The JIEP Mission
The JIEP’s mission is to maintain high standards of professionalism among our members in order to improve the environmental management capacity and practices in Jamaica. This is done by: • establishing and monitoring professional standards
• providing a forum for the discussion and resolution of environmental issues
• developing the environmental management capabilities of our members
The JIEP aims to:
• encourage the application of professional standards throughout Jamaica's public and private sectors
• provide a network for communication and support of environmental professionals
• encourage adherence to professional standards

2 How are we Financed
The JIEP is financed by membership dues, which are payable annually; as well as fundraising activities and sponsorship for specific projects.

3 Membership
The JIEP has four categories of membership - student, associate, general, and honorary. Membership is open to persons who have been engaged in work directly related to environmental management, environmental law, planning, impact assessment, environmental protection, environmental education, or environmental compliance, including such activities as permitting, compliance auditing, regulatory review, research, teaching, engineering, design, quality assurance, and implementation of environmental protection and control. All members are expected to follow the guidelines set out in the Code of Ethics. Failure to do so or reported cases of unethical behaviour may result in members being requested to appear before the Disciplinary Committee to consider the circumstances and consequences.

4 Major Activities since Inception
Since 2000, the JIEP has conducted the following activities:

4.1 JIEP Speakers’ Forum
In the JIEP’s Mission Statement the Institute aims to improve environmental management capacity and practices in Jamaica. One of the ways it seeks to do so is by providing a forum for discussion and resolution of environmental issues. The JIEP Speaker’s Forum is one of the mechanisms used by to fulfill this objective. The aim is to exchange information and ideas on issues related to environmental management and sustainable development. The Speaker’s Forum provides opportunities for interested parties and other to engage in substantive debate on issues that impact environmental management in Jamaica. The Speaker’s Forum encourages Jamaicans of all backgrounds to learn more about the environmental issues facing them today and to share their opinions. In this regard The Speaker’s Forum is unique as it takes no position on the issues but instead promotes open discussion. Convened Speakers Fora, seminars and presentations on the following topics include:
o Lessons from Hurricane Ivan: Are we learning for tomorrow?
o The Access to Information Act; Recycling Initiatives in Jamaica
o The Preparation of a Floodwater Control Master Plan for Jamaica
o Wigton Wind Farm and Carbon Emissions Trading
o Environmental Aspects of Dredging in Kingston Harbour
o Highway 2000: Integrating Environmental Assessment with Engineering and Design
o Environmental Impact Assessment in Jamaica: Current Process and Opportunities
o Environment and Planning Act
o Environmental Impact and Disaster Response
o Trade and Environment
o 90 Days for all development approval? Is it attainable and sustainable?

4.2 JIEP Conferences on the Environment
• The First National Scientific Conference on the Environment was held on April 9-10, 2003 under the theme “Advancing Environmental Knowledge Towards Decision Making in Sustainable Development”
• The Second National Conference on the Environment was held on June 15-16, 2005 under the theme “Sustainable Development: Myths and Realities”.
• The Third Conference on the Environment was held on May 15-17, 2007 under the theme ”Business and sound environmental management in the Caribbean – What makes it work”
• The Fourth Conference on the Environment is currently being planned and will be held on May 26-27, 2009 under the theme “Climate Change: Caribbean Response”.

4.3 JIEP Central Regional Chapter
The Central Chapter of the JIEP was launched in Mandeville on March 29, 2007. The Central Regional Focal Point has responsibility for this chapter.

4.4 JIEP Secretariat – Environment House
JIEP Environment House opened by Prime Minister the Hon. Bruce Golding on July 20, 2008.

4.5 JIEP Professional Development
The Professional Certification Sub-committee was established in 2007. The committee reviewed the existing certification programmes in the USA and Europe and selected the Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) and the Environmental Professional Intern (EPI) certifications, administered by the Institute of Professional Environmental Practice (IPEP) an independent, not-for-profit certifying organization based in the USA. Since its inception two members have gained QEP certification and two have obtained EPI certification. The successful members will receive special recognition at the 2009 Conference at the President’s Reception. The certification programme is ongoing.

