EFJ and CEPF roll out $2m recovery support for hurricane-hit forest communities

Communities that depend on Jamaica’s forests are now getting recovery support after Hurricane Melissa, through targeted assistance meant to strengthen Local Forest Management Committees (LFMCs).

The intervention sits within a wider capacity-building programme funded by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF) and carried out by the Environmental Foundation of Jamaica (EFJ), focused on improving LFMC governance, operations and policy support.

With storm damage still affecting daily life, the programme has taken on added urgency by tackling immediate cleanup needs while also building longer-term resilience. Five LFMCs identified among the worst impacted are benefiting from a $2-million package facilitated by the EFJ.

That support includes equipment to remove fallen trees and debris so communities can reopen access to forest areas that are central to their livelihoods. At a recent handover, the EFJ, in collaboration with the Forestry Department, delivered five chainsaws, along with oil, gas containers, gloves and other safety items.

The equipment was officially handed to the Forestry Department on behalf of the LFMCs. “When we visited the LFMCs after Hurricane Melissa, we realised that undertaking the required clean-up would be difficult. We therefore did some reallocation of the budget under the CEPF project to help them recover,” said Charmine Webber, EFJ programme officer for the CEPF project.

Webber added: “We thought that these tools were necessary to help them continue their work and regain full access to the forest, which contributes to their livelihood. They also received financial support to help them rebuild damaged houses and the LFMC offices.”

The Forestry Department said the assistance is significant. “This is a very, very important donation to the LFMCs ... EFJ has been critical in helping the LFMCs fulfil their mandate of co-managing their forest resources for the betterment of Jamaica. We are very thankful …” said Alex Foote, rural sociologist with the Forestry Department.

LFMCs are key actors in Jamaica’s environmental management, helping to protect forest resources while supporting local economic activity, including farming and eco-tourism.