United Nations Development Programme Jamaica

The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), held an inception workshop on March 17, 2009 to review the implementation plan for piloting the Natural Resource Valuation in Environmental Impact Assessments project. The Environmental Impact Assessment process was introduced formally to Jamaica in 1991 under the Permits and License System administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA), now NEPA.

The EIA is a significant environmental management and decision-making tool. Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA’s) though not a part of the Permit and License System have been recognized by the regulatory authorities as another significant decision-making tool. The project - Piloting Natural Resource Valuation in Environmental Impact Assessments will see the incorporation of Natural Resource Valuation into the EIA and SEA processes which will serve to strengthen the role of these environmental management tools in assisting Jamaica to achieve its goals of sustainable prosperity. NEPA provided stakeholders with details on the project.

The project will have the following aspects: 

1. The development of a natural resource valuation tool.
2. Work in parallel with the Environment Action (ENACT) Programme as SEA’s are undertaken on various sectoral policies, programmes and plans.
3. Contribute to capacity building activities through training and sensitization of the value of SEA’s
4. Promote enforcement and compliance of EIA’s with training and sensitization on the utility of natural resource valuation as a means to meeting both national and global environmental objectives.