

The UNDP through this project worked with the National Environment and Planning Agency[1] to strengthen its input into those laws and policies that prevent and control man-made degradation of watersheds, as well as carry out corrective actions. One of the key objectives accomplished was the production of a Green Paper on the National Watershed Policy that was laid in Parliament. UNDP also supported the NEPA in the development of selected watersheds using a participatory management process. During this process, Local Watershed Management Committees (LMCs) were established throughout Jamaica.

Capacity Building and Participatory Approaches to Planning and Management of the Forestry Sector
Jamaica has a serious problem of deforestation. UNDP has been providing support to the Forestry sector with regard to good management practices and proper watershed protection and preservation. UNDP helped to improve the planning and management capacity of the Forestry Department and other selected government institutions as well as the National Environmental Societies Trust (NEST), an umbrella NGO, thereby promoting the rehabilitation, protection and management of Jamaica's forestry resources. The project supported the development of the National Forestry Conservation and Management Plan that was approved by Cabinet and this document has identified potential project ideas for follow-up and project proposals are currently being prepared.  One of the imporatants aspects of this plan is for the establishment of the National Forest Fund, to support reforestation and sound forest conservation.

Ensuring Compliance with International Conventions and Protocols
There are several project activities that are being funded by the UNDP through the Global Environment Facility (GEF)[2].

Climate Change National Communications Project
Jamaica is a party to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The Convention was ratified in 1995 and the government is committed to preparing the island's first National Communications as required under Article 12 of the UNFCCC. The project has therefore been providing assistance to fulfil these requirements that ultimately will contribute to the global objectives of stabilizing Greenhouse Gas concentrations in the atmosphere and enhancing awareness and knowledge on climate related issues. 

National Biological Diversity Strategy and Action Plan
The conservation and sustainable use of Jamaica's biological resources is a priority for the Government of Jamaica (GoJ). This is demonstrated by the fact that Jamaica is a party to the Convention on Biodiversity (CBD). However, despite on-going conservation programmes, serious threats to biodiversity remain. This project provided support to the GoJ, to formulate a National Biodiversity Strategy in accordance with Articles 6 and 8 of the CBD, as well as prepare an action plan. The Plan was tabled in Parliament, and went through an extensive public consultation process, the final document is now to be submitted to Cabinet for approval.

National Programme for Recycling and Recovery of Refrigerants
There are two projects in this area, the first was to prevent the discharge of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) into the atmosphere and formed a part of an overall strategy by the Government of Jamaica for the refrigeration and air conditioning sector. Recovery and recycling equipment was distributed to trained personnel took place and two national recovery centers were established. The second phase will provide incentives to end users to phase out the use of CFCs by 2005. Both projects fall under the Montreal Protocol, a global treaty that is aimed at phasing out the use and production of ozone depleting substances.

Promotion of Community Involvement in Ecosystem Management in Protected Areas
This category contains projects that seek the long term goal of promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, biodiversity conservation, co-management of protected areas and environmentally sustainable alternative economic activities.

Dolphin Head Project
This project, jointly funded by the EFJ and UNDP, contributed to the sustainability of the natural resources of the Dolphin Head Mountains, by enhancing the management of the plants of the areas by local communities. Dolphin Head is very rich in endemic plants, and several species occur no where else in the world except Dolphin Head.  The main goal is to ensure that area can be managed as a self-sustaining protected area with a primary focus on guiding community strengthening and capacity building activities amongst all the stakeholders involved.

Development of a Policy Framework for the management of Solid and Hazardous Wastes.

The project provided support to develop a policy for the management of plastic packaging material and hazardous waste management in Jamaica. The project provided inputs for the National Solid Waste Management Programme.