Download Small Island developing States cont`d

Public Policy Seminar
10 July, Portsmouth, UK
An Assessment of the Johannesburg Plan of
Implementation in the Caribbean
Prepared by Terrence Phillips
CRFM Secretariat
Introduction
Chapter 61 of the Report of the World Summit on Sustainable
Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2002, called for a full and
comprehensive review of the implementation of the Barbados Programme
of Action for the Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing
States in 2004, in accordance with the provisions set forth in General
Assembly resolution S-22/2…(UN, 2002).
Introduction cont’d
The Caribbean Regional Report on the Implementation of the
Barbados Programme of Action for the Sustainable Development
of Small Island Developing States prepared for the Review
Meeting in Mauritius in 2005, indicated that Caribbean
Governments were finding it increasingly difficult to achieve
adequate levels of economic growth to support the
implementation of their sustainable human development
programmes, with the Report highlighting the need to find
solutions to the significant challenges facing these States.
One of the main challenges was how to pursue sustainable human
development within a context of high poverty levels; limited
resource endowment; constraining internal and external
environments; fluctuating rates of international economic growth;
weak national institutional capacity and the rising expectations of
burgeoning populations (CARICOM, 2004).
Introduction cont’d
4 July 1973 - The Caribbean Community was established as the
Caribbean Community and Common Market by the Treaty of
Chaguaramas.
Treaty revision, effective February 2002, - successor entity- the
Caribbean Community, including the CARICOM Single Market and
Economy (CSME).
Community consists of Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas (The
Bahamas is a member of the Community but not the CSME),
Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica,
Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago. Associate Members
are Anguilla, Bermuda, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands and
Turks and Caicos Islands (CARICOM. 2004).
Introduction cont’d
Objectives of the Community:
- improve standards of living and work;
-full employment of labour and other factors of production;
-accelerated, coordinated and sustained economic development and
convergence;
-expansion of trade and economic relations with third States;
-enhanced levels of international competitiveness;
-organisation for increased production and productivity;
-achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage and
effectiveness of Member States in dealing with third States, groups of
States and entities of any description; and
- enhanced co-ordination of Member States’ foreign and foreign economic
policies and enhanced functional co-operation.
The fifteen Member States of CARICOM as well as Cuba and the
Dominican Republic are among the fifty-one countries classified as SIDS.
The information provided focuses largely on the CARICOM Member
States but, wherever feasible, has been extended to cover the other
Caribbean SIDS (CARICOM 2004).
Introduction cont’d
The fishing industry makes an important contribution to the development and
attainment of food security in the region.
-Providing stable full-time employment for more than 120,000 fishers, and indirect
employment opportunities for thousand of others in the processing, marketing,
and support services.
-In 2000, marine fish production in CARICOM/CARIFORUM countries was 172
thousand tonnes. Shrimp, queen conch, reef fishes, deep slope and bank fishes,
coastal and offshore pelagic make up the marine capture component.
- Fisheries contribution to GDP ranges from 7.2 % in Belize to 0.02% in Trinidad
and Tobago.
In the region:
-Many species of fish are under stress from over-exploitation and/or habitat
degradation and are therefore not making optimum contribution to our socioeconomic development
-On the other hand, there are dozens, maybe hundreds, of fish species and other
marine organisms that can be developed and utilized for human consumption or
for other commercial purposes that are currently either unexploited or underexploited.
It is within the context of being SIDs and following on from the Review Meeting in
Mauritius 2005, that the assessment of JPol in the Caribbean will be addressed.
Integrated Ocean and Coastal Management
The Caribbean Sea and adjacent large marine ecosystems include a wide variety of
tropical ecosystems and associated biodiversity. The area encompasses a large
proportion of the world’s coral reef resources, including the second longest barrier
reef, the Meso American Barrier Reef System. The sustainability of its living
resources is of considerable importance to an appreciable proportion of the
region’s countries as it plays a key role in poverty alleviation and national
economic stability in Caribbean countries and the region (Mahon, 2003).
