Protected Areas System Master Plan - Jamaica National Heritage Trust

Protected Areas System Master Plan: JamaicaCONSULTATION DRAFTEconomic, social and ecological benefits of an integrated protected areasnetworkprovides the quantity and quality required by an ever increasingpopulation; Agriculture: By ensuring the maintenance of ecosystem services requiredby agriculture, including water, soil stabilization, and pollination; Natural disaster mitigation: By providing natural buffers against the effectsof severe flooding, storm surges, high winds, and the increasing impacts ofclimate change; Fisheries: By ensuring that areas of importance to fisheries stocks, such asmigratory routes, nursery and incubation sites and spawning grounds aremaintained; Tourism: By providing the natural infrastructure required for a naturebasedtourism industry.Source: Ervin, J., et al. 2010, based on The Convention on Biological Diversity, 2008.1.1.3 Linkages to National Plans and StrategiesThe preparation and publication of the PASMP is consistent with national plans and strategies, as set outin the following documents:• The Policy for Jamaica’s System of Protected Areas (1997) provides for the development of anational system plan for all protected areas to set priorities and identify national interests inprotected areas, and guide annual planning of work programmes, budgets, staff, training, andequipment (Government of Jamaica, 1997). Indeed, the National Strategy and Action Plan onBiological Diversity in Jamaica notes that the successful implementation of this policy dependson “the coordination of policy, planning and implementation among the agencies withresponsibility for the different types of protected areas” (National Environment and PlanningAgency, 2003).• National outcome 13 of Vision 2030 Jamaica: National Development Plan is the sustainablemanagement and use of environmental and natural resources. Vision 2030 recognises thePASMP as a critical tool towards meeting the country’s Environmental Performance Indextargets (Planning Institute of Jamaica, 2009).• In addition to sound stewardship of natural resources, Vision 2030 supports the need topreserve our heritage through the development of a framework for identifying, protecting andpreserving aspects of our heritage. The National Development Plan has identified thepreservation, development and promotion of Jamaica’s cultural heritage as one of the nationalstrategies towards developing an “authentic and transformational culture” (National outcome4); the PASMP plays a critical role in this regard.9