Jamaica is more prepared to handle and manage protection of its native plants and animals as a result of extensive work of a recently concluded project implemented by the National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA). <\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over the last four and half years, NEPA, through the project, Mitigating the Threat of Invasive Alien Species in the Insular Caribbean (MTIASIC), developed a number of strategies to lessen threats being posed to the island’s terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecosystems from Invasive Alien Species (IAS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
IAS are plants, animals or microorganisms introduced deliberately or unintentionally into areas where they do not occur naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nelsa English-Johnson, MTIASIC project coordinator, NEPA, said these strategies included developing a National Invasive Alien Species Strategy and Action Plan (2014-2020) to guide policies, legislation and regulations in the management of IAS for the next six years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n