In Jamaica, the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA) is the central agency for the implementation for Multilateral Environmental Agreements in Jamaica. The Authority has been designated as the focal point for activity related to implementing Jamaica’s rights and obligations under several MEAs. The Authority provides support and a coordinating function in relation to all environmental agreements to which the Government of Jamaica is Party. The Authority also performs the role of “default agency” – where an MEA is not the responsibility of any other specific agency it may be concluded that the Authority has the responsibility for its implementation. To this end, the Authority has undertaken or coordinated a number of MEA project-based activities, has developed a large number of policy documents critical to MEA implementation, and has delegated management functions related to MEA implementation to non-governmental organisations.
Administration of MEAs necessarily falls upon the NRCA in the absence of specific designation of other agency because the Authority has broad responsibility for protecting and conserving the physical environment of Jamaica.
General Roles and Responsibilities of Jamaica’s NRCA:
- Plays a coordinating role in relation to the implementation of all environmental treaties by virtue of its lead agency status.
- Has broad responsibility for protecting and conserving the physical environment of Jamaica. There are also statutory provisions requiring consultation and collaboration between the NRCA and other agencies exercising environmental functions. Coordination is presently most evident with Planning and Ministry of Agriculture officials.
- Has attracted international funding for several of its activities in addition to the domestic sources of funding identified in its parent statute.
- Undertakes MEA project-related activities.
- Develops policy documents that directly impact MEA implementation.
Where constraint of resources has threatened to curtail implementing activity the NRCA has developed the innovative technique of delegating management functions to non-governmental organisations.