The National Environment and Planning Agency (NEPA)is the lead government agency with the mandate for environmental protection, natural resource management, land use and spatial planning in Jamaica. The Agency executes its mandate through the development of environmental and planning policies; monitoring of natural resource assets and the state of Jamaica’s environment; enforcement of environmental and planning legislation; processing of applications for environmental permits and licences; preparing Town and Parish Development Plans and Development Orders; public education and information among others. NEPA, through the Town and Country Planning Authority and the Natural Resources Conservation Authority, operates under a number of statutes, which include:

· The Natural Resources Conservation Authority Act;

· The Town and Country Planning Act;

· The Land Development and Utilization Act;

· The Beach Control Act;

· The Watersheds Protection Act; and

· The Wild Life Protection Act