Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Issue
Our Planet
The magazine of the United Nations Environment Programme
caribbean ENVIRONMENT
PROGRAMME
Leonie Barnarby
Needed: Full Support
Jorge E. Illueca
Much Achieved; Much to be Done
Karen L. Eckert
A Voice for the Turtles
Brian Peter
Collision Causes Cooperation
Salvano Briceo
The Road Travelled
Our Planet
www.ourplanet.com
UNEP
Government and Environment,
Jamaica. concentrations of tar balls from oil
From the desk of spills and discharges have been found
5 Flagship for the Seas on beaches from Cuba and Curacao to
Veerle Vandeweerd, Regional Seas Achim Steiner Trinidad and Tobago.
Programme, UNEP Much has been done under
United Nations Under Secretary agreements like the UNEP-brokered
6 Much achieved; much to be done General and Executive Director, Convention for the Protection
Jorge Illueca, Secretariat of the UNEP and Development of the Marine
United Nations Forum on Forests Environment of the Wider Caribbean
in New York region (Cartagena Convention). But
E
very year over 14 million tourists clearly more is needed, including better
8 A voice for the turtles
Karen L. Eckert,Wider Caribbean arrive on cruise ships attracted by provision of port-based waste reception
Sea Turtle Conservation Network the coral reefs, coasts, breathtaking facilities, and stepping up compliance
beaches, and wonderful people of the and enforcement of shipping treaties.
10 Collision causes cooperation wider Caribbean. Their arrival is cause Shipping is just one of the challenges
Brian Peter, International Maritime for both celebration and concern. and opportunities facing countries
Organization (IMO) and RAC Tourism, sensitively and sustainably in the Caribbean, brought into sharp
REMPEITC-Carib managed, can be a welcome source of focus by recent UNEP publications: the
foreign exchange, helping to overcome Caribbean Environment Outlook, the
11 Developing Solutions poverty and provide livelihoods and Global Environment Outlook for Latin
Antonio Villasol Nez, CIMAB employment opportunities. But, badly America and the Caribbean and two
managed, it can supplant cultures regional reports under the unique Global
13 To the rescue and communities and damage the Environment Facility-funded Global
Amoy Lum Kong and Hazel McShine,
Institute of Marine Affairs, Trinidad mangroves, reefs and other ecosystems International Waters Assessment.
and Tobago upon which local people and tourism These credit Caribbean countries
itself depend. for good progress towards achieving
14 Social Conservation Like many low-lying coastal areas and the internationally agreed Millennium
Maurice Anselme, Regional Activity small island developing states, the nations Development Goals by 2015, especially
Centre for the SPAW of the Caribbean face many challenges. concerning education, health care and
Some are common worldwide: like the drinking water. But they add that these
16 The road travelled impacts of climate change, increasing gains could be lost if environmental
Salvano Briceo,UN International levels of solid waste and sewage and the degradation continues to harm
Strategy for Disaster Reduction impact of invasive alien species. economies.
But some threats, like pollution The regions countries are finding
Our Planet, the magazine of the from ships, are deemed greater in the solutions to many of the challenges they
United Nations Environment Caribbean than elsewhere. A 3,000 face. UNEP can help through the Bali
Programme (UNEP) passenger cruise ship, it is estimated,
PO Box 30552 Nairobi, Kenya Strategic Plan for Technology Support
Tel: (254 20)621 234 generates 400 to 1,200 cubic metres and Capacity Building, and I urge
Fax: (254 20)623 927 of watery wastes each day including governments to put forward projects and
e-mail: uneppub@unep.org
www.unep.org drainage from dishwashers, laundry and proposals under this new scheme. But
ISSN 101-7394 showers and 70 litres of hazardous the international community must take
wastes, including photo processing responsibility for other ones, including
Director of Publication: Eric Falt chemicals, paints, solvents, printer developing a fair and equitable trade
Editor: Geoffrey Lean
Coordinators: Naomi Poulton, Elisabeth cartridges, and dry cleaning fluid. It also regime, and combating climate change,
Waechter produces an estimated 50 tonnes of solid probably the greatest threat of all to
Special Contributor: Nick Nuttall
Circulation Manager: Manyahleshal Kebede waste a week. Cruise ships, it is thought, Caribbean countries.
