Resources

The SOCAR report provides a quantitative baseline for monitoring and reporting under the Cartagena Convention and LBS Protocol. The report gives specific recommendations for local, national, sub-regional and regional actions to reduce marine pollution.

The State of the Cartagena Convention Area: An Assessment of Marine Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities in the Wider Caribbean Region (SOCAR)3 was conducted to determine exactly that - how pollution from land-based sources (LBS) negatively affects the region’s coastal and marine environments and the human communities that depend upon them.

Interesting facts about 30 marine species found in the Wider Caribbean Region including: West Indian Manatee, Fin Whale, Bryde's Whale, Common Minke Whale, Cuvier's Beaked Whale, Sperm Whale, Pygmy Sperm Whale, Dwarf Sperm Whale, Gervais' Beaked Whale, Sei Whale, Blainville's Beaked Whale, True's Beaked Whale, North Atlantic Right Whale, Sowerby's Beaked Whale, Killer Whale, Humpback Whale, Fra

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD) was first identified in 2014 off of Virginia Key, Florida. Since then, this unprecedented coral disease has spread to the Caribbean. As of March 2021, the disease has been confirmed in 16 Caribbean countries and territories.

The overall goal of this project was to develop capacities and information systems, as well as pilot test their application, for use by governments and nongovernmental organizations in order to support decisions on planning and managing coastal resources with an ecosystem-based management (EBM) approach.

The project will support countries in addressing the pervasive nature of plastic litter and solid waste management, either directly or indirectly, via programmes aimed at creating the policy, legislative and institutional capacity to reduce and manage plastic waste.

This joint United Nations Human Security Programme is aimed at enhancing resilience and human security of selected communities in rural and urban Jamaica. It will advance the 2030 Agenda by addressing the economic, environmental, personal and health insecurities facing targeted communities.

The Trash Free Waters Initiative is a partnership between the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Peace Corps, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Cartagena Convention Secretariat, UNEP Regional Office for Latin America and its Caribbean Sub-Regional Office.

The overall purpose of this white paper is to compile background information for a strategic status update and critical situational analysis that informs and elicits feedback from key regional stakeholders. It will also form the basis for development of a draft Concept Note for a UNEP Cartagena Convention-led project targeting key issues identified.

The report focuses on three habitats that are characteristic of coastal ecosystems in the wider Caribbean, namely coral reefs, mangrove forests, and seagrass meadows. These three habitats are part of the reef fisheries ecosystem, one of the three focal sub-ecosystems of the CLME+ SAP.

The Regional Strategy and Action Plan for the Valuation, Protection and/or Restoration of Key Marine Habitats in the Wider Caribbean 2021 - 2030 (RSAP) is one of the tools developed by the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) Sub-Programme of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) - Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) to support conservation and sustainable use of coastal an

Highlights include:- 3rd CARI’MAM Meeting GCFI72 Poster 1 GCFI72 Poster 2 Next steps of the CARIMAM Project Carib’Coast project GCRMN-Caribbean Coral Reefs

The Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution (LBS) Protocol (signed in 1999 and adopted in 2010) and the Caribbean Regional Action Plan for Marine Litter (RAPMaLI) (developed in 2008 and updated in 2010) are regional frameworks for our marine litter projects and activities.

The purpose of this Memorandum of Understanding is to provide a framework of cooperation and facilitate collaboration between the Parties, on a non-exclusive basis, in areas of common concern and interest.

Highlights this issue includes:- - Meeting of Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Convention and its Protocols - CARIMAM Workshop - Managing the Sargassum outbreak in the Wider Caribbean Region - Caribcoast - Arrival of 2 project officers at SPAW-RAC - Caribaea Initiative - Coral Restoration Consortium - Final year of the BEST 2.0 Programme

The State of the Convention Area (SOCAR)is the fi rst such region-wide assessment undertaken by the Secretariat, and is a baseline assessment of the state of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) coastal and marine environment with respect to land-based sources (LBS) of pollution.

The LBS Protocol, which was adopted in 1999 and entered into force in 2010, is one of three Protocols of the Cartagena Convention. This legal instrument consists of obligations to reduce the negative environmental and human health impacts of land-based pollution in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR).

Plastics have become a valuable commodity and an important part of everyday life, more so that global plastic production has increased from 5 million tons in the 1950’s to over 250 million tons in 2006.But the high volume and the quality which makes this material so useful, is also harmful for the environment , especially our marine environment.

Sustainable development of coastal and marine resources in the Wider Caribbean Region through effective, integrated management that allows for economic growth & sustainable livelihoods.

Approximately 15% of the Caribbean’s coral reefs are currently threatened by marine sources of pollution such as wastewater discharge from ships. Sewage runoff causes serious damage to coral reefs because it stimulates the growth of aquatic plants and algae which threatens marine life.