4.6 Participation in External Committees
• Business Council for the Environment
• Environmental Foundation of Jamaica Board of Directors
• Climate Change and Alternative Energy Discussion Group
• Jamaica Chamber of Commerce Environmental Awards Committee
• Legs and Regs Committee [check proper name]
• EFJ National Energy Project
• PIOJ’s National Development Plan
• Environmental Regulatory Agency
• JCC Legs and Regs (Legislation and Regulations) Project Technical Advisory Committee

4.7 Presentations at Conferences

4.7.1 National Association of Environmental professionals (USA)
Presented a paper, “Jamaica and the JIEP,” at the National Association of Environmental Professionals (USA) Conference held in Portland, Oregon, USA in April 2004.

4.7.2 International Fellowship of Evangelical Students (IFES) Symposium on Climate Change
Presented a paper entitled “Impacts of Climate Change on the marine environment” at the conference held in Runaway Bay, Jamaica October 2008

4.8 Projects and Programmes

4.8.1 Island wide Environmental Awareness & Promotions Programme
• Managed and coordinated “An Island wide Environmental Awareness and Promotional Programme”
• Provided technical advice to the National Environment and Planning Agency on issues such as Environmental Impact Assessments, Trade Effluent and Sludge Regulations, the NRCA Air Quality Regulations, and the Permits and License system.

4.8.2 SMART Project
Capacity-building for environmental management systems for Caribbean enterprises The Centre for Development of Enterprise (CDE) in collaboration with the International Network for Environmental Management (INEM), the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA), the Caribbean Business Services Ltd. (CBSL) hosted an international seminar from 22 – 26 November 2004 on “Environmental Management Systems for Caribbean Enterprises”, in Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. Thirty environmental professionals from 7 ACP countries attended the SMART seminar. An important objective of the meeting was that the participants became part of the CDE consultant’s network. It was intended that they constitute a database of well-trained and qualified consultants from the private sector for Environmental Management in the Caribbean region. The formation of a regional professional association was also discussed. Capacity-building for environmental management systems for southern African enterprises Approximately 45 environmental professionals from the private sector in that region participated in the training seminar which followed a similar format to that held in November 2004 in Trinidad. The Jamaican team added a special dimension which was the experience with the formulation of projects using the CDE/SMART procedures and this was invaluable to their colleagues from Southern African countries. Denise Forrest chaired the Opening Ceremony and along with Paul Carroll chaired a seminar for Mozambique business community on issues of EMS and opportunities for funding.

4.8.3 EMS Implementation in Eight SMEs
The JIEP is collaborating with the Center for Development of Enterprise (CDE) to implement Environmental Management Systems in Small and Medium Size Enterprises (SMEs). In today’s world, business and the environment are inextricably linked. International standards covering environmental management have been developed to provide organizations with the elements of an effective management system, which, can be integrated into the decision-making process to achieve efficiency as well as economic and environmental objectives. One such standard is the International Organization for Standards (ISO) 14001. Big business is well on the way with EMS implementation. The challenge is to assist small businesses that do not have the capacity or resources to implement EMS but which yet are a significant part of the world’s trade and business. This project seeks to implement EMS in eight SMEs selected through the interventions of CDE/JIEP and its consultant. The components of the project are as follows:
• Phase 1 – Capacity Building and Company Recruitment
• Phase 2 – Company Environmental Assessment & Commitment
• Phase 3 – EMS implementation and certification
The eight companies involved in the project are Walker's Wood Caribbean Foods, Central Packaging, Canco, Southern Foods, Jamaica Broilers Processing Plant, Maroon Pride, Chukka Cove Adventures and Tijile. The four SMART Team Jamaica consultants, Peter Reeson, Bert Brown, Paul Carroll and Denise Forrest, will act as consultants for the companies with the support of Camilla Joergensen, an EU consultant from Denmark. The project is scheduled to be completed in January 2007 and will result in certification of eight companies to ISO14001.

4.8.4 Caribbean Association of Environmental Professionals (CAEP)
The establishment of a Caribbean Association of Environmental Professionals was implemented by the JIEP with funding from the Center for the Development of Enterprise (CDE) in Brussels. The JIEP continues to lead activities aimed at the establishment of the regional body and it hosted a workshop at the Jamaica Pegasus (3 – 5 May 2006) that was attended by many of the regional environmental professionals who had participated at the earlier SMART Caribbean Seminar in Trinidad & Tobago. Participating in the workshop were 16 professionals from Suriname, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, the Dominican Republic and Jamaica. Facilitators of the workshop were the 3P Consortium for Environmental Management in Germany.

4.8.5 Protected Areas Council Project
Project managers for the Preparation of Protected Area System Master Plan.