Senior officials from the Partnership Initiative for Sustainable Land Management (PISLM) convened with Jamaican government leaders on December 8, 2025, to strengthen collaborative efforts addressing environmental challenges. The delegation, led by PISLM Executive Director Dr. Ronen C.A. Francis and CSIDS SOILCARE Project Manager Trevor Thompson, met with Jamaica’s Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie, Permanent Secretary Marsha Henry-Martin, and Senior Director of Hazard Mitigation Patrick Watson.
The high-level discussions centered on accelerating implementation of the SOILCARE Project, enhancing drought resilience strategies, and supporting recovery initiatives in regions devastated by Hurricane Melissa. Particular attention was given to two critical land degradation zones—Holland Estate and Lowe River intervention sites—identified under Jamaica’s Land Degradation Neutrality Target Setting Programme.
The meeting also addressed broader regional environmental initiatives endorsed at the June 2025 Ministerial Forum in Grenada, including the Caribbean Land Degradation Neutrality Transformative Project, Caribbean Drought Initiative, and Caribbean Sand and Dust Storms Initiative. Minister McKenzie highlighted growing concerns about intensifying dry season droughts and their impact on Jamaica’s water security, especially noting vulnerabilities in Kingston’s water supply infrastructure and agricultural drought effects.
Representing civil society involvement, Reginald Burke of the Caribbean Youth Environment Network attended as part of the Global Water Partnership-Caribbean, demonstrating PISLM’s commitment to multi-stakeholder engagement. PISLM reaffirmed its dedication to supporting Jamaican farmers and collaborating with national and regional partners to address climate variability challenges.