In recognition of the vulnerability and vital importance of the Caribbean Sea and
the critical need to develop a comprehensive scheme for its management, UN
Resolution 57/261 aimed at promoting an integrated management approach to the
Caribbean Sea area in the context of sustainable development was approved by
the 57th Session of the UN General Assembly in February 2003. The intention is to
have the UN declare and the international community recognise the Caribbean Sea
to be a special area in the context of sustainable development. (CARICOM, 2004).
Integrated Ocean and Coastal Management cont’d
•
Most Caribbean SIDS are Party to the United Nations
Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); the Convention
for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment
in the Wider Caribbean (Cartagena Convention); and the UN
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
•
Most states have National Biodiversity Strategies and Action
Plans; Fisheries Management Plans and Integrated Coastal and
Marine Management strategies, all of which are based on the
ecosystem approach (CARICOM, 2004).
•
Almost all Caribbean SIDS are unable to effectively manage
their EEZs.
Integrated Ocean and Coastal Management cont’d
Regional and international initiatives in relation to integrated ocean and coastal
management include:
UNEP/UNDP/CEHI - Regional Project on Integrated Watershed and Coastal Areas
Management (IWCAM) in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
Overall objective: to strengthen the commitment and capacity of the participating
countries to implement an integrated approach to the management of watersheds
and coastal areas.
It recognises the integrated and interlinked nature of watersheds and coastal areas
in small islands and aims to develop a more sectorally-coordinated management
approach, both at the national and the regional level, with a strong emphasis on an
expanded role for all stakeholders within a participatory management framework.
Thirteen countries are included in the GEF funded Project.
IOCARIBE – Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME) Project.
Overall objective: The sustainable management of the shared living marine
resources of the Caribbean LME and adjacent areas through an integrated
management approach.
Among the specific objectives: to improve the shared knowledge base for
sustainable use and management of transboundary living marine resources; to
implement legal, policy and institutional reforms to achieve sustainable
transboundary living marine resource management; and to develop an institutional
and procedural approach to LME level monitoring, evaluation and reporting.
Opportunity to address the WSSD goals regarding fisheries, particularly those
pertaining to restoration of stocks to levels that can produce maximum
sustainable yield by 2015 and introducing an ecosystem-based approach to the
assessment and management of marine resources by 2010 (Mahon, 2003).
Integrated Ocean and Coastal Management cont’d
Common Fisheries Policy and Regime (CFP&R): The
CARICOM Heads of Government in February 2003,
mandated the preparation of a Common Fisheries
Policy and Regime (CFP&R) to strengthen the system
of governance to ensure adequate protection and
sustainable benefits from the living marine resources
of the Member States.
Will create a regional framework for closer cooperation
through adoption of common measures for sustainable
development, management, and conservation of the
region’s fisheries and aquaculture resources.
Fisheries
CRFM - inaugurated on 26 March 2003 in Belize.
Mission: to promote and facilitate the responsible utilization of the region’s
fisheries and other aquatic resources for the economic and social benefits of the
current and future populations of the region.
Strategy and medium term plan seek to address such areas as:
-research and data analysis for policy formulation and decision making;
-preparation for global competitiveness;
-resource assessment and management;
-human resource development;
-strengthening of fisher’s organization and improved community participation; and
-development and promotion of risk reduction programmes for fishers.
Regarding efforts to implement the FAO IPOAs on IUU Fishing and Management of
Fishing Capacity, etc., and the WSSD targets for sustainable fisheries, the CRFM
Secretariat has been working with Member States in the following areas:
Fisheries cont’d
Fisheries Management Plans (FMPs): Updating FMPs, which include the promotion of the Code of
Conduct for Responsible Fisheries; and the establishment of mechanisms for ongoing consultation
among stakeholders.
Management of Shared Resources: Improving on the management of the queen conch and spiny
lobster fisheries by fostering a regional agreement, to promote and address the management,
conservation and sustainable use of queen conch (Strombus gigas) and spiny lobster (Panulirus
argus) in the region.