Design: Sharon Bowen account for almost a quarter of the An estimated 70 per cent of the
Production: UNEP/DCPI
Front cover: John Cancalosi/Still Pictures 900,000 tonnes dumped in the worlds regions people live in low-lying
The contents of this magazine do not neces- oceans each year. areas vulnerable to rising sea levels
sarily reflect the views or policies of UNEP or Then there is intense oil tanker traffic and extreme weather. They must be
the editors, nor are they an official record. The
designations employed and the presentation do in the Sea. Ninety per cent of the energy supported to adapt, but there is a limit to
not imply the expressions, opinion whatsoever used in the region is derived from crude, how much they can do before they are
on the part of UNEP concerning the legal status
of any country, territory or city or its authority, and it contains many oil producing and overwhelmed by the waves, or a welter
concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or exporting nations including Colombia, of hurricanes. Industrialized nations
boundaries.
Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, the United must meet their commitments under the
UNEP promotes environmentally friendly practices States of America, and Venezuela. Kyoto Protocol as a first step towards
globally and in its own activities.This magazine is
printed on 100% recycled, chlorine free paper.
Global and regional conventions the even deeper cuts needed to stabilize
many under the aegis of the United the atmosphere
Our Planet
Needed:
critical elements in the role of
member Governments. It said
they should:
1. be active partners in
full support
developing and implementing
the Programme participating
throughout the year, not just at
meetings.
Leonie Barnaby stresses the importance of support from 2. continue to sharpen CEP
Governments in implementing the Caribbean Environment activities to focus on the highest
Programme and calls for more priority areas within the scope of
its mandate, and to look toward
national implementation of
the Convention and Protocols,
W
hen many of the information systems for the while not overextending the
governments of the management of marine and Programme.
Wider Caribbean region coastal areas. 3. recognize global environ-
adopted the Action Plan of There is now no question as mental developments and
the Caribbean Environment to the importance accorded to initiatives in which our
Programme (CEP) 25 years ago the Sea. Indeed, countries in the governments are actively
and later became Parties to the region have sought United Nations involved, such as the WSSD and
Cartagena Convention in 1983 recognition of the concept of the SIDS processes, and ensure
they committed themselves to Caribbean Sea as an area of that appropriate linkages are
implementing a wide range of special importance in the context established with CEP, through
projects and activities to address of sustainable development. both our national and regional
the environmental problems of agendas, and under the
the regions marine and coastal Critical elements framework of the new Strategy
areas. for CEP.
The Government of Jamaica However, our reflections on the 4. address the financial situation
has had a particularly close past twenty-five years will show of the Caribbean Trust Fund
relationship with the CEP and that the CEP has had to adapt decisively and responsibly as the
the Convention. It is proud of to varying levels of support and sustainability of the Programme
the Programmes achievements commitment. The report of the is at stake without the regular
over marine pollution, wildlife 10th Intergovernmental Meeting contributions to cover the
and protected areas, education, of the Parties to the Cartagena basic costs of operations and
training and awareness, and Convention in 2002 noted some management.
