The National Water Commission (NWC) and the Forestry Department last Friday signed an agreement, aimed at reforesting, improving and maintaining approximately 120 hectares of NWC-controlled watershed lands.

The five-year co-management agreement will cost the NWC some $18 million.

State Minister for Housing, Transport, Water and Works, Dr. Fenton Ferguson, in his remarks at the signing ceremony held at the NWC's Hope Filter Plant, on Old Hope Road, St. Andrew said that the NWC and the Forestry Department would cooperate to enforce the Forest and National Water Commission acts, which provide for the eviction and/or prosecution of persons as well as regular inspection and patrol of forested areas.

Training activities

He noted further that the agreement would facilitate training activities in relation to tree-planting and watershed management; maintain access and trails to the forested areas; and enable public education activities, which will serve to better inform the public of the importance of watersheds.

"The state of the watershed is very important in ensuring that there is good quantity and quality water available for our use. The watershed lands have serious implications for water supply services, water supply costs, water supply service reliability, and water supply sustainability," he said.