Jamaica’s first-ever 5K Urban Forest Run made a strong debut, with over 750 participants turning out on Sunday, August 23, at the Constant Spring Golf Club to run, walk and rally behind the restoration of Jamaica’s forests and mangrove ecosystems. Held under the theme “Run in the East, RE-LEAF the West!”, the inaugural event raised funds for the Forestry Department’s RE-LEAF initiative, with proceeds earmarked for restoration activities in areas severely impacted by Hurricane Melissa. 

For Ainsley Henry, CEO and Conservator of Forests at the Forestry Department, the turnout represents an important first step in building a wider movement around environmental action. “We are incredibly proud of the response to Jamaica’s first Urban Forest Run. To have over 700 people come together around a shared commitment to restoring Jamaica’s forests is a powerful statement of what can happen when we create opportunities for people to participate directly in environmental conservation,” Henry said. “This event was never simply about running. It was also about connecting people to the forests and ecosystems that sustain us and showing that every Jamaican has a role to play in protecting them. Through their participation, our runners and walkers have helped to turn awareness into action, and their contribution will have a tangible impact on restoration work in areas affected by Hurricane Melissa.”

The event brought together runners, walkers, families, schools, corporate teams, environmental organisations and supporters from across the island, transforming a morning of fitness into a collective act of environmental stewardship. Participants took part in the 5K run and walk, with the event also featuring warm-up and cool-down sessions, giveaways and other activities designed to promote wellness, community engagement and environmental awareness. 

The competitive element of the event saw top performers recognised across the run and walk categories. In the male runners’ category, Juliusd Itubo placed first, followed by Royale Gordon in second and Jahvon Wilson in third, while Gabrielle Wellington took the top spot among female runners, with Monique Campbell finishing second and Matea Smith third. Among the male walkers, Elijah Vaughn was first, Aneel Beckford second and Oral Morgan third, while the female walkers’ category saw Carlene Wallace take first place, followed by Deidre Lewis and Karene Staple in second and third, respectively. 

Minister of Water, Environment and Climate Change, Hon. Matthew Samuda, welcomed the strong turnout and said the event demonstrated the importance of involving the public in Jamaica’s environmental recovery. “The response to the first Urban Forest Run has shown us that Jamaicans are ready and willing to play a role in restoring our natural environment. Hurricane Melissa caused unprecedented damage to our forests, and recovering from that damage will require all of us to contribute in meaningful ways,” he said. “Today, people ran in the East with a very clear purpose: to help RE-LEAF the West. Every registration and every contribution will help us to restore ecosystems that are critical to our water security, our biodiversity, our coastal protection and the livelihoods of communities across Jamaica. This is exactly the kind of partnership and public engagement we need as we rebuild and strengthen our resilience.”

The funds raised through the Urban Forest Run will support restoration activities in key areas affected by Hurricane Melissa, including the Black River/Parottee mangrove ecosystem in St. Elizabeth, which suffered significant storm-related impacts, including damage to mangrove vegetation and blockages affecting the natural flow of water through the ecosystem. Restoration efforts will focus on improving hydrological flow, supporting the recovery of mangrove habitats, strengthening coastal protection, enhancing biodiversity and supporting the communities whose livelihoods depend on the ecosystem.

Running Events Jamaica, which supported the Forestry Department in organising the inaugural event, said the partnership provided an opportunity to demonstrate how sport can be used to advance environmental causes. Alfred ‘Frano’ Francis, Race Director, Running Events Jamaica, said, “We were pleased to partner with the Forestry Department to bring the Urban Forest Run to life. Running has a unique ability to bring people together around a shared purpose, and this event allowed participants to not only prioritise their own health and wellbeing, but also contribute to the restoration of Jamaica’s natural environment. We are proud to have played a role in creating an event that we hope will continue to grow and inspire even more Jamaicans to get moving and get involved while protecting our environment.”

The Urban Forest Run forms part of the Forestry Department’s wider RE-LEAF initiative, which was launched to support the restoration of Jamaica’s forests following Hurricane Melissa and to encourage Jamaicans to participate in tree planting, ecosystem restoration and environmental stewardship.

Prior to Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica had made significant progress in increasing forest cover, with national forest cover rising from approximately 40 per cent in 2013 to 48 per cent in 2023. However, the hurricane caused extensive damage across the island, with approximately 51 per cent of Jamaica’s forest cover badly damaged, creating an urgent need for restoration and recovery.

Henry added that the Forestry Department hopes to build on the momentum generated by the inaugural event. “The Urban Forest Run has given us a new platform to bring people together around the importance of Jamaica’s forests. We want this to grow into an annual movement that inspires more people to get active, learn about our natural environment and take action to protect it. The work of restoration will take time, but today has shown us that there is a strong community ready to be part of that journey.”

As Jamaica continues to recover from Hurricane Melissa, the Forestry Department remains committed to restoring the country’s forests and ecosystems and engaging Jamaicans in the process. The first Urban Forest Run has established a new platform for that work, with every participant helping to take the message forward: Run in the East, RE-LEAF the West!