Jamaica prepares to ratify regional wildlife protection protocol within three months - Samuda

The Government anticipates ratifying the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Protocol within the next three months, says Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment, and Climate Change. The protocol is an agreement for the protection and sustainable use of coastal and marine biodiversity in the Caribbean region.

Samuda made the disclosure during a Ministerial Briefing at the Diplomatic Days 2026 high-level engagement, held at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Foreign Trade offices in downtown Kingston on March 18, according to report from JIS News, the government's news agency.

He explained that the Government is finalising work on three critical pieces of legislation – the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) Act, the Wildlife Protection Act, and the Forestry Act, which will enable the ratification of the protocol.

The protocol falls under the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, commonly called the Cartagena Convention.

“We expect, through the help of and funding of the EU (European Union), to complete a new Forestry Act this year. That will allow us to engage, certainly, our European partners and North American partners in particular forest management agreements that we’ve not been able to participate in before,” the minister outlined.

He further noted that the Government is finalising amendments to the NRCA Act, which will enable Jamaica to advance towards ratifying the Escazú Agreement.

This agreement, entered into force on April 22, 2021, enshrines the right of present and future generations to live in a healthy environment and to pursue sustainable development.

It is the first environmental treaty for the Latin America and Caribbean region, and the world’s first agreement to include provisions for human rights defenders in environmental matters.

Samuda emphasised that Jamaica is “putting its house in order” regarding environmental management, by updating legislation and making critical investments to protect the environment.

He highlighted Jamaica’s initiatives, including the ban on certain single-use plastics, the planned expansion of a waste separation programme in government buildings, the restoration of wetlands, and measures such as tailpipe testing for vehicles to reduce emissions, as important steps being undertaken.

“So, we’re making practical investments to ensure that our regulatory environment is correct. We are also putting in the protection and restoration efforts that we absolutely must, if we are to be faithful to what we call on our partners to do,” Samuda stated.

- JIS News

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