The Government of Jamaica has launched RE-LEAF, the Reforestation, Ecological Enhancement, and Landscape Framework. This bold national initiative aims to restore forests and strengthen climate resilience following the devastation of Hurricane Melissa. Led by Jamaica’s Forestry Department, RE-LEAF will guide large-scale replanting and long-term recovery across the island.
Trees That Feed Foundation is proud to be a contributing partner. In 2026, TTFF is awarding the Forestry Department $50,000 USD to distribute food-bearing trees, including breadfruit, all across Jamaica. This investment supports both environmental restoration and food security, ensuring families can rebuild livelihoods while strengthening natural ecosystems.
Speaking in Parliament, Matthew Samuda, Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, emphasized that RE-LEAF is not only about replacing trees lost to the hurricane, but also about building stronger, smarter, and more resilient landscapes.
Our partnership with Jamaica’s Forestry Department, led by Ainsley A. Henry, JP, dates back to 2009. That’s when TTFF planted its very first breadfruit trees. This valuable partnership exists to expand agroforestry, support farmers, and champion breadfruit as a superfood.
RE-LEAF reflects what TTFF has always believed: that long-term resilience is built through collaboration, local leadership, and trees that feed people while restoring the land. We are honored to continue this journey with the Forestry Department of Jamaica.
Jamaica’s Prime Minister Andrew Holness posted this on X:
