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Reforestation plan in Jamaica
CLARENDON, JAMAICA -- Alcoa and Jamaica’s Forestry Department have signed an agreement to work together to rehabilitate reclaimed mined-out lands through reforestation on the island. The five-year accord includes developing a public education program, planting of suitable trees, and a research program aimed at enhancing the development and reforestation of the lands.
JAMALCO and the Forestry Department in the Jamaican Ministry of Agriculture have signed a memorandum of Understanding (MOU), to establish a framework for collaboration for the successful rehabilitation of reclaimed mined-out lands through reforestation of these areas.
This five year accord, signed recently by Jerome Maxwell, JAMALCO’S Managing Director and Marilyn Headley, Conservator of Forests, at the Halse Hall Great House in Clarendon, will see the Forestry Department and JAMALCO partnering to effect this restoration of adequate plant cover.
Guided by the ‘no-net-loss’ policy, the two organizations will work to compensate for the loss of forest cover due to mining operations. This move will see the establishment of new forests on selected reclaimed bauxite mined out areas as well as the protection and preservation of existing forests.
Under the MOU, the Forestry Department will utilize its skills for the establishment and management of forests, along with a forest research program aimed at enhancing the development and reforestation of the lands.
According to Miss Headley, this is in keeping with the Forestry Department’s mandate outlined in the Forest Act of 1996 and which includes privately owned properties such as the JAMALCO lands.
At the signing, Mr. Maxwell, described the MOU as “timely and reflective of JAMALCO’s environment protection policies and Alcoa’s worldwide ‘One Million Trees’ project.”
Specific areas of cooperation agreed on in the MOU include the development of a public education program for farmers and students to improve understanding of the contribution of forests to local and national well-being and economic development. Provisions have also been made for other areas of collaboration to be explored.
The agreement also specifically mandates the planting of suitable ornamental and lumber tree species such as cedar, ficus, acacia, wild tamarind, blue mahoe, mahogany, bitter wood, bitter damson, and spanish elm along with fruit trees such as mango, orange, avocado, breadfruit and ackee.
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