The Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park is managed for conservation of biological diversity and associated cultural heritage, conservation of ecosystem services such as water supply and for its recreational values. Hence under the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Protected Area Categories, it is a Category II site. Management is guided by a ten year management plan prepared by the site’s manager, the Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT) using a participatory process and approved by the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA). The management plan follows national and international recommendations with respect to the information included and the programmes implemented.

The first Management Plan for the BJCMNP was prepared in 1993 when the National Park was first designated. The current Management Plan is for the period 2011 – 2016 and is based on an evaluation of the 2005 – 2010 Plan. In general, programme goals remain the same with specific objectives being set every five years to aid in achieving the longer term goals and over-arching goal, mission and vision for the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park.