Caribbean Challenge Initiative

Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI)

Caribbean Challenge Initiative (CCI)

Caribbean Challenge Initiative so far involves eight island nations — The Bahamas, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia, Grenada, Antigua and Barbuda as well as Saint Kitts and Nevis. Five countries have made formal commitments to protect at least 20% of the near-shore marine and coastal habitats by 2020. All eight countries are participating in the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund that will provide sustainable financing for their national protected areas.

From Commitment to Action

Since its launch in 2007, there has been significant progress on advancing biodiversity conservation in all eight countries. Recent highlights include:

Advancements in sustainable financing, with US$32 million already pledged to date to capitalize the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund that will be launched in 2012

Development of ‘Master Plans’ for establishing effective national systems of protected areas

US$20 million in grants awarded by the Global Environment Facility to support implementation of the Caribbean Challenge Initiative.

A medium-sized grant fund for projects in support of the Caribbean Challenge Initiative was launched with funding from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Representatives of ministries of finance and environment involved in the Caribbean Challenge Initiative met in Grenada and Mexico in late 2011 to share advances made on the Initiative and to lay the groundwork for the next phase.

The Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Management Network and Forum (CAMPAM) provides regional networking, coordination and support to the Caribbean Challenge Initiative.

Impacts on the Ground

Since 2007, nearly 50 new protected areas have been declared (three in The Bahamas, three in Grenada, eight in Jamaica and over 30 in the Dominican Republic).

A field station was constructed on Jamaica’s Pedro Bank, soon to be designated as a new Fish Sanctuary.

Two marine zoning plans were completed (for the Dominican Republic’s Samana Bay and for St. Kitts and Nevis’ entire Exclusive Economic Zone) to help support new protected area declarations and to improve management.In the Dominican Republic, 90 officials from the Ministry of the Environment completed certificate courses in protected area management and sustainable tourism.

Next Steps:

At the national level, drawing on GEF grants and other fast-start financing, governments and their partners will likely focus on five closely linked priorities:

To complete Protected Area Master Plans

To establish and capitalize national protected area trust funds

To create new sustainable finance mechanisms (e.g. tourism-based fees and debt-for-resilience swaps)

To advance needed legal and policy actions

To develop and implement ecosystem based adaptation to climate change projects

At the regional level, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund will be a high priority. Over the next year, the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund will be established and operationalized. Efforts to mobilize additional contributions will also begin.

Conclusion

The Caribbean Challenge initiative has tremendous potential to chart a new course for the Caribbean’s marine and coastal environment, and to deliver a brighter future for the people of the region.

For further Information

On the Caribbean Challenge Initiative contact: Sheldon Cohen, Director of External Affairs, The Nature Conservancy’s Caribbean Program and Interim Coordinator of Caribbean Challenge Initiative: scohen@tnc.org.
On the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund, National Conservation Trust Funds, Sustainable Finance Mechanisms, including debt for adaptation swaps contact: Robert Weary, Director, Conservation Finance, Caribbean Program, The Nature Conservancy, rweary@tnc.org.