Revised Forest Policy for Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

The Revised Forest Policy for Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The timeframe of this policy is 10 years between 2018 and 2028. The objectives of this policy are to: (I) conserve species, ecosystems, and genetic diversity; (II) manage forest resources to build Grenada’s climate change resilience implementing appropriate climate change adaptation and mitigation actions; (III) optimize the sustainable contribution of forest resources to social and economic development, supporting food security, forest-based livelihoods and local green enterprises; (IV) maintain, enhance and restore the ability of forests to provide goods and services on a sustainable basis, emphasising co-management approaches; and (V) ensure a strong enabling environment for the implementation of the policy.
Biodiversity conservation will be ensured through the protection and restoration of vulnerable, threatened or degraded ecosystems; protection of species which are important because of their endemicity, rarity or value; sustainable use of biodiversity for social, spiritual and economic benefits; and alignment of forest management activities with sectoral, national, regional and international biodiversity and environmental frameworks. Protected areas management will be strengthened by implementing integrated and institutional arrangements for the sustainable management of existing protected areas and the green spaces and forested areas within national parks and other protected areas. Wildlife conservation and management will be improved for socio-economic and ecological benefits. Actions will be carried out to improve the carbon sequestration function of forests for climate mitigation. The adaptation and management of the impacts of climate change on forests, including drought, fires, invasive species and extreme weather events, will be strengthened. Forest health will be promoted and best practices will be used for climate change resilience. Sustainable forest-based livelihoods and local green enterprises will be supported and promoted for food security, economic and social benefits. The extraction, processing and utilization of timber and non-timber products will be carried out in a sustainable manner. Sustainable management of dry forest ecosystems and wetlands will be promoted. Afforestation will be promoted to reduce soil erosion, improve soil fertility, beautify the environment, provide timber and non-timber products and maintain biodiversity in urban and rural areas. Recreation and eco-tourism will be promoted through sustainable management and diversification of the recreational and touristic uses of forests. Best practices will be implemented to improve watershed management. The equitable participation of stakeholders will be facilitated in all aspects of the implementation of the forest policy. The national, regional and international partnerships will be fostered to support forest resources management. Public awareness will be raised on the importance of forests and the requirements for its conservation. Research activities in forested areas or on forest resources will be monitored. Information systems relating forest resources management will be developed. The institutional capacity will be strengthened for effective and sustainable management of forest resources to support strategic actions. Forestry management in Carriacou and Petite Martinique will be improved, and effective systems will be developed to control the grazing and movement of livestock within forested areas.