Our Planet
It noted that a fully operational CEP must have the Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable
full political, programmatic and financial support Development of Small Island Developing States. The
of Member Governments so that it can fulfil its effects of climate change will be more evident by
obligations with them. The CEPs strategy of 2004 then and the need for planning and adaptation even
also addressed the need to enhance its sustainability more critical.
and effectiveness through: The CEP is vibrant and responding to the needs of
Increasing member state / country ownership; countries, through the several regional initiatives it
continuing to promote and facilitate translating has recently launched. The fullest participation of all
the Cartagena Convention and its protocols into the regions countries in the Cartagena Convention
effective implementation through ratification and and its protocols would enhance the Action Plans
complementary national legislation; effectiveness
engaging and involving civil society and the The Regional Coordinating Unit of the Action
private sector; Plan of the Caribbean Environment Programme has
building institutional capacities of relevant worked commendably. At the national level we must
national official agencies of the parties and other acknowledge the Action Plans achievements and
stakeholders; see that our requirements are taken into account.
ensuring viable sustainable financial The Governments of the region have a vested
arrangements; and interest in successfully implementing this
developing indicators and assessment/evaluation comprehensive regional programme which they
procedures where appropriate. themselves created in collaboration with UNEP.
We must take these exhortations into account as we CEPs effectiveness, its clear value to the people of
look at CEPs future. the Caribbean and its continued contribution to our
Within the next 25 years, countries should meet sustainable development require that all partners
such global targets, as the Millennium Development play their part
Goals, the goals of the programmes of work of the
Convention on Biological Diversity, the Johannesburg Leonie Barnaby is Senior Director of the Environmental
Plan of Implementation, and the Mauritius Management Division of the Ministry of Local Government
Strategy for the further implementation, of the and Environment, Jamaica.
Our Planet
T
he Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) is Seas Programmes; (b) integrating national and regional
one of UNEPs flagship Regional Seas Programme socio-economic development plans, including coastal
(RSP). It provides an excellent example of how and marine components, into a programme strategy;
countries who share a sea together with over 40 partner (c) working to improve and include global and regional
organizations both in the region and worldwide - can join monitoring and surveillance plans and programmes;
to address common environmental challenges. (d) increasing the integration of work programmes and
Like many other RSPs, the CEP initially received much agendas for ad hoc and other groups and international
support from UNEP, but is now an independent, strong initiatives; and (e) working both externally and internally
and vibrant entity. From its offices hosted in Kingston, to improve coordination mechanisms within and between
Jamaica, the CEP covers 28 member states and their sub-programmes.
dependent territories, speaking three languages (English, After 25 years of service to the regions peoples, the
Spanish and French). It has jurisdiction for the marine CEP has remained true to its core mission, and provides
environment of the worlds second largest sea covering an excellent example of a framework for regional
some 2,648,000 km2, bordered both by continent and cooperation
by small island states, and uniting people of different
cultures and religious and political persuasions. The Veerle Vandeweerd is the Head of the Regional Seas
Wider Caribbean Region mainly made up of countries Programme (RSP) and the Coordinator of the Global
whose economies heavily depend on tourism and fisheries Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine
has an active hurricane season, is subject to devastating Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA).
Our Planet
Much achieved
and require coordinated national
implementation by diverse govern-
mental institutions.
Two regional seas programmes
much to be done
were launched in Latin America and
the Caribbean in 1981 the Caribbean
Environment Programme (CEP) and
the South-East Pacific Action Plan
Jorge E. Illueca surveys the last 25 years of the Caribbean and Lima Convention.
Environment Programme and looks to the future
Learning experiences
Global agreements
T
he Regional Seas Programme, are building blocks supporting The Caribbean Environment
initiated over 30 years ago, the constitution of the oceans, Programme has been one of the
is one of UNEPs crowning the United Nations Convention developing worlds most successful
achievements. There are now a on the Law of the Sea. Unlike regional seas programme: twenty-
total of 18 individual regional other multilateral environmental four of its 28 member nations
programmes 13 of them with agreements, they often followed a are developing ones. While the
their own conventions covering dual track approach of simultaneously financial contributions of the four
most of the worlds coastal areas negotiating and adopting both developed country members have
and involving over 150 countries. a framework convention and been substantial, several developing
Fourteen of them were developed an action plan. This allowed country parties have also made
with UNEPs support, but all 18 participating states immediately to significant contributions.
regularly attend global meetings that start addressing priority problems An important part of UNEPs
it convenes. through the action plan, even before mandate is to promote coordination
The individual programmes the convention entered into force. and collaboration among multi-
which began with establishing the Unlike them, too, the programmes lateral environmental agreements.