These are economically important resources which have been in decline in recent years, and in the
case of queen conch, is now in crisis, and is effectively being managed by CITES, due to lack of
effective management system among the range states. There is ongoing collaboration with the FAO,
CFMC and UNEP in the management of these resources.
National Plans of Action on IUU Fishing:
-Study in 2004 to Review the IUU Fishing and MCS in the Fisheries Sector of the
CARICOM/CARFORUM Region, and to Develop a Strategy and Plan for Enhancing the Effectiveness
of MCS.
- FAO Regional 2004 Workshop on the Elaboration of National Plans of Action to Prevent, Deter and
Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing.
-Develop a regional framework agreement and action plan on IUU Fishing and MCS, and provide
technical assistance to Member States in developing their respective NPOAs -IUU Fishing .
Resource Assessment: Continuing to provide assistance to Member States in the assessment of
commercially important resources, such as lobster, conch, shrimp, etc., by way of the species
specific working groups and the annual scientific meetings.
Fisheries cont’d
Establish systems to monitor the coastal environment, as part of the coastal
management process, using among other things economic and social parameters:
In collaboration with FAO, continuing to implement initiatives to incorporate
demographic and socio-economic considerations/indicators in fisheries integrated
management .
Management of Fishing Capacity:
Excess fishing capacity in world fisheries is an increasing concern as it
contributes substantially to overfishing, the degradation of marine fisheries
resources, the decline of food production potential, and significant economic
waste.
Failure to fully address this matter in CARICOM may be due to:
-insufficient data on fishing capacity by fishery types;
-information on reference points, catch, effort and capacity are all linked but poor
in the Region;
-IUU fishing complicates the calculation of regional capacity; and as most
Caribbean vessels and fishers pursue multi-species fisheries, care will have to be
taken to avoid externalities in capacity reduction planning.
Conservation of Biodiversity
Most Caribbean SIDS are Party to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).
-National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans have been developed within the framework
of the CDB but not fully implemented in many Caribbean SIDS.
-At the regional level, the UWI St. Augustine Campus is developing a Centre for Biodiversity
(CARICOM, 2004).
In the region, many marine reserves are small and used primarily for conservation and tourism,
with variable levels of enforcement and compliance.
- Of the 300 MPAs in the region: 6 percent are rated as effectively managed and only 4 percent
of the reefs in the wider Caribbean region are located in these MPAs.
-Studies of Marine Reserves in St Lucia and Florida have shown a spill-over effect to
surrounding areas, providing evidence of the benefits of MPAs as promising tools for fisheries
management.
- Common reasons for MPA failure must be addressed such as a lack of long-term financial
support and a lack of support from the local communities.
-UNEP-CEP through its Programme on Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) assists
with the establishment and proper management of protected areas, by promoting sustainable
management and use of species to prevent their endangerment and by providing assistance to
the governments of the region in conserving their coastal ecosystems.
-UNEP-CEP administered Caribbean Marine Protected Areas Management Network (CaMPAM)
fosters communication amongst MPA managers, the sponsorship and coordination of projects
and training activities (FAO, 2005).
Science and Observation
The IOC Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions
decided at its 6th session in April 1999 to establish and develop
the regional component of the Global Ocean Observing System,
IOCARIBE-GOOS.
It is aimed at providing information on the past, present and future
states of the marine and coastal environment, on marine
ecosystems and biodiversity, and on weather and climate
variability. It is also a tool for integrated management of the
coastal zone.
The 6th Meeting agreed that top priority areas for the conception
and implementation of IOCARIBE-GOOS would include tourism,
coastal populations, fisheries, marine pollution, marine biological
diversity, agriculture, maritime safety, storms and hurricanes.
(http://ioc.unesco.org/GOOS/IOCARIBE/IOCARIBE%20GOOS%20B
riefing.htm)
Small Island developing States
Tourism: While the relative stage of development and priority given to tourism
varies among Caribbean SIDS substantially, it is the first or second most important
economic activity in the vast majority.
It is viewed as an alternative to other sector economies that are on the decline (e.g.
agriculture). For example in Belize, tourism is reported to account for 1 in every 4
jobs and 18% of the GDP.
