Multi-million Dollar Project Planned for Jamaica's Cockpit Country

KINGSTON, Jamaica, CMC -The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has funded a project titled, ‘Conserving biodiversity and reducing land degradation in the Cockpit Country’ to the tune of US$6-million.

This was disclosed by Minister without Portfolio in the Ministry of Economic Growth and Job Creation, Daryl Vaz, during his contribution to the 2019/20 Sectoral Debate in Parliament earlier this week.

He informed the Lower House that several demonstration investment projects in sustainable land management, sustainable forest management and agricultural development practices will be undertaken in selected areas within the Cockpit Country.

“These include small business enterprises that are economically viable and culturally acceptable; a grant facility to incentivise the uptake of best practices; biodiversity and climate-resilient agriculture; sustainable ecotourism initiatives; and sustainable forest management approaches for rehabilitation and restoration,” Vaz said.

He also told the house that along with Prime Minister Andrew Holness they visited the Cockpit Country forest reserve where the Prime Minister planted the first permanent monument on the boundary.

“I would like to utilise this platform to reiterate… that there is no mining in the area to be protected as the Cockpit Country (Designated) Protected Area. This was confirmed by the relevant regulatory and management agencies,” Vaz said.