View of Petit Martinique from Carriacou. Credit: Natalie Boodram
Supporting decision making and building capacity to support the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) through national ecosystem assessments in Grenada
There is acknowledgment globally that the health of ecosystems and the services they offer are crucial for human well-being, yet ecosystems are increasingly under threat. One contributing factor to ecosystem loss and degradation is the lack of understanding of the value of biodiversity and ecosystem services, along with insufficient tools to incorporate that understanding and information into policy setting and decision making. Consequently, there is a lack of buy-in and investment of human and financial resources in safeguarding these natural resources. Ecosystem assessments can provide the necessary evidence to assist in making informed decisions for the successful management of ecosystems and the services they provide. Engaging all stakeholders in assessments helps to develop comprehension and trust in the results, resulting in a more successful outcome.
About the Project
The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) worked with the Government of Grenada from 2019-2023 to execute a National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA) of the tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. This project was part of a global initiative on Supporting decision making and building capacity to support the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) through national ecosystem assessments. Grenada was the first Caribbean country and Small Island Developing State (SIDS) to participate in this global initiative, thus the project served as an important pilot for the Caribbean region.
How has this project benefitted the Caribbean region?
- By documenting the status, trends, and threats to Grenada’s coastal, deep ocean, forest, freshwater, offshore and agricultural ecosystems.
- By providing a comprehensive valuation of the genetic and ecosystem resources in Grenada using plural valuation systems including nature’s contribution to people.
- By showcasing the contribution of Grenada’s ecosystems to climate resilience and by demonstrating how supporting, enhancing and amplifying ecosystem services improves the economic and social well-being of Grenadians.
- By providing a model of ecosystem services valuation for replication across the Caribbean.
What activities were undertaken to achieve this?
- Conduct of technical scoping and development of an assessment report on the current status and threats to key ecosystems as well as the value of those ecosystems.
- Development of communication materials to increase access to the evidence base and facilitate uptake of the assessment findings by practitioners and policy makers.
- Support for a national multi-stakeholder platform to support the assessment process, and to provide ongoing communities of practice facilitating a science-policy interface
What did we achieve?
The project Scoping Report, Main Assessment Report and Summary for Policy Makers were developed. The Scoping Report, which framed the Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment, was published in April 2020 and after a three-year period, the Final Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment report was launched in October 2023. The Summary for Policy Makers was launched in early 2024. A Citizen’s Guide to the Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment was developed under a complementary project on “Capacity building and knowledge products to enhance the use and uptake of the National Ecosystem Assessment of the tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique”
- Author Network Developed
The Grenada NEA process entailed significant author engagement, with over 100 authors involved from over 10 countries. A final core team of 72 authors completed the NEA (14 Coordinating Lead Authors, 38 Lead Authors, 34 Contributing Authors and 7 Fellows) made up of a multidisciplinary team of authors comprising of economists, anthropologists, climate change specialists, biologists and other natural resource management experts.
- Participatory approach
At every stage of the NEA process, a wide range of stakeholders was involved, comprising of civil society, youth, government, regional institutions and private citizens. These stakeholders framed the assessment report by engaging in widespread scoping consultations across Grenada, and by contributing data and local knowledge.
- Data collection
To support the development of the assessment report, information was collected from multiple sources including 28 organisations at the local, regional and international level, and from civil society, academia, government agencies, as well as the author network. To support easy access to this information, Zotero databases were created and housed over 900 references. In addition, geospatial data was collated to develop maps specifically for the NEA.
- Tools and Training Opportunities
CANARI supported capacity building of local stakeholders and authors through training on ecosystem valuation, scenario development and on shooting effective cell-phone videos to capture local knowledge on Grenada’s ecosystems.
Project news
- Regional Workshop on Ecosystem Assessments for Eastern Caribbean States and launch of the Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment (NEA)
- Workshop on the Second Order Draft of the Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment
- Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment highlighted at the 2022 World Biodiversity Forum
- Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment Scenarios Workshop
- Foresight Scenarios Training Series in support of the Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment
- Ecosystem Valuation Training Series
- Grenada Ecosystem Assessment – Cell phone video competition
- Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment – Contributor and Implementation Team Profiles
- Grenada’s National Ecosystem Assessment Report supports the mainstreaming of biodiversity and ecosystem services into national policy-making
- Advancing National Ecosystem Assessments across the OECS region
- One Grenada, Many Voices: Telling the Story of People and Ecosystems
Project-related communications
- Final Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment Report
- Final Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment— Summary for Policy Makers
- Final Scoping Report for the National Ecosystem Assessment of Grenada
- Cell phone video of the Scoping Exercise for the National Ecosystem Assessment of Grenada
- A Citizen’s Guide to the Grenada National Ecosystem Assessment
More information about this project
- Download the Grenada NEA project summary
- Contact Dr. Natalie Boodram, Senior Technical Officer, at natalie@canari.org
Related projects and programmes
At-A-Glance
Aim: To conduct a national ecosystem assessment of Grenada and build capacity towards consideration of biodiversity and ecosystem services in policy development and decision making for natural resources management.
Timeframe: 2019-2023
Budget: US$521,718
Funded by: International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection of the Federal Republic of Germany.
Implementing partners: Environment Division, Government of Grenada
Related Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
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Related CANARI Programme Areas:
Related CANARI Flagship Area:
- Ecosystem Stewardship