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Jamaica does not benefit from a coherent legal framework to facilitate efficient and cost-effective protected area management. Twenty-one laws and nearly twenty national policies and plans describe the National Protected Area System (NPAS). This regulatory framework allows for the establishment of more than seventeen types of protected areas. In addition to this complex regulatory matrix, individual protected areas may be subject to contracts agreed between primary agencies and their designated proxies that further describe management responsibilities and terms.
The long-term solution to the ongoing loss of biodiversity in Jamaica’s protected areas is a consolidated National Protected Area System (NPAS) supported by a unified institutional framework equipped with the legislative mandate, management capacity and financial support required to ensure protected area conservation and this project seeks to rationalize and integrate the legal aspects of the NPAS.
Duties and Responsibilities
The overall objective of this consultancy is to support project outcomes and activities related to legal and institutional reforms that will assist in rationalizing and integrating the National Protected Area System.
The International Legal Expert shall be responsible for providing critical technical input towards rationalizing and integrating the legal aspects of the NPAS.
The major tasks to be completed under this consultancy include to:
Provide recommendations for drafting instructions for PA national legislation ensuring legislation reflects best international conservation principles and practices
Provide recommendations for the establishment of conservation easements in PAs
Review model protected area co-management contracts incorporating best international practices.
Support the strengthening of financial sustainability in the National Protected Area System
Support legal capacity building programmes related to protected areas
Develop drafting instructions for legislation and regulations to support the establishment of new Protected Areas ensuring legislation reflects best international conservation principles and practices
Other critical duties as outlined in the detailed Terms of Reference
Competencies
Strong interpersonal skills and ability to interface with a wide cross-section of stakeholders including Government Agencies, NGOs, International Development Partners, Multi-lateral and Bi-lateral Agencies and Academic Institutions
Required Skills and Experience
Attorney-at-Law with profound knowledge of the English Law
Post Graduate Degree in Environmental Law
A minimum of 10 years proven experience in the fields of environmental law, protected areas management/biodiversity conservation/ environmental protection/natural resource management
Knowledge of sustainable tourism and “”green” development modalities will be an asset
