Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW)

Dhërmi Beach

What is the SPAW Protocol?

A regional agreement for the protection and sustainable use of coastal and marine biodiversity in the Wider Caribbean Region.

Our SPAW programme supports countries to implement their national obligations under the SPAW Protocol.

The SPAW Protocol text can be accessed here.

What are SPAW’s areas of focus? 

How can SPAW support my marine biodiversity work in the Caribbean?

  • Improve management of protected areas
  • Conserve threatened and endangered species
  • Assist with other regional and global biodiversity agreements and commitments 

What are the recent achievements of our SPAW Programme?

1.      Strengthening Governance, Coordination, Strategic Partnerships, and Ecosystem-Based Coastal and Marine 
         Habitat Management

  • Finalized and disseminated the Regional Strategy and Action Plan for the Valuation, Protection and/or Restoration of Key Marine Habitats (2021–2030).
  • Published the State of Nearshore Marine Habitats Report (2023), offering a comprehensive regional baseline for policy and management.
  • Conducted an evaluation of the functioning of SPAW Working Groups with the objective of informing future review and updates to their mandates, membership, and coordination mechanisms, in order to enhance alignment with Conference of the Parties (COP) and Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC) decisions.
  • Advanced the development of revised legal and governance guidelines for Regional Activity Centers (RACs) and Regional Activity Networks (RANs), including a reviewed draft proposal for a new Marine Mammals RAN, with the aim of ensuring greater clarity, consistency, and alignment with the Cartagena Convention's evolving priorities.
  • Promoted regional and international collaboration through cooperation arrangements such as Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs), Letters of Intent, and Joint Work Programmes, among other means, with key partners including the Inter-American Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles (IAC), Mesoamerican Reef Fund (MAR Fund), The Ocean Foundation, the SPAW Consortium, International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), and others. This includes strengthened engagement with other Regional Seas Programmes such as the Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the North-East Atlantic (OSPAR), the Abidjan Convention (Convention for Cooperation in the Protection and Development of the Marine and Coastal Environment of the West and Central African Region), the Barcelona Convention (Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment and the Coastal Region of the Mediterranean), and the Permanent Commission for the South Pacific (CPPS).
  • Contributed to global processes and multilateral frameworks, including the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF), the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI), and other relevant global forums, ensuring visibility and alignment of the SPAW Protocol.

 

2.      Supporting Species Conservation and Ecosystem-Based Management

  • The updated Action Plan for the Conservation of Marine Mammals in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) (2023–2028) was finalized and is currently under implementation, including support for national plans and regional coordination mechanisms.
  • Continued review of species proposed for listing or reclassification under Annexes I, II, and III of the SPAW Protocol.
  • Strengthened cooperation with the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) to enhance synergies on migratory and endangered species.

 

3.      Enhancing Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) conservation and management through the Caribbean Marine Protected
         Area Management Network and Forum (CaMPAM) and the SPAW-listed MPA Network and collaboration with other 
         efforts and initiatives

  • Expanded and reinforced the SPAW-listed MPA Network, which now includes 38 sites across 15 Contracting Parties. A network of MPA managers has also been established to facilitate knowledge exchange, peer support, and collaborative planning across listed sites.
  • Delