Headlines:
Major
intergovernmental agreements and actors
Action
programmes, strategies, and research
State
of the regional environment
GEF
Projects
in the region
Other
actors and initiatives
Major
intergovernmental agreements and actors
Convention
for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of
the Wider Caribbean Region
The
Cartagena Convention, adopted 1983, is a Convention for
achieving sustainable development of marine and coastal resources
in the wider Caribbean region through effective integrated management
that allows for increased economic growth. The Convention covers
the various aspects of marine pollution for which the Contracting
Parties must adopt measures. Thus, the Convention requires the
adoption of measures aimed at preventing, reducing and controlling
pollution of the following areas: pollution from ships, pollution
caused by dumping, pollution from sea-bed activities, airborne
pollution, pollution from land-based sources and activities. In
addition, the Parties are required to take appropriate measures
to protect and preserve rare or fragile ecosystems, as well as
the habitat of depleted, threatened or endangered species and
to develop technical and other guidelines for the planning and
environmental impact assessments of important development projects
in order to prevent or reduce harmful impacts on the area of application.
The Caribbean Regional Co-ordinating Unit (CAR/RCU) acts as Secretariat
for the Convention. Protocols
to the Convention include:
-
Protocol
Concerning Co-operation in Combating Oil Spills in the Wider Caribbean
Region (Oil
Spills Protocol), adopted 1983.
-
Protocol
Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife to the Convention
for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of
the Wider Caribbean Region (SPAW
Protocol), adopted 1990.
- 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 (LBS
Protocol), adopted 1999.
North
American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation,
NAAEC
The North American Agreement on Environmental Cooperation (NAAEC) is the
environmental side agreement to the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement).
The NAAEC was signed by Canada, Mexico and the United States and came
into force in 1994. The Agreement creates a framework to better conserve,
protect and enhance the North American environment through cooperation
and effective enforcement of environmental laws.The North
American Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC) is the executive
body for the Agreement. The Commission addresses regional environmental
concerns in North America, helps prevent potential trade and environmental
conflicts, and promotes the effective enforcement of environmental law,
all as part of its mandate under the Agreement. This is done through the
following programs: Environment, Economy and Trade; Conservation of Biodiversity;
Pollutants and Health; Law and Policy; and Other Initiatives. Marine issues
are found under "Stewardship
for Shared Terrestrial and Marine Ecosystems and Transboundary Species":
Cooperation on the Protection of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems; Mapping
Marine and Estuarine Ecosystems of North America [will commence in 2001];
North American Marine Protected Areas Network; and North American Biodiversity
Conservation Mechanisms.
International
Convention for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas
The
Convention (see also pdf
file) was adopted in 1966 and entered into force in 1969. The purpose
of the Convention is the conservation of the resources of tuna and tuna-like
fishes of the Atlantic Ocean. The
International Commission for the Conservation
of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) was established in 1969, under the Convention,
as an inter-governmental fishery organization responsible for the conservation
of tunas and tuna-like species in the Atlantic Ocean and its adjacent
seas. ICCAT
is the only fisheries organization that can undertake the range of work
required for the study and management of tunas and tuna-like fishes in
the Atlantic. The Commission's work requires the collection and analysis
of statistical information relative to current conditions and trends of
the fishery resources in the Convention area.
Treaty
on the Utilization of Water of the Colorado and Tijuana Rivers and of
the Rio Grande
The 1944 Treaty distributes the waters in the international segment of
the Rio Grande from Fort Quitman, Texas to the Gulf of Mexico. This treaty
also authorizes the two countries to construct operate and maintain dams
on the main channel of the Rio Grande. The 1944 Treaty builds on previous
conventions, going back to 1884. The 1944 Treaty changed the name of the
Internaional Boundary Commission to the International
Boundary And Water Commission (IBWC), and in Article 3 the two governments
entrusted the IBWC to give preferential attention of the solution of all
border sanitation problems.
Organisation
of American States, OAS
OAS
Water Resources Programme: In conformity with the mandates of OAS
member states, the Unit for Sustainable Development and Environment (USDE)
is engaged in several projects on transboundary water resource management
in partnership with UNEP, the World Bank, the Global Environment Facility
(GEF), and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) in major river basin
of South and Central America. The Unit is the secretariat for the Inter-American
Water Resources Network (IWRN) - see below
- and serves on the Board of Governors of the World Water Council. USDE
is also collaborating with the Pan American Health Organization to organize
inter-American conference on the link between water and health.
UNEP
Regional Office for Latin America and the Caribbean, ROLAC
See for example Forum
of Environmental Ministers for Latin America and the Caribbean (only
in Spanish).
UN
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean,
ECLAC
The site of UN ECLAC comprises News; Publications; Main Studies; ECLAC
Series; Research and Studies; Statistics; Projects; Library; Events; Work
Programme; as well as ECLAC Headlines and Latest News.
IOC
Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions, IOCARIBE
A regional subsidiary body of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic
Commission of UNESCO. IOCARIBE is responsible for the promotion,development
and co-ordination of the IOC'smarine scientific research programmes, the
ocean services, and related activities, including TEMA (training, education
and mutual assistance), in the Carribbean and adjacent regions. In establishing
its programmes, it takes into account the specific interests and needs
of the member States in the region.
Financial
institutions
Inter-American
Development Bank,
IADB
The Inter-American Development Bank, the oldest and largest regional multilateral
development institution, was established in December of 1959 to help accelerate
economic and social development in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Action
programmes, strategies and research
Caribbean
Action Plan
The Caribbean Action Plan (pdf file) emerged as a result of many
years of work by governmental and non-governmental representatives
of the Caribbean community, assisted primarily by UNEP. The programme
objectives embraced by the Caribbean Action Plan, which was adopted
in 1981, include the following:
-
Assistance to all countries of the region, recognising the special
situation of the smaller islands;
-
Co-ordination of international assistance activities;
-
Strengthening existing national and subregional institutions;
-
Technical co-operation in the use of the region's human, financial
and natural resources.
Caribbean
Environment Programme
Established in 1983 under UNEP by the diverse states and territories of
the Wider Caribbean to collectively address the protection and development
in the coastal area. The CEP contains four sub-programmes:
UNEP
Regional Seas Programme
The Regional
Seas Programme was initiated in 1974 as a global programme implemented
through regional components. The Regional Seas Programme is UNEP's main
framework in the field of the coastal and marine environment. It includes
14 regions and three partner seas, involves more than 140 coastal states,
and focuses on sustainable development of coastal and marine areas. Each
regional action plan
is formulated according to the needs and priorities of the region as perceived
by the Governments concerned. Regional
conventions are in place for several areas. See a map
of all regional seas, and go to more information on the Black Sea, Wider
Caribbean, Mediterranean,
East Asian Seas, South Asian Seas, Eastern Africa, Kuwait Region, North
West Pacific, Red Sea And Gulf of Aden, South East Pacific, North East
Pacific, South
Pacific, Upper
South West Atlantic, and West
and Central Africa. The UNEP Regional Seas web site also contains information
on What's at stake,
Major threats,
and Actions.
Gulf
of Mexico Program
The mission of the program is to facilitate the protection and restoration
of the coastal marine water of the Gulf of Mexico and its coastal natural
habitats; to sustain living resources; to protect human health and the
food supply; and to ensure the recreational use of Gulf shores, beaches
and waters in ways consistent with the economic well-being of the region,
through a network of citizens and institutions.
Regional
Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Center for the Wider
Caribbean Region (REMPEITC-Carib)
An IMO office assisting the countries in the region in preventing, preparing
for and responding to major pollution incidents.
Regional
Vision for Central America and the Caribbean
Also
available as a pdf
document. Regional visions form the basis for effective action, even
as elements of a global plan. As a part of the Water Vision project, Regional
Consultations were held and resulted in Regional Visions. The objective
was to involve the stakeholders of each region in the development of their
own regional vision, as he building blocks of the World Water Vision.
Guided by the World Commission on Water in the 21st Century and managed
by the World Water Vision Unit hosted by of the UNESCO Division of Water
Science, the World
Water Vision "aims to develop a massive public awareness of the
risks of major water problems as a result of inaction, as well as encourage
innovative thinking on how these problems can be tackled. It should encourage
and empower people to participate in devising and implementing solutions
to these water problems. And it should generate the political commitment
to turn this increased public awareness into effective action".
State
of the regional environment
Marine
issues in the Caribbean
Summaries of the state of the environment in the Caribbean region
with regard to Coastal Zone Management; Maintenance of Biological
Diversity; Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution; Coral Reef Conservation;
and Sustainable Tourism Initiatives.
GEO
2000 State of the Environment: Latin America and the Caribbean
Global
Enviroment Outlook 2000. GEO is:
-
a global environmental assessment process, the GEO Process,
that is cross-sectoral and participatory. It incorporates regional
views and perceptions, and builds consensus on priority issues
and actions through dialogue among policy-makers and scientists
at regional and global levels.
- GEO
outputs, in printed and electronic formats, including the GEO
Report series. This series makes periodic reviews of the state
of the world's environment, and provides guidance for decision-making
processes such as the formulation of environmental policies,
action planning and resource allocation. Other outputs include
technical reports, a
web site and a publication for young people.
GEF
Projects in the region
Projects
under implementation
World
Bank - GEF - International Waters:
Wider
Caribbean Initiative for Ship-Generated Waste
Project activities will lay the foundation for countries in the
Wider Caribbean Region to ratify and implement the MARPOL 73/78
Convention, ending discharge of ship-generated wastes into international
and territorial waters. Technical assistance will be provided for
studies leading to a regional strategy for the implemenation of
MARPOL 73/78, assessment of existing waste management systems, formulation
of criteria for waste reception facilities at ports, development
of integrated waste management alternatives, and public awareness
programs. The project will also support periodic regional consultative
meetings to reach consensus on different elements of a regional
MARPOL strategy.
World
Bank - GEF - International Waters:
Ship-Generated
Waste Management
The project will assist OECS governments in reducing pollution of
international and territorial waters caused by the discharge of
ship-generated solid wastes by supporting appropriate actions aimed
at improving collection, treatment and disposal of these wastes.
It includes national components consisting of the establishment
of port-waste reception facilities and incremental expansion of
landfill sites to handle ship-generated wastes, together with a
regional component comprised of support activities and technical
assistance for project management, training and education, establishment
of common legal framework for ship waste management, recycling possibilities
and public awareness programs. Project activities will also protect
critical habitat for the endangered Grenada dove.
UNDP
- GEF - Biodiversity:
Priority
Actions to Consolidate Biodiversity Protection in the Sabana-Camaguey
Ecosystem, Cuba
The project is aimed at supporting the incorporation of biodiversity
concerns into integrated coastal zone management. This consolidation
phase project focuses on the northern archipelago of the Sabana-Camaguey
Ecosystem (SCE) in central Cuba, which harbors marine and terrestrial
biodiversity of global significance. The diversity is threatened
principally by conventional tourism development , and more locally
and to a much lesser extent, from over-fishing and agro-industrial
pollution. The successfully completed first stage of the GEF-funded
project (1993-1997) established the scientific and institutional
foundations for biodiversity conservation through integrated management
of the entire SCE.
UNDP
- GEF - Biodiversity:
Protecting
Biodiversity and Establishing Sustainable Development of the in
Sabana-Camaguey Region, Cuba
Project enhances current surveys of biodiversity by providing equipment
and resources and assisting with rapid ecological inventories. Includes
facilitating creaqtion of geographic information systems, ongoing
monitoring and analysis, and translation of data into procedures
and guidelines for eco-tourism development.
Project
concepts in the pipeline
Other
actors, initiatives and resources
Inter-American
Water Resources Network, IWRN
The IWRN is a network of networks whose purpose is to build and
strengthen water resources partnerships in the Americas. The network
promotes horizontal collaboration among members of the water resources
community in the Americas. It facilitates technical cooperation
and information sharing, develops opportunities for education and
training and forms partnerships to investigate and manage water
resources.
International
Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management,
ICLARM
An international research organization "devoted
to improving the productivity, management and conservation of aquatic
resources for the benefit of users and consumers in developing countries".
ICLARM is one of the research centres of CGIAR,
Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research. See,
for example, Caribbean
Marine Protected Areas Project: The Role of Marine Protected Areas
in Fisheries Management and Biodiversity Conservation in Coral Reef
Ecosystems.
ICLARM, in collaboration with the the Food and Agriculture Organization
of the United Nations (FAO) and other partners, and with support
from the European Commission, has also developed
FishBase, a global
information system on fishes for research scientists, fisheries
managers, zoologists and many more. FishBase contains full information
on 23,500 species. Furthermore, ICLARM has developed similar systems
on coral reefs and their resources (ReefBase)
and management of fish stocks in Asia (TrawlBase).
International
Coral Reef Initiative,
ICRI
An
environmental partnership that brings stakeholders together with
the objective of sustainable use and conservation of coral reefs
for future generations. ICRI is an informal mechanism that allows
representatives of over 80 developing countries with coral reefs
to sit in equal partnership with major donor countries and development
banks, international environmental and development agencies, scientific
associations, the private sector and NGOs to decide on the best
strategies to conserve the world's coral reef resources.
Coral
Health and Monitoring Programme,
NOOA
The mission of the NOOA Coral Health and Monitoring Program is to
provide services to help improve and sustain coral reef health throughout
the world. Long term goals:Establish an international network of
coral reef researchers for the purpose of sharing knowledge and
information on coral health and monitoring.Provide near real-time
data products derived from satellite images and monitoring stations
at coral reef areas. Provide a data repository for historical data
collected from coral reef areas. Add to the general fund of coral
reef knowledge.See also Global
Coral Reef Monitoring Network, GCRMN.
Gulf
of Mexico - a Large Marine Ecosystem (LME)
A
Large Marine Ecosystem,
LME,
is a "region of ocean space encompassing coastal areas from
river basins and estuaries to the seaward boundary of continental
shelves and the seaward margins of coastal current systems. It is
a relatively large region characterized by distinct bathymetry,
hydrography, productivity, and trophically dependent populations."
See also Rhode Island University map
of LMEs.
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