Description of the project
Protecting the Large Marine Ecosystems (and associated living resources) that make up the Wider Caribbean region is vital to safeguarding the future of the 26 countries and 18 overseas territories of the Caribbean Basin, Gulf of Mexico and North Brazil Shelf. To this end, CANARI is supporting the efforts of UN Environment, through the Caribbean Regional Coordinating Unit (CAR/RCU), to prepare a report on the state of marine habitats in the Wider Caribbean and a strategy and action plan for their protection and restoration. The status report and strategy/action plan provide the basis for transboundary governance and management of the wider Caribbean region’s coral reef sub-ecosystem (coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds) and set out a series of measures to be taken to address priority issues in support of the people, economies and ecology of the region.
This initiative was implemented through UN Environment’s Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) sub-programme and supports implementation of the 10-year Strategic Action Programme for the Sustainable Management of the Shared Living Marine Resources of the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME + SAP). The CLME+ SAP is aimed at contributing to the achievement of the long-term vision for the CLME+ region, which is “a healthy marine environment in the CLME+ that provides benefits and livelihoods for the well-being of the people of the region”. CANARI is supporting UN Environment CAR/RCU in the frame of the five-year (2015-2020) United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)/Global Environment Facility (GEF) Catalysing Implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Sustainable Management of shared Living Marine Resources in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems project (The UNDP/GEF CLME + Project (2015-2020). See the project summary here.
Key results
The project supports improved coordination and integration of the various marine ecosystem management and conservation efforts that are being undertaken by governments and their partners in the Wider Caribbean. The project delivered the following specific outputs and activities:
- Preparation of a report on the State of Marine Habitats and shared Living Marine Resource in the Wider Caribbean (SoMH). The SoMH establishes a baseline of the state of three nearshore habitats of the coral reef sub-ecosystem and identify current initiatives, needs and opportunities for investments for their enhanced protection and restoration.
- Elaboration of a Regional Strategy and Action Plan for the Valuation, Protection and Restoration of Key Marine Habitats in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+ region) and Gulf of Mexico (RSAP). The RSAP identifies priorities, needs and opportunities for synergetic action and investments for the enhanced protection and restoration of the key habitats of coral reefs, sea grass beds and mangroves for the 10-year period 2021 – 2030.
- Stakeholder engagement to input into development of the SoMH and RSAP was conducted through online surveys, expert interviews, and two regional consultations with stakeholders from government, civil society, and academia from across the Caribbean Basin, Gulf of Mexico and North Brazil Shelf.
- Project Summary
- Overview of the Report on the State of Marine Habitats in the Wider Caribbean & Regional Strategy and Regional Action Plan for the Valuation, Protection and/or Restoration of Key Marine Habitats in the Wider Caribbean 2021 – 2030
- Workshop Report – First Regional Stakeholder Workshop, Panama City, Panama, 3 – 4 December 2018
- Workshop Report – Second Regional Stakeholder Workshop, Panama City, Panama, 13 – 14 March 2019
- Regional Strategy and Action Plan for the Valuation, Protection and Restoration of Key Marine Habitats in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+ region) and Gulf of Mexico (RSAP)
- State of Marine Habitats and shared Living Marine Resource in the Wider Caribbean (SoMH)