Mediterranean Action Plan in 1975 are cross-sectoral, interdisciplinary This is much easier said than done,
Our Planet
but the regional seas programmes Understanding have been signed of the Caribbean RCU provided
have been particularly open and to strengthen collaboration with invaluable technical support and
disposed towards collaboration. the secretariats of the Ramsar backstopping to the negotiations of
Because of their cross-sectoral Convention on wetlands and the the Northeast Pacific regional seas
nature, regional seas programmes Secretariat of the Basel Convention programme, extending along the
have established collaboration on hazardous wastes. Pacific coast of Mesoamerica from
with a broad range of multilateral The past decade has seen the Colombia to Mexico, in which I was
environmental agreements. In emergence of twinning arrangements heavily involved.
several cases they also have in which more developed regional The first twenty-five years of CEP
proved to be effective vehicles for seas programmes provide technical have seen such major achievements
supporting the implementation of support to those that are newer or as the Cartagena Convention
global agreements. less developed. The Coordinator and its three protocols, national
advances in capacity building for
Environmental agreements the integrated management of the
marine and coastal environment,
CEP has distinguished itself in this establishing a network of marine and
way, especially in the ten years coastal protected areas, assessing
since the appointment of Nelson and managing marine pollution,
Andrade, the Coordinator of the developing information systems
Regional Coordinating Unit. Three for managing marine and coastal
protocols have been developed resources, and forging stronger ties
under the Cartagena Convention with other MEAs and international
and are being implemented in close organizations. While the Caribbean
collaboration with global multilateral Environment Programme continues
environmental agreements. The Oil to mature, strategic support from
Spills Protocol is closely linked UNEP is essential.
to several of the marine pollution
conventions of the International Sustainable development
Maritime Organization (IMO),
which is involved in operating In 1999, through Decision 20/19, its
the Protocols Regional Marine Governing Council called on UNEP
Pollution, Information and Training to revitalize the Regional Seas
Centre. In 1997 a Memorandum Programme, which some had felt
of Understanding was signed with had been declining in importance
the Convention on Biological in the organizations work. Much
Diversity, strengthening links with remains to be done on this. The
the Specially Protected Areas and Regional Seas Programme needs to
Wildlife Protocol. The Aruba be returned to the core of UNEPs
Protocol Concerning Pollution from programme as it was from 1974
Land-based Sources and Activities to 1997. UNEP has a leading role
directly supports the implementation to play in the conservation and
of the Global Programme of Action sustainable development of the
for the Protection of the Marine worlds oceans and coastal areas,
Environment from Land-based and the future of CEP and other
Activities. And Memoranda of regional seas programmes will
depend on it
The past decade has
seen the emergence of Jorge Illueca, a former Assistant
twinning arrangements Executive Director of UNEP and
J. Kassanchuk/Unep/Still Pictures
Endangered species
Still Pictures
full protection under the Protocol
concerning Specially Protected
Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) of the
the turtles
Caribbean Region (also known as
the Cartagena Convention). The
protocol is arguably the worlds
most comprehensive regional
wildlife protection treaty, with
Karen L. Eckert describes how an initiative, which brings provisions on environmental
together science and policy, is helping to save critically impact assessment, planning
endangered species and management regimes
and buffer zones, as well as a
range of protection measures,
S
ea turtles were once There have long been regulated, including species recovery plans.
abundant in the Caribbean but largely unmanaged, sea It recognises that protection
region. Indeed, they are turtle fisheries. Tens and of threatened and endangered
thought to have been integral perhaps hundreds of thousands species will enhance the cultural
keystone species for coral reefs of turtles also die every year heritage and values of the
and seagrass beds in pre- after being accidentally caught countries and territories in the
Columbian times, performing in active or abandoned fishing Wider Caribbean Region and
critical ecological roles essential gear. Coral reef and seagrass bring increased economic and
to these ecosystems structure degradation, oil spills, chemical ecological benefits to them.
