The Focus of Our Work

THE STRATEGIC AGENDA 2003-2008

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The CCA sees four broad priority niche areas which need to be addressed if the environmental landscape of the Caribbean is to be changed for the betterment of and improvement of the quality of life of Caribbean people. These areas, which are contained in its Strategic Agenda 2002-2006, are:

1. Environmental Awareness Building;
2. Information Management;
3. Communications; and,
4. International Conventions Compliance.

The strategy to address these four niche areas is to address programming areas which in each. The CCA has identified the following seven programme areas:

1. Marine and Coastal Resources
2. Protected Areas
3. Water Resources Management
4. Land-based Sources of Marine Pollution
5. Trade and the Environment
6. Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs)
7. Cultural Heritage.
    

How will these be implemented?

These will be implemented through two routes: (1) the CCA’s network of members, (2) directly through projects and programmes managed or executed by its Secretariat. Projects and programmes will be developed to use the human resource existing particularly within its NGO Membership and resources will be channeled through these bodies to address problems at the national level. In this instance the Secretariat will seek funding, develop regional programs and work with its member organizations for implementation. These activities will be coordinated through the CCA Secretariat.

EXPLANATION OF THE NICHE & PROGRAMME AREAS
 

NICHE AREAS

Environmental Awareness Building

The lack of awareness of the seriousness of environmental issues occurs both at the political levels (where legislation must be drafted and enforced), at grass roots levels (which are most affected by government restrictions), and also where early detection of environmental problems needs to be brought to the attention of government. The instilling of awareness of environmental degradation and the proper management techniques to combat it will produce the greatest multiplier effect on the rate of environmental recovery. It will also be the most important factor in catalyzing political action and will.

The major goal of the CCA in the terms of environmental awareness is:

“To support policy formulation by facilitating the understanding and participation of the general public and the policy formulators in conservation, environmental and developmental issues”

Environmental Awareness is thus not an end in itself but the means by which CCA can influence decision-making that would enable it to fulfil its mandate.

Information Management

In order for the CCA to fulfil its mandate to increase public awareness of environmental issues, it has been recognized that this must begin from a solid information base. Apart from its importance in CCAs own operation, this up to date information must be highly accessible to the various publics. In particular, it must facilitate informed decisions by the regulators. This remains a very critical area in that the potential of information in policy making is still not realized. Faced with an information overload, environmental policy makers are beginning to demand access to information resources, and to expect assistance from information systems in their decision-making. While this trend is positive, some problems remain. In particular, policy makers have difficulties in framing their information demand, and they are relatively unskilled in accessing information resources. On the ‘supply’ side also, there are problems. Present environmental information systems tend to emphasize technical aspects of information management, they tend to be rather disconnected from policy processes, and they are relatively inexperienced in selecting information and packaging it for easy consumption and digestion.

The CCA’s goals in this respect is:

“To become the leading source for environmental information and services in the Caribbean”

Communications

An effective communications system is a prerequisite (sine qua non) for environmental awareness building. It is clear that environmental education has not been a success story and that a wide range of communications methods are needed to reach the Caribbean populace. The mass media would of course be relied on heavily to provide the vehicles for reaching the various publics through an appropriate mix, at the national and regional levels, of film, radio, print and television.

International Conventions Compliance

The priority that is being given to the adherence to, or implementation of, International Environmental Conventions is evident from the budget allocation by the international donor agencies. CCA has participated in the development of protocols to the conventions and continues to work towards the clear understanding and implementation of the articles of these protocols. Of all the regional organizations it also has the breadth of membership and expertise to fully grasp and place the various conventions in a proper regional perspective and make the conventions understandable to policy-makers and to legal personnel engaged in creating related legislation at the national level, as well as other institutions such as NGOs and the public at large.

Facilitating international conventions compliance requires environmental awareness building. This means that the goals in support of environmental awareness building apply equally except that the emphasis in this instance will be on a particular section of the publics – the government policy formulators.

