The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)

Managing and protecting Jamaica s land wood and water

ORGANIZATIONAL HISTORY The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) is a new Executive Agency that became operational on April 1, 2001. It is an agency of the Ministry of Land and Environment.

THE AGENCY NEPA represents a merger between the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA), the Town Planning Department (TPD) and the Land Development and Utilization Commission (LDUC).

Why the merger? The Agency results from the work of the Government of Jamaica s Public Sector Modernization Programme. The aim of the merger is to integrate environmental, planning and sustainable development policies and programmes as well as to improve customer service.

NEPA s LEGISLATIVE MANDATE NEPA operates under the following Acts: The Watershed Protection Act The Beach Control Act The Wildlife Protection Act The Natural Resources Conservation Act The Land Development & Utilization Act The Town & Country Planning Act

NEPA s POLICIES The work of NEPA is guided by the following policies and plans: Jamaica National Environmental Action Plan (JaNEAP) 1999-2002 Beach Policy for Jamaica (Draft) Watershed Management Policy (Draft) National Physical Plan Environmental Management Systems Policy and Strategy (Draft). Policy for Jamaica s System of Protected Areas 1997 Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (Draft) Policy for Jamaica s System of Protected Areas 1997

MISSION To promote Sustainable Development by ensuring protection of the environment and orderly development in Jamaica through highly motivated staff performing at the highest standard.

VISION Jamaica s natural resources are being used in a sustainable way and there is broad understanding of environment, planning and development issues, with extensive participation amongst citizens and a high level of compliance to relevant legislation.

NEPA S STRUCTURE The CEO of NEPA is Franklin McDonald. The organisation has eight divisions which are further broken down into branches. These Divisions are: REGULATORY AND LEGAL SERVICES DIVISION Applications Secretariat Branch Legal Services Branch Board Secretariat Branch POLICIES, PROGRAMMES & PROJECTS COORDINATION DIVISION Strategic Planning & Policies Branch Projects Branch CORPORATE SERVICES DIVISION Human Resource & Development Branch Finance & Accounts Branch Operations Management Branch Public Education & Community Outreach Branch

NEPA S STRUCTURE CONTD. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY DIVISION Data & Applications Management Branch Network Operations Branch COMPLIANCE & REGIONAL SERVICES DIVISION Enforcement Branch PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT DIVISION Development Control Branch Local Area Planning Branch Land Use Branch National Spatial Planning & Research Branch

NEPA S STRUCTURE CONTD. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION Pollution Prevention & Control Branch Environmental Standards & Regulations Branch Environmental Monitoring & Assessment Branch CONSERVATION & PROTECTION DIVISION Protected Areas Policy & Management Branch Sustainable Watersheds Branch Coastal Zone Management Branch Biodiversity Branch ENVIRONMENTAL WARDEN SERVICE PROJECT

The Biodiversity Branch MISSION To achieve a balanced co-existence between man and his natural environment by ensuring the survival of Jamaica s flora, fauna and micro-organisms and the sustainability of the island s biological resources.

Branch Functions Develops and maintains the legal framework to protect endangered and endemic species Formulates and implements management strategies/plans for biological resources Promotes the recovery of endangered and endemic species Assists and supports on site conservation programmes: research, rehabilitation of species and re-introduction into their natural habitats

Branch Functions Prepares directories, reports and technical studies to implement international conventions and protocols namely: Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and Protocol concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW)

Branch Functions Issues CITES permits/certificates, following identification and examination of animals and plants Liaises with local and international environmental NGO s, universities and appropriate government agencies to create an efficient network of information

Branch Functions Consults with Range States with a view to co-ordinating their efforts to manage and protect endangered or threatened migratory species Develops conceptual models for ecosystem monitoring programmes of biological resources

Current Projects Development of the Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan Jamaica Iguana Project The Sea Turtle Project The Game Birds Age Distribution Survey Biosafety Framework

Protected Areas Branch Activities Policy development Legislative Framework International Conventions/Protocols Declaration of Protected Areas

Activities Technical assistance Permit and licensing system Management plans/environmental policy frameworks

Activities System Plan Development Cooperation Agreements/Delegation Instruments Financing Protected area management Standard Determination and adherence

Activities Collaborating with the Legal Services Branch and the Ministry of Land and Environment in the development and revision of delegation instruments for the Portland Bight Protected Area, Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park and the Montego Bay Marine Park. Conducting consultations with resource users and non-governmental organisations regarding implementation of the revenue generation system

Activities Monitoring and evaluation of activities of entities delegated with management authority. Reviewing permits applications and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) submitted. Collaboration in preparation of drafting instructions for user fee regulations and additional categories of protected areas.