and function. Now numbers are waste, persistent plastic and
so severely reduced that some other marine debris, high density New partnerships
consider them to be virtually coastal development, and an
extinct as far as their role in increase in ocean-based tourism The Wider Caribbean Sea
Caribbean marine ecosystems is have damaged or eliminated Turtle Conservation Network
concerned. nesting beaches and feeding (WIDECAST) was founded in
Tens and perhaps areas. Threats accumulate over 1981 by Monitor International
hundreds of thousands long periods and can occur and emerged coincident with
of turtles die every year anywhere in a populations range; the CEP. With 55 volunteer
after being accidentally thus declines typically result country coordinators active
caught in active or from a combination of factors, in more than 40 nations and
abandoned fishing gear and reversing them is politically territories, it has served as a
and spatially complicated. model Regional Activity Network
Our Planet
within the SPAW Programme concluded that in light of the dozens of otherwise isolated
for a quarter-century. Country successful sea turtle recovery small-scale tagging projects,
coordinators meet annually to effort of WIDECAST a similar and to encourage and enable
discuss and rank con-servation structure would be desirable for collaboration among range
priorities, identify gaps, commit the implementation of manatee states.
to develop innovative research activities in the region. The Promoting best practices,
and management tools, and result was the Regional facilitating training and institution
create new partnerships, Management Plan for the West strengthening, encouraging
making possible proactive and Indian Manatee. community involvement, reducing
progressive collaboration. They threats to sea turtle survival
remain in contact via email, Standardised guidelines such as by working directly with
programme exchanges and peer- fisheries and tourism sectors
training, and regular sharing of The unique partnership between and raising public awareness,
data and analyses. WIDECAST and the CEP has the WIDECAST network, like
also resulted in region-wide the SPAW Protocol itself, offers
Enhanced capacity initiatives, such as a marine a framework for collaboration
turtle tagging centre based at toward a regionally unified
National Sea Turtle Recovery the University of the West Indies approach to managing and
Action Plans (STRAPs) (Barbados) which provides conserving migratory species
prepared by WIDECAST and standardised guidelines training,
published by the CEP aim tags, database management Karen L. Eckert is Executive Director
systematically to document software, and other tools to of the Wider Caribbean Sea Turtle
the status and distribution of strengthen and coordinate Conservation Network (WIDECAST).
remnant stocks, major causes
of mortality, the effectiveness
of existing legislation, and the
present and historical role of
sea turtles in local culture and
economy. Implementing STRAP
recommendations has resulted in
changes in fisheries regulations;
the designation of protected
areas; the realisation of long-
term sea turtle population
monitoring programmes; the
adoption of standardised record-
keeping and database manage-
ment protocols; the training of
enforcement and natural re-
source officers; the development
of public awareness materials;
the creation of grassroots.
organizations; the promotion
of sustainable livelihoods in
marginalised communities; a
commitment to new partner-
ships (such as co-management);
and a broadly enhanced capacity
Manoel Novaes/Unep/Still Pictures
Our Planet
Additional support
T
hey are just over the horizon: islands that make the Caribbean Sea They also asked the International
few of us see the titanic ships world famous, or catch fire, explode, Maritime Organization (IMO) and
that carry over a trillion or sink. The worst-case scenario is UNEP to support a Regional Activity
gallons of oil each year on the waters for two of these tankers to collide, Centre, with expertise in combating
of the Caribbean Sea. bringing catastrophe to a country or marine oil pollution, to facilitate
They load crude oil in the Middle small island state in the path of the their efforts and promote training and
East, Venezuela, Mexico, and Africa spilled oil. exercises. IMO, which has worked
and after spending up to weeks successfully for decades to reduce
at sea discharge it to refineries Contingency plans the amount of oil entering seas from
throughout the Caribbean and the ships, has found the establishment of
US Gulf Coast. At any moment, The last such collision took place such Centres , in cooperation with the
one could run aground on one of the decades ago, even though the UNEP Regional Seas Programme,
countless pristine reefs, shoals and density of shipping has increased particularly successful.
