Jamaica launches collaborative plan to safeguard threatened native plants

Jamaica’s National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), the IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG), the University of the West Indies (UWI), and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew have published the report “Moving from assessment to planning for threatened plants of Jamaica”. This report sets out priority actions to prevent extinctions and recover some of the island’s most imperiled native plants.  

Although Jamaica covers just 10,830 km², it supports more than 3,000 vascular plant species, with roughly 800 found nowhere else. Many face mounting pressures from invasive species, land conversion, mining, unsustainable harvesting, and climate change. The new report provides a science-based pathway from Red List assessment to targeted conservation action, grounded in local expertise and coordinated implementation.

From assessment to planning

Supported by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF), the effort began with an IUCN Red List workshop in April 2024 that assessed 106 species (80 endemic) from three priority families—orchids (Orchidaceae), melastomes (Melastomataceae) and palms (Arecaceae)—occurring across Jamaica’s Key Biodiversity Areas. Based on extinction risk and feasibility, 59 taxa (including 45 orchids, 13 melastomes and one palm) were selected for action planning.

A five-day participatory planning workshop, facilitated by CPSG and hosted at UWI from 22–26 July 2024, brought together 31 participants from 16 institutions—government agencies, academia and NGOs. Working groups focused on: (1) community engagement, (2) industry interfaces (agriculture, mining and development), and (3) technical and technological challenges. Cross-cutting teams then addressed implementation, integration with existing initiatives, and building ex situ capacity in Jamaica to support rescue, recovery and reintroduction where needed.  

The process followed CPSG’s evidence-based facilitation methods, resulting in a practical roadmap that links field knowledge, policy, and propagation expertise.

What the plan delivers  

The report recommends 15 goals and 52 priority actions to: improve regulation and biodiversity safeguards in large-scale agriculture, mining and development; empower communities as conservation partners with measurable co-benefits; fill key information gaps on distributions, ecology and threats; modernize survey and monitoring tools; and expand ex situ capacity (seed banking, living collections, propagation) to backstop wild populations.

Actions are presented both by theme and by priority sites, including Dolphin Head, Peckham Woods, North Coast Forest, Cockpit Country, Black River Great Morass, Catadupa, Blue and John Crow Mountains, and Bull Bay—so implementers can align efforts with site-specific needs.

Shared vision and accountability  

Participants agreed the following long-term vision: "By 2054, Jamaica will be following an established protocol for protecting our endangered and native plants, creating strong policies to safeguard these natural treasures. We will work together to understand and nurture our flora, ensuring they thrive in the wild and in nurseries. By fostering a love for our plants, we will inspire everyone to protect our environment and create sustainable livelihoods for future generations."

To drive implementation, partners propose a dedicated working group coordinated by NEPA as Secretariat, with government and non-government organizations assigning focal points and integrating priority actions into their operational plans. CPSG will conduct a follow-up survey at 36 months to assess post-workshop activity, progress and early outcomes for species.  

Access the report here.

• Annexes include species lists, site summaries, and monitoring indicators to support implementation by agencies, communities and partners.  
• Partners: National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA); IUCN SSC Conservation Planning Specialist Group (CPSG); The University of the West Indies (UWI); Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; IUCN ORMACC
• Support: Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEPF)/ CANARI