PROGRAMMING AREAS

The key issues of the programming areas below will be targeted by CCA environmental awareness building, promotion of environmental management principles, communication and compliance with international conventions and national legislation, and where applicable, on the ground “ demonstration” activities. In addition, the Secretariat will also facilitate and coordinate the Caribbean Regional Environmental Information Network.

In parallel with the Secretariat’s activities, these areas will also be addressed through CCA’s members and partners by implementing projects, exchanging information, promote networking and build capacities.

1. Marine and Coastal Resources

This area has received significant focus from CCA and continues to be a critical programming area of the association. The Caribbean’s marine and coastal environment is an invaluable natural resource base: the region is provided with food, protection, biodiversity and income generation from tourism. While providing these services the coastal and marine ecosystem is recognized as being highly fragile and vulnerable to natural and anthropogenic impacts. The impact on these resources by man and natural events are of critical importance for marine and coastal management and requires a comprehensive, integrated approach for policy formulation, planning and management of the resources.

CCA’s strategy is to provide information and raise awareness of issues surrounding marine and coastal resources of the wider Caribbean and inform policies adopted by Caribbean governments with respect to marine and coastal resources management. Key areas of focus are:

• Development and promotion of co-management and community based approaches to marine and coastal resources management.

• Mangrove and wetlands management and awareness

• Endangered species management and protection

• Coral reefs management and awareness

• Fisheries Management

• Introduced species

• Tourism development impacts and its relationship to management of waste and marine resources.

• Sustainable use vs. species protection (eg. whales).

• Enhancement of livelihoods in coastal communities through economic and other linkages.

• Coordination and capacity building for sustainable stakeholder organizations

• Governance and institutional arrangements for marine protected and adjacent areas

• Appropriate technology for resource participation in sustainable management

• Information and perspectives on marine policy and multilateral environmental agreements

• Assessments of coastal and marine resources, and the economic activities that utilize them.

Some of these issues are already being addressed through the CCA’s Coastal and Marine Management Programme (CaMMP). CaMMP is one vehicle which has been established for developing and implementing projects and activities to facilitate the responsible management of coastal and marine resources in the wider Caribbean.

One project already launched through CaMMP is the Coastal Resources Co-Management Project (CORECOMP). This project seeks to promote sustainable development of fisheries and other coastal resources to ensure food security and livelihoods of the people of the region who depend upon these resources. The objective of this project is to develop information, strategies and policies for fisheries and coastal resources governance reform in Central American and Caribbean region through co-management. CORECOMP will continue in Barbados. Belize, Grenada, and Nicaragua over the next three years.

The CCA’s Coral Reef Education Project, is another initiative which is expected to have significant impact on sustaining coral reefs ecosystems. This project encompasses a training program for primary school teachers, science and environmental education professionals. Teachers and students can discover the value and uses of coral reefs and its associated biodiversity through the People and Corals, resource pack developed by CCA. This resource material encourages the understanding of the ecological importance of coral reefs and related ecosystems. The impact of tourism and coastal development, pollution and fishing is taught through activities demonstrating conservation actions.

The Coral Reef Education Project places emphasis on:

• Endangered species;
• Coral reefs;
• Fisheries;
• Introduced species; and,
• Tourism development impacts and the relationship to the management of the natural resources.

The CCA along with the Caribbean Tourism Organisation, the Caribbean Alliance for Sustainable Tourism (CAST) and Quality Tourism for the Caribbean (QTC) have also formed a regional consortium for the implementation of a Caribbean Blue Flag Campaign. This is a voluntary certification scheme for beaches and marinas to effectively enhance safety management and environmental quality of beaches and marinas. The campaign receives approval and support from the Foundation for Environmental Education in Europe and the United Nations Environment Programme. This is expected to significantly encourage the sustainable utilization of beach ecosystems in the region.

Support Initiatives: In support of the newly formed Caribbean & Western Atlantic Association of Marine & Aquatic Educators (CARIBWA), CCA is hosting a page for CARIBWA. 