10
Our Planet
Better prepared
Developing
international marine environmental protection treaties
and to promoting cooperation with all stakeholders,
including environmental groups, trade organizations,
industry, governments, international organizations, and
Solutions
non-governmental organizations.
Twenty six sailors died and forty six million gallons
of crude oil spilled as a result of the fiery collision
between the Atlantic Empress and the Aegean Captain.
The Atlantic Empress was the largest ship that has ever Antonio Villasol Nez outlines
sunk after burning fourteen days and spilling eight the need for sustainable development and
times the amount that poured out from the infamous environmental improvement in the region and
Exxon Valdez: no one knows how much was consumed describes how it is being met
in the flames. Such was the tragedy that gave birth to
T
RAC/REMPEITCCarib. But the seas are cleaner and he Caribbean Environment Programme Action
the region is now better prepared for disaster as a result Plan is celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary
both of the response to this accident and of the Centres to the satisfaction of those living in the Wider
work Caribbean Region, as well as the many people
around the world who enjoy their holidays here
Brian Peter, a Commander of the US Coast Guard, attracted by magnificent landscapes, beautiful
is Senior Consultant to the International Maritime beaches with crystal clear water, marvellous and
Organization (IMO) and the Regional Marine Pollution eye-catching biodiversity, and the rich variety of
Emergency, Information and Training Centre Wider traditions and customs arising from the mix of races
Caribbean (RAC/REMPEITC-Carib). and cultures.
11
Our Planet
Its work is greatly needed. As caused by deforestation and poor based sources, providing advice
UNEPs GEO Cities report shows, agricultural practices; and an on the use of clean technologies
sixty of the 77 most important increase in maritime activities and on the treatment and
cities in Latin America and the in the harbours, without proper disposal of solid and liquid
Caribbean lie within the coastal treatment and disposal of waste. urban and industrial waste in an
zone. Three out of every five people Regional Activity Centres environmentally sound way.
in the region live less than 100 km (RAC) were founded to develop, A more rational use of
from the sea. The determining coordinate and carry out technical natural resources has been
factors in shaping urban centres and scientific activities and tasks achieved, by developing tourism
and their relationships with under the Protocols associated economically important for
the environment have been the with the Cartagena Convention. many of the countries in the
industrialisation that began The Centro de Ingeniera y region by holding training
in the regions major cities in Manejo Ambiental de Bahas y workshops for specialists and
the 1940s, rapid growth in the Costas (CIMAB), based in Cuba, decision-makers. The LBS/RACs
service sectors, proliferation of is one of two RACs supporting the have also developed national and
informal economic activities, implementation of the Protocol regional projects for sustainable
and the recent implementation Concerning Pollution from Land- coastal zone management.
of the globalization model. Latin based Sources and Activities The LBS/RACs, together
America and the Caribbean (LBS Protocol). with other research institutions
exhibit serious deficiencies in in the region, make up the now
achieving economic development. Environmental conditions developing Regional Activity
Growth has been unstable and Network (RAN) of institutions,
economic benefits have been CIMAB works in collaboration which, under the supervision of
poorly distributed. with the second LBS/RAC the UNEP-CAR/RCU, are working
Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA) to conserve and improve
Scientific activities in Trinidad and Tobago to environmental conditions in
promote the ratification of the the Wider Caribbean Region.