Caribbean SIDS have been challenged to look at new avenues for tourism
development to complement the traditional sun, sea and sand experience (e.g.
ecotourism, nature-based tourism and community based tourism) all of which
have necessitated revised national policies and frameworks and in some cases
legislation.
Small Island developing States cont’d
The majority of Caribbean SIDS have embarked on initiatives aimed at
building a wider base of support for the tourism industry among the local
population.
-Important steps are being taken at national and regional levels to
strengthen tourism planning and management to include environmental
concerns and maximise social and economic benefits.
-A wide range of laws have been enacted to strengthen environmental
management, including the establishment of standards for land use in
tourism development, adopting integrated watershed and coastal area
management systems and approaches and strengthening environmental
frameworks.
-Some countries such as Jamaica and Barbados have formulated
Tourism Master Plans with links to National Development Plans.
-The Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO) and the Caribbean Hotel
Association (CHA) now convene a Regional Sustainable Tourism
Conference each year.
Small Island developing States cont’d
A key regional initiative is:
Caribbean Tourism Strategic Plan: The Caribbean SIDS agreed in mid 2002 to
a Caribbean Tourism Strategic Plan to address both the short term issues
which arose from the disruption of the industry following the September 2001
terrorist attack in New York and Washington and the more fundamental
weaknesses in the development of the industry.
The Strategic Plan addresses issues such as sustainable development
including national environment, community development and health; human
resource development; product development, institutional strengthening;
investment; air access, airport safety and security; marketing; and information
management.
Few Caribbean SIDS have converted the Caribbean Tourism Strategic Plan
into National Sustainable Tourism Master Plans (CARICOM, 2004).
Small Island developing States cont’d
Energy Resources: Dependence on imported energy remains a principal challenge
to sustainable economic development of most Caribbean SIDS.
For the majority of Caribbean SIDS, fossil fuel imports consume a significant
percentage of foreign exchange earnings.
The use of these fossil fuels contributes directly, even if in a relatively small
measure given the size of the systems, to the degradation of the environment
through pollution and increased emissions, and therefore is a factor in the
economic and environmental vulnerability of Caribbean SIDS.
Cost is a key factor which influences the nature of responses to calls for increased
development of renewable energy (RE).
In many cases, the lack of technical knowledge with respect to RE technologies
(especially amongst decision-makers) has meant that States had to start
addressing their commitments to the process from a position of information
discovery before they could commence further investigations into which
technologies would be feasible for their situations.
Small Island developing States cont’d
Despite the above, many countries have been forging ahead with RE programmes and projects.
Examples include wind farms; hydroelectric power generating plants; Ocean Thermal Energy
Conversion (OTEC); wave power, solar power, bagasse burning turbines and biomass
digestors.
A few countries (Barbados, Saint Lucia, Curacao, Cuba) have adopted (or are in the process of
adopting) National Energy Policies and Action Plans.
Specific national initiatives include:
-the planned Amaila Falls hydo-power and Turtuba hydo-power projects in Guyana;
-the phasing out of leaded gasoline by most countries;
- wind and solar energy regimes in Curacao and Bonaire;
-and a solar water heating programme in Barbados which has resulted in a very high
proportion of houses, hotels and other buildings being equipped for solar water heating.
-Barbados is in the process of setting up a Renewable Energy Centre that will address training
needs.
CARICOM countries as part of the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Group, committed
themselves in the Johannesburg Programme of Implementation (JPOI of 2002) to increase the
contribution of alternative source of energy to at least 10 per cent of the energy mix by 2010.
Small Island developing States cont’d
A key regional energy initiative is:
The Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Project (CREDP –
Part II) which is being executed by the CARICOM Secretariat, and is
financed in part by a grant from GEF and the GTZ.
Overall objective: to remove barriers to the increased use of renewable
energies and reduce implementation costs thus reducing the Caribbean
region’s dependence on fossil fuels and contributing to the reduction of
green house gas emissions.
Thank You