Jamaica Puts J$33.2 Million Laser-Capable VTOL Drone and New Forest Inventory System Into Service for Post-Hurricane Forest Recovery
KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica's Forestry Department announced on October 26 that the country's first laser-capable vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) drone and a new National Forest Inventory system have been put into operation, a combined J$33.2 million investment supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) through the NDC Partnership Action Fund (PAF), to strengthen forest recovery and expansion programmes in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa and to advance Jamaica's climate commitments under its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
The fixed-wing drone, known for longer flight times and detailed laser-quality field data, will support expert teams in validating conditions and changes across Jamaica's forests. The new National Forest Inventory (NFI) programme has been integrated into the department's Forest Management System (FMS) and features real-time dashboards and visualization and reporting tools. Ainsley Henry, the Forestry Department's chief executive officer and Conservator of Forests, said the technology is particularly important as Jamaica responds to extreme weather events and forest degradation, strengthening the agency's capacity to assess affected areas, monitor changes over time, prioritise restoration and make evidence-based decisions. The work supports Jamaica's NDC commitment to no net loss of forest cover.
UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Kishan Khoday said the hurricane caused US$1.3 billion in loss and damage to the environment, including destruction of forests and critical watersheds, and that technology solutions can drive green recovery and ecosystem restoration. Under the RE-LEAF national framework to restore forests and strengthen climate resilience after Hurricane Melissa, the agency is replanting 300,000 seedlings in Phase 1, prioritising 170,000 in key watersheds, 50,000 in urban and peri-urban areas, and 30,000 fruit trees to support food security and community livelihoods. Taneque Heslop, the NDC Partnership's in-country facilitator for Jamaica, said the project leaves behind hardware, digital infrastructure and trained national staff, along with data systems that can inform Jamaica's broader climate monitoring and reporting.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：牙买加蓝山与约翰克罗山国家公园Holywell步道口（资料图）。xiquinhosilva，CC BY 4.0，经维基共享资源。 / The Holywell trailhead in Jamaica's Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park (file photo). xiquinhosilva, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