Current Protected Areas Portland Bight Montego Bay Marine park Blue and John Crow Mountains Negril Marine Park Negril Environmental Protection Area Palisadoes Port Royal Protected Area Coral Springs/Mountain Spring Ocho Rios Marine Park

Sustainable Watersheds Branch Watershed: the land area that water flows across or through, on its way to a stream, river or sea; a defined geographical area or location where the collection and drainage of rainfall occurs in a particular region

Aims and Objectives of the Branch To ensure retention of rainfall in watersheds to replenish water resources for domestic, irrigation, industrial and other social and economic needs. To achieve a pattern of land use that is balanced and environmentally sound. To reduce the destructive effects of rain due to soil erosion, tree cutting and other loss of vegetation. To integrate watershed management through participation in the National Integrated Watershed Management Council. To promote public awareness of watersheds and watershed related issues.

Aims and Objectives of the Branch To ensure retention of rainfall in watersheds to replenish water resources for domestic, irrigation, industrial and other social and economic needs. To achieve a pattern of land use that is balanced and environmentally sound. To reduce the destructive effects of rain due to soil erosion, tree cutting and other loss of vegetation. To integrate watershed management through participation in the National Integrated Watershed Management Council.

Coastal Zone Management Branch PRIORITIES Reducing the adverse effects of climate change and sea level rise on Jamaica s coastal assets and ecosystems. Development and rehabilitation of recreational beaches for the benefit of Jamaicans and visitors. Re-examination and development of the Coastal Atlas to provide information on the extent and status of changes occurring within coastal, ecological and physical systems due to natural processes, indirect and direct human interventions

Coastal Zone Management Branch Implementing the Blue Flag system to protect our vital coastal resources. Mapping, assessment and monitoring of coastal resources and hazards for improved decisionmaking. Conservation of Jamaican coral reefs and related resources through the International Coral Reef Initiative

Environmental Management Division The Permit and Licence Programme for industrial type projects, including post-permit/licence monitoring Routine Inland Water Quality Monitoring Coastal Water Quality Monitoring Pollution Control Programme

Rio Cobre White River Wag Water River Hot Issues Air Quality Monitoring Development of Air Quality Monitoring Database Development of guidelines, standards and regulations

Hot Issues (con td) Pollution Incidents and Complaints investigations Development of Standards, Guidelines and technical regulations. Programmes for the phase-out of environmentally damaging substances Review of waste disposal proposals, environmental audit reports, remediation plans for recommendation to the TRC for decision.

Environmental Management Systems A voluntary tool that can be used by businesses and organizations alike to improve environmental performance through preventing and reducing the impact of their activities on the environment

EMS Variety of activities done to protect the environment, e.g. the planting of trees, recycling and composting. Green Paper 2/01, Towards a National Policy and Strategy on Environmental Management Systems. being used to promote the use of EMS within Jamaican businesses and organizations. EMS can be voluntarily used by businesses to improve efficiency, and productivity

Hot Pollution issues Kingston Harbour Many rivers Coastal Waters: Ocho Rios Bay Blue Lagoon Appleton Estate Bauxite Areas Cement Company

Main pollutants Sewage Agricultural run-off Stacks emissions Motor vehicle emissions

Planning & Development Division Strategic Objective To formulate an effective and efficient spatial strategy To formulate and implement sustainable development standards To optimise the use of arable lands To promote balanced land use

Planning & Development Division Mission Statement To ensure the orderly and sustainable development of Jamaica through the implementation of an efficient spatial strategy through community participation and which creates attractive and healthy places to live and work.

Planning & Development Division Structure National Spatial Planning and Research Local Area Planning Land Use Development Control

Planning & Development Division Functions Provide strategic policy directions for national spatial development according to the National Physical Plan To prepare sustainable development plans, orders To prepare a participatory framework for public participation in the planning and development process

Planning & Development Division Functions Cont d Prepare policy and standards to guide and encourage development with respect to location, form and appearance Bring all arable lands into production and protect agricultural land from fragmentation Increase agricultural production and reduce rural/urban migration To development, subdivision, enquiries, restrictive covenants and change of use applications

Planning & Development Division Functions Provide strategic policy directions for development according to the National Physical Plan To prepare sustainable development plans, orders To prepare a participatory framework for public participation in the planning and development process To prepare and maintain a land use database.