2. Protected Areas

The Caribbean is endowed with very rich and diverse ecosystems and amenities of abundant renewable and non-renewable natural resources. This characteristic is the root of the regions economic growth, but is drastically becoming degraded. This is evident in loss of biodiversity, degradation of land, soils, coastal areas, and water resources as a result of human activities. The approach of designating protected areas is recognized to be a key strategy in conserving these resources. Some countries of the region have established protected areas but many are referred to as ‘paper’ parks since they seem to exist only on paper.

CCA is currently implementing the Caribbean Regional Environmental Programme (CREP) that aims to strengthen regional cooperation and to build capacity in conservation management and sustainable use of amenity areas (natural areas that has significant ecological, social, recreational, and economic value). CCA along with the Project Management Unit of CREP will embark on the following:

• Develop and strengthen an effective regional environmental information network;

• Promote education and awareness on environmental issues throughout CARIFORUM member states;

• Improve skills and capacity of regional institutions enabling them to act effectively in the delivery of a regional environmental mandate (capacity building);

• Develop and enhance the management of marine, terrestrial and watershed areas (amenity areas/demonstration sites).

In order to sustain the momentum being developed through CREP, CCA must concurrently develop programmes and projects, which will allow for continuity of CREP activities as well as address issues which emerge as being critical but not covered under the current project. These issues will be highlighted during the CREP assessment phase.

3. Water Resources Management

Fresh water availability to islands and continental states of the Caribbean is a matter of growing concern. According to the Caribbean Environment Outlook 2000, freshwater resources between 1970 and 1998 were 2574m³ per capita. This, when compared to oceanic islands of the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, amounts to only 13.3 and 1.72 percent respectively of those islands’ freshwater availability. Water resources in the Caribbean vary as the countries themselves. Variation in topography, geological characteristics, and size influence the availability of water resources and its development and management. Protection of forests and management of watersheds are major factors in the availability of useable water (potable etc.).

Lack of freshwater ecosystems in territories such as Barbados, the Netherlands Antilles, and Virgin Islands, exhaustion of available sources in smaller islands and pollution and/or saltwater intrusion are cause for concern. The growth of the tourism industry in the region has placed immense demands on water resources of the islands of the region, with consumption approximately five to ten times greater than residential users.

CCA will seek to encourage the sustainable utilization and management of available water resources in the region through its niche programmes. Areas of focus will include:

• Promotion of appropriate environmental management in the tourism industry;

• Collaboration with other regional organizations in the development of a comprehensive national water policy and development plans for water resources;

• Community based water quality assessments;

• Promotion of pollution prevention strategies;

• Reduction of wastage and promotion of recycling.

4. Land-based Sources of Marine Pollution

Pollution is recognized as one of the cross-cutting issues affecting all aspects of natural resources. The last 20 years have seen the steady growth of pollution of the coastal and marine areas of the wider Caribbean. The main sources of such pollution originate from land based human activities and vary from country to country. However, the nature and intensity of the activities such as the state and type of industries, size of population, agriculture etc. influence each country’s unique pollution problems in the region. Many of the land based sources of pollution degrading the coastal and marine environments are reaching these systems through waterborne, airborne, or direct discharges. Pollution includes garbage, sewage, industrial and domestic runoff, sediment, chemicals including fertilizers, pesticides, and oil. Of the Land-based sources of pollution, eutrophication from human sewage disposal into the marine environment is a growing problem especially in vicinity of coastal cities and harbours. Increased nutrient loading results in algal bloom and hence coral and sea grass degradation. Loss of swimming areas and damage to drinking water supplies are but few of the problems associated with land-base sources of pollution.

The protocol concerning pollution from land-based sources and activities to the convention for the protection and development of the marine environment of the wider Caribbean Region was adopted in Aruba on October 6, 1999 (hereafter, Aruba Protocol). The Aruba Protocol to the Cartagena Convention presents a number of articles incorporating monitoring and assessments programmes, environmental impact assessments, information systems, education and awareness, institutional mechanisms and participation towards addressing the issue of land-base sources of marine pollution in the wider Caribbean.

CCA through cooperation and assistance from regional organizations and members states will promote the protocol by encouraging governments and other parties to the convention to individually or collectively develop scientific, technical, educational and public awareness programmes to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the convention area from land based sources and activities in accordance with this protocol. CCA will provide technical advice, information and other necessary assistance to address categories, activities and pollutants in the convention area.

5. Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements

Caribbean Governments and the public at large recognize the importance of environmental issues in the region, yet this is not reflected in the ratification of related global Multi-lateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs). The level of involvement in global MEAs has been explained by the requirements by signatory countries which in many cases are currently beyond the scope of Caribbean countries, or at least perceived to be so. The benefits to countries on signing these agreements are also in question.

The Cartagena Convention and its associated protocols are the only environmental convention covering the whole Caribbean Region. However other MEAs such as Convention on Biological Diversity, International Convention on Preventing Pollution from Ships (Marpol), The Convention on Wetlands (Ramsar), United Nations Framework on Climate Change (UNFCC), The Basel Convention on Hazardous Waste, Heritage, are of particular importance to the region. Involvement in and implementation of global and regional MEAs are necessary steps for the overall sustainable management of the region’s natural resource and ultimately economic development. It is expected then that the wider Caribbean nations and the region as a whole would use these agreements and associated programmes to move environmental management in the region to a position of strength.

CCA again recognizes its role towards this end, and with national and regional efforts will seek to promote and implement policies and programmes to facilitate awareness, ratification and adherence to the existing and future MEAs with special emphasis to those related to its programmatic areas. Key areas of focus will include:

• Encourage adoption and ratification of global MEAs and preparation of related strategies;

• Improve information and understanding of treaty benefits and costs;

• Work with national focal points responsible for treaty acceptance;

• Encourage establishment of institutional mechanisms and resources for the implementation and guidance to governments on the provisions of global and regional MEAs.

6. Trade and the Environment

International trade liberalization has been accompanied by increasing polarized controversy regarding its effects on the environment and the need to establish restrictive trade measures to counteract environmental degradation. It has been generally accepted that free trade can bring about great benefits for the protection of the environment and sustainable development. At the same time, by raising the levels of environmental protection, positive effects may be generated for free trade. Nonetheless, it has also been admitted that the liberalization of trade must stop when it generates adverse effects on the environment, while at the same time making clear that the measures adopted to this end in no way should become unnecessary obstacles to free trade. In fact, although it is reasonable to assume that free trade can produce great benefits for sustainable development, which in turn can create positive effects for free trade, there is no consensus on the way trade policies and environmental policies should be harmonized. The most extreme positions in this dissent are expressed in outright rejection of free trade or questioning of trade measures for environmental purposes.

There is strong conviction among developmental agencies, including the CCA, that the creation and dissemination of knowledge enhances the debate among all sectors of society in the region and will help governments to harmonize trade and environment policies in the framework of sustainable human development objectives In spite of the profound differences that now exist on this subject, that goal seems attainable for two basic reasons.

First, as stated in principle eight of the Rio Declaration, the origin of environmental problems lies in unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. It is also recognized that international al trade is a factor, which, on certain occasions, can contribute to the propagation and exacerbation of environmental problems.

Second, trade measures for environmental purposes should be established and applied in accordance with certain premises. In fact, according to the Rio Declaration, “trade policy measures for environmental purposes should not constitute a mean of arbitrary discrimination or disguised restriction on international trade”. Consequently, their implementation assumes that the necessary safeguard measures will be adopted to prevent them from being used for other purposes.

The CCA will operate in the identified niche areas to raise awareness of issues related to trade and the environment affecting the Caribbean environment and economies and therefore aim to inform the policies adopted by Caribbean governments with respect to trade. Key areas of concern requiring urgent attention include:

• Restrictions derived from sanitary and phytosanitary measures;

• Free trade and the environment in multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs);

• The possible effects of trade measures for environmental purposes on access to markets. Particularly worrisome are unilateral trade measures for environmental purposes, restrictions on international trade based on production processes and methods, and the prescriptions imposed for environmental purposes upon products within standards, technical regulations, and barriers relating to packaging and packing, labeling, and recycling;

• Restrictions on international trade involving merchandise whose sale are prohibited in the country or origin;

• Intellectual property rights.