NWC AND FORESTRY DEPARTMENT SIGN CO-MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT

The National Water Commission (NWC) and the Forestry Department have signed a co-management agreement in respect of selected watershed lands. The agreement was signed on Friday, October 6, which was designated as ‘World Tree Planting Day’.

Under the agreement, the NWC and the Forestry Department will co-operate in the following areas:
• Enforcing the Forest Act and the National Water Commission Act (including eviction and or prosecution of persons and regular inspection and patrol of the areas)
• Tree planting activities on about 120 hectares of NWC controlled lands
• Training activities in relation to tree planting and watershed management issues
• Maintenance of access roads and trails to the particular areas and
• Public education activities to better inform the public of the importance of watersheds

The agreement will be in force for 5 years and is expected to cost the National Water Commission some $18M.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, State Minister in the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Dr. Fenton Ferguson said, “It is no co-incidence that the NWC and the Forestry Department would gather today to officially launch a very significant Co-Management Agreement for the improvement, re-afforesting and maintenance of some selected critical watershed lands.”

Continuing, the Minister asserted that, “ Increasingly, we are now recognising the need to take very pro-active measures to safeguard and improve these watershed lands. Hence, while the NWC is not directly responsible for managing the state of all Jamaica’s watersheds, we do have an interest and must do what we can to protect these watersheds…these lands have serious implications for water supply services…and water sustainability.”

He noted that watersheds are in good condition when:
• The trees are not destroyed
• The hillsides are not bare and soil erosion is controlled
• Sewage and other wastes are not disposed of near to water sources
• Industrial chemicals, pesticides and other chemicals are not allowed to contaminate water resources and
• The eco-system is held in good balance

Minister Ferguson endorsed the initiative and said that the Ministry of Housing, Transport, Water and Works supported the NWC in the venture.