This situation has contributed to LBS Protocol, so that it can enter This in turn is vitally important
rapid environmental deterioration into force as soon as possible, for achieving sustainable
and loss of biodiversity, principally as a practical tool for combating development
in the rivers and marine/coastal marine pollution.
zones. This has resulted from The LBS/RACs also work Antonio Villasol Nez is Director
dumping of untreated, or with regional governments and of Centro Ingeniera y Manejo
improperly treated urban and environmental authorities in Ambiental de Bahas y Costas
industrial waste; soil erosion reducing pollution from land- (CIMAB) in Havana, Cuba.
12
Our Planet
To the rescue
Mark Edwards/Still Pictures
L
ivelihoods in the Wider Caribbean Region are develop and implement the LBS Protocol. In 2002, the
inextricably linked with the Caribbean Sea which Intergovernmental Meeting accepted the proposal of
provides food, transportation, energy, medicine, Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago to host the LBS/RACs
construction material, and recreation. The economies at Centro de Ingenieria y Manejo Ambiental de Bahias
of most Caribbean countries heavily depend on marine y Costas (Cimab) and the Institute of Marine Affairs
tourism, which in turn relies on a healthy environment. (IMA), which both have strong research capabilities on
Yet growing environmental pressures including pollution control and environmental management. They:
overfishing, planned and unplanned coastal develop- provide coordination, technical guidance and
ments, unsustainable land use practices, and land-based administrative oversight of project activities;
sources of pollution are inevitably compromising the establish a Regional Activity Network (RAN) of
integrity of the services provided to all Caribbean people. technical institutions that provide input, peer review and
Domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes and run-off expertise to the CEP; and
account for about ninety per cent of all marine pollution coordinate technical inputs of RAN and other
with domestic sewage the largest point source category collaborating institutions.
threatening coastal and marine environments and thus Their activities, representing the priorities of member
the regions socio-economic health. governments, operate under the CEPs Assessment
and Management of Environmental Pollution Sub-
Regional cooperation programme. They facilitate regional cooperation on
environmental matters, thereby contributing to the
The Convention for the Protection and Development of regions sustainable development.
the Marine Environment of the wider caribbean Region The LBS/RACs, operational since 2002, work
(Cartagena Convention) engenders regional cooperation towards meeting the Protocols objectives, taking action
on environmental issues including land-based sources of to address land-based sources of marine pollution in the
13
Our Planet
Technical support
Social
bring it into force, as well as developing a Demonstration
National Programme of Action for Protecting the Marine
Environment from Land-based Activities for Trinidad
and Tobago.
In the process, the LBS/RACs have established
partnerships with such funding donor agencies as the
Swedish International Development Agency and the U.S.
Department of Commerce; other UN agencies such as
Conservation
UNESCO-IOCARIBE; and such technical institutions Maurice Anselme points out that local people
as INVEMAR of Colombia and Universidad de Oriente
must be involved from the outset if biodiversity
in Venezuela, both of which will be integrated into the
RAN. is to be conserved
The importance of the Caribbean Sea to the region, the
T
vulnerability of its ecosystems to land-based sources of he relationship between the Caribbean people
pollution, and the inability of many countries to deal with and nature is first and foremost one between
environmental problems, emphasize the need for the LBS/ its men and women: They are an integral part
RACs to provide technical support to their governments. of the ecosystems they use, partially or wholly, for
In so doing, they will contribute to ensuring sustainable their subsistence. An Eden populated by poor people
development both nationally and regionally is unthinkable, and so conserving the environment
must also mean conserving a social bond.
Amoy Lum Kong is Director (acting), and Hazel McShine Conservation policies are the product of a
the immediate past Director of the Institute of Marine naturalistic representation of human societies,
Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago.
14
Our Planet
Precautionary principle
15
Our Planet
The road
Conventions in Barcelona. This sparked great interest
in Caribbean delegates, and they adopted the Caribbean
Action Plan in Montego Bay on July 1981 soon followed
by the signing of the Cartagena Convention in 1983, the
travelled
setting-up of the Caribbean Trust Fund and the opening
of the Regional Coordinating Unit in Kingston in 1986.
