THE Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is seeking to implement a regional strategy that would address biodiversity across the Region.

Thirty (30) delegates from Caribbean territories gathered on Thursday at the CARICOM Secretariat for the opening of a two-day regional workshop for development of the CARICOM Biodiversity Strategy. The event will serve as the framework for support to CARICOM member states, Cuba and The Dominican Republic to implement the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity Strategic Plan 2011-2020.

CARICOM’s Assistant Secretary-General, Human and Social Development, Dr. Douglas Slater, said CARICOM member states are currently implementing national-scale action to achieve global biodiversity targets. Today, however, the global results are below target. According to Dr. Slater, biodiversity is deeply connected to the Caribbean and its existence.
“Natural ecosystems provide the people of the Caribbean community with the essential goods and services, such as food and nutrition, medicines, cosmetics, recreation, fuel-storm protection and climate resilience for services such as these, it is critical that we pause and take stock,”

The workshop is funded in part by the European Union. Charge? d?Affaires of EU in Guyana Layla El Khadraoui, said Caribbean countries have been increasing their participation in efforts on climate change and mitigation. She said the workshop “would be helpful in formulating a regional strategy.”

“The Caribbean countries have many common features and they suffer similar problems. The Caribbean Region is particularly sensitive to natural disasters like hurricanes, as we have seen last year.” She said various Caribbean countries also have mangroves and coral leaves that form an interrelated ecosystem. These are not only important to the economic and social well-being of the territories, but are key elements for adapting to the increasing vulnerability to natural disasters.

The CBS is an output under the Caribbean Hub sub-component of Phase II of the Programme for Capacity-Building related to Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) countries. The programme is supported by the European Union (EU) and UN Environment Programme. The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) is facilitating development of the CBS for the CARICOM Secretariat.