Terra Nova All-Suite Hotel, Waterloo Road, Kingston, Jamaica
14 May 2026 at 10:00 AM

Salutations

• Ms. Gillian Guthrie, Chief Technical Director
  Distinguished Representatives of Government
  Colleagues from UNDP
  Ladies and Gentlemen

Good morning. On behalf of the United Nations Development Programme Multi-Country Office here in Jamaica, it is my pleasure to welcome you to today’s Validation Session for Jamaica’s 7th National Report to the Convention on Biological Diversity.

I extend warm greetings to our partners in the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change and the technical teams supporting this work. I also acknowledge the presence and contributions of representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, academia, the private sector, and community stakeholders, each of whom play a vital role in Jamaica’s biodiversity stewardship. 

I thank you for making the time to participate in this integral validation session. Your presence signals our shared commitment to safeguarding Jamaica’s natural heritage and ensuring that our national reporting accurately reflects both progress and the realities on the ground. 

Our purpose here is clear: to validate Jamaica’s draft Seventh National Report. This matters because national reports are a key mechanism through which we are able to communicate measures taken to implement the Convention on Biological Diversity and assess effectiveness over time. 

This report serves as a key contributor to the broader global review of progress under the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. It is not only a national record, but also part of how the world measures whether we are collectively moving toward the UN-backed global vision of “living in harmony with nature” by 2050.

UNDP’s support is grounded in the reality that biodiversity underpins development. Healthy ecosystems protect lives and livelihoods, supporting food systems, water security, tourism, disaster risk reduction, and climate resilience. For small island developing contexts like Jamaica this connection between nature and resilience is direct. It also reflects UNDP’s integrated approach across its six Signature Solutions: poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, energy, and gender equality, recognizing that biodiversity conservation is not a standalone priority, but a cross-cutting driver of inclusive, sustainable development outcomes.

UNDP’s role is to help countries translate global commitments into nationally led practical action through strengthened institutions, inclusive of planning, improved data systems and credible reporting. Today’s session is a solid example of that support in action.

UNDP is implementing the Umbrella Programme to Support NBSAP Update and the 7th National Reports, funded through the Global Environment Facility, to help countries update their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) in alignment with the Kunming-Montreal Framework. 

In Jamaica, our partnership approach has been consistent: UNDP has worked alongside the Government of Jamaica to enable coordination, convene stakeholders and ensure that the reporting process is technically sound and inclusive.

The preparation of the 7th National Report followed a consultative and evidence-informed approach, engaging government agencies, NGOs, academia, and local communities. This was intentionally designed to ensure that the report reflects the perspectives, knowledge, and priorities of the government, people and institutions actively working on biodiversity conservation and management across the island.

A strong report helps Jamaica clearly articulate what has been achieved, where challenges remain and what support is needed to accelerate implementation of national biodiversity targets aligned to the Kunming-Montreal Framework. It also strengthens the foundation for policy alignment, improved monitoring systems, and future investments, nationally and internationally. 

As we begin today’s session, I encourage everyone to engage candidly and constructively. Please interrogate the evidence, confirm what is accurate, highlight what is missing, and help us strengthen the report so that it reflects Jamaica’s reality and ambitions with integrity.

UNDP remains committed to partnering with the Government of Jamaica and stakeholders to support biodiversity conservation, sustainable use, and resilient development outcomes, as we mark 50 years of partnership and development impact in Jamaica.

Thank you again for your participation and I look forward to productive discussions.