The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA) has strengthened, its partnership with the University of Technology (UTech), Jamaica through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed recently.
The MOU will facilitate cooperation and sharing of information regarding natural-resource management and spatial planning.
The specific areas of cooperation under the MoU include research projects to determine the status of critically endangered species and improve the quality of wastewater treatment, public consultations, staff development and training and public education.
Peter Knight, chief executive Officer, NEPA, said the MoU was in keeping with the agency's thrust to bolster ties with the academic community, so as to increase NEPA's use of evidence-based information in its operations.
"We anticipate good outcomes from this partnership and, by extension, planning and environmental benefits for the country that will lead to better social and economic value for all its citizens," said Knight.
In his remarks, Professor Errol Morrison, president of UTech, said the institution is excited about the new partnership with the nation's premier environmental and planning regulatory body.
"We are one of the leaders in research in the region and we are happy to partner with NEPA. UTech is on a trajectory for development and this MoU aligns perfectly with the strategic vision for the university."
NEPA's MoU with UTech follows a similar agreement with the University of the West Indies, signed in 2011. The NEPA-UTech MoU is initially valid for five years but may be extended.
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