The Local Forest Management Committee (LFMC)

The Cockpit Country’s Local Forest Management Committee (LFMC) is a co-management institution developed in partnership between the Jamaican Foresty Department and local residents. It is commited to the conservation of the forest’s resources and the development of heritage and cultural tourism offerings that create sustainable livelihoods and industries for the local comunity. Together, Cockpit Country LFMC members and residents strive to create both an enlightening experience for visitors as well as offer training in resource management, tourism and marketing, and economic development to the local community.

As global forestry becomes less focused on timber production and more concerned with watershed protection, biodiversity conservation, and tourism, the issues of regulation and enforcement have become increasingly challenging. Jamaica’s Forestry Department stands out for its willingness to meet these challenges, and in so doing is creating a dynamic and positive relationship with the people it serves.

In keeping with the 1996 Forest Act, the Local Forest Management Committee’s functions include:

• monitoring the condition of natural resources in the relevant forest reserve, forest management area or protected area
• holding discussions and public meetings about these natural resources
• advising the Conservator on the development of the forest management plan and regulations
• proposing incentives for conservation practices
• helping to design and execute conservation projects