That year UNEP asked me to become the first
Coordinator of the Programme a great honour and,
Salvano Briceo looks back on the more importantly, a tremendous challenge. I arrived in
achievements of the last quarter of a Jamaica in January 1987 and began putting together a
core staff and basic systems and procedures. An amicable
century and identifies a key challenge for and productive relationship ensued with the host country
the future as the Jamaican Government responded rapidly to the
new Units demands.
T
he Caribbean is full of contrasts. A microcosm of the Prime Minister Edward Seaga had played an essential
entire world extremely rich and poor countries, role in attracting it to Jamaica following arduous
very large and small populations and territories, a negotiations with other potential hosts, including
wide range of cultures and languages of African, Asian, Venezuela (represented by no other than myself!) and
European, and indigenous origins, capitalist and socialist this proved very helpful in strengthening the Unit in
governments lives together, sharing resources and Kingston. When Michael Manley came to power in 1989,
exposure to natural hazards in a territory smaller than we also pursued a very active and fruitful collaboration
Europe. with his Government, particularly with Percival Patterson
All depend on shared marine and coastal resources then as Deputy Prime Minister responsible for the
essential for their economies, mostly based on tourism, environment portfolio, later the longest serving Prime
fisheries and other maritime activities. Although Minister in Jamaican history.
entangled in their history, and very much interdependent,
each society has employed creativity and hard work if Sustainable development
in different ways, and with some having greater success
than others. Climate change was among the first challenges to be
By definition, an effective Caribbean initiative is an tackled: specific expert recommendations paved the way
open, respectful and tolerant endeavour that encourages for Governments in the region to become key actors in
and nurtures solidarity within the wider community. the climate change negotiations that began in 1991.
When the Action Plan and the Cartagena Convention
Environmental degradation were adopted, the impact of natural hazards such as
hurricanes, floods, drought, earthquakes, volcanic
The first instrument adopted by Governments as part eruptions, tsunamis had not yet been identified as a
of the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP), was major threat to the regions development. However, rapid
the Action Plan, aimed at collectively addressing the urban growth, coupled with accelerated environmental
impending threat of regional environmental degradation. degradation and the threat of climate change has made
Negotiations on the Law of the Sea had sparked a global it increasingly urgent to pay closer attention and give
mobilization to protect and manage the oceans: but their higher priority to reducing risk and vulnerability.
slow progress motivated environmentally-concerned These hazards and disasters triggered by human,
Governments rapidly to address its environmental aspects social, economic and environmental vulnerability, such
by developing a series of programmes to face specific as oil and chemical spills, industrial and waste water
regional needs. UNEPs Executive Director, Mostafa pollution and other land-based sources of marine pollution
Tolba and the first Director of UNEPs Regional Seas continue to pose a grave threat to tourism and fisheries,
Programme, Stjepan Keckes immediately responded to the regions main sources of livelihood. Focusing on the
this challenge. five priority tasks identified by the Hyogo Framework for
Venezuela had then just created one of the first Action (2005-2015) to build the resilience of nations and
ministries of environment and, as I was responsible for communities to disasters, as a prerequisite for sustainable
international relations, I became immediately involved in Caribbean development, is now a key and urgent challenge
the negotiations of the regional seas initiative at UNEP, for the CEP.
focused on the Caribbean. With motivated delegates from This will continue what CEP represents so well:
Barbados, Colombia, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, twenty-five years of challenge in a region full of cultural
France, Jamaica, Mexico, Panama, USA, and gradually and biological diversity and a promising opportunity
Peter Schickert/Still Pictures
others, we became rapidly involved in most interesting to ensure that regional cooperation leads to sustainable
and rewarding negotiations. development n
Governments in the Med-iterranean, spurred by
the greater threat of maritime pollution in their region, Salvano Briceo, the first Coordinator of CEP, is Director
moved faster and adopted the first of the Regional Seas of the UN International Strategy for Disaster Reduction.
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