Anthony Henry

Mangrove forests, watersheds and wetlands are to be placed at the centre of Jamaica’s post–Hurricane Melissa recovery strategy, as the Government moves to expand the use of ecosystem-based and nature-based solutions in disaster risk reduction.

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change Matthew Samuda told the House of Representatives that assessments following Hurricane Melissa showed approximately 23 per cent of the island’s mangrove forests sustained damage, with some western mangrove systems recording damage to as much as 90 per cent of trees.

The most affected mangrove areas were identified in Trelawny, St James, Hanover, St Elizabeth and Westmoreland, where wind throw, sediment displacement and prolonged flooding caused uprooting, canopy loss and severe defoliation.

Samuda said the damage has direct implications for shoreline protection, fisheries, biodiversity and coastal carbon storage, prompting the prioritisation of mangrove restoration within the national response. Targeted replanting is planned for Parottee and other vulnerable wetlands using species and techniques proven to stabilise shorelines and accelerate natural recovery.

Beyond mangroves, the minister warned that forest loss in key watersheds increases the risk of flooding, landslides and water insecurity, particularly in areas already vulnerable to extreme rainfall events.

As part of the response, forests and wetlands will be treated as core risk-reduction assets in hurricane-affected watersheds and coastal zones. The approach will be integrated into national climate adaptation planning and economic analysis, explicitly valuing ecosystem services such as water regulation, soil stability and coastal defence.

The strategy will complement the implementation of the National Mangrove and Swamp Management Plan and the National Ecosystem Restoration Plan being led by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA), with multi-agency coordination and long-term stewardship identified as key pillars.