BENEATH THE CANOPY: A Visual Journey through Jamaica’s Forests

The Forestry Department (The Agency) is the Executive Agency charged with managing and conserving Jamaica's forest resources, particularly those found on public lands. About 48 per cent of Jamaica is forested, 23 per cent, which is approximately 122,000 hectares of the forested lands, are on Crown Lands. In 1937, the passage of the first Forest Act created a Forest Branch within the (then) Lands Department. Changes throughout the years have included administration under the Ministry of Agriculture (1938), the Ministry of the Environment (2011), the Ministry of Housing, Urban Renewal, Environment & Climate Change (2020) and the Ministry of Economic Growth & Job Creation (2022) and currently the Ministry of Water, Environment and Climate Change (2025). The Agency was officially designated as an Executive Agency in 2010, to enable greater organisational capacity, capability, effectiveness, productivity and accountability. Core functions of the Department include implementing the National Forest Management and Conservation Plan, promoting reforestation and afforestation, regulating the use of forest resources, and supporting forest development on both public and private lands. The Agency also leads research initiatives, conducts forest inventories, enforces forestry legislation, and provides technical guidance to stakeholders. A key feature of the Agency's work is its commitment to community engagement and participatory forest management. Through programmes such as Local Forest Management Committees and the Private Forestry Programme, the Agency empowers citizens, landowners, and communities to actively contribute to conservation and sustainable land use. In addition to environmental protection, the Forestry Department promotes education, public awareness, and eco-tourism, recognising the economic and social value of forests. Its initiatives support livelihoods, enhance climate resilience, and contribute to Jamaica's commitments under international environmental frameworks. Through science-based management, strategic partnerships, and national outreach, the Forestry Department continues to advance Jamaica's sustainable development by protecting, conserving and restoring forests as vital natural assets for generations to come. The Forestry Department operates with a clear mission: to manage forests effectively and responsibly for the benefit of present and future generations. Its work is guided by a vision of a Jamaica where forest ecosystems are valued and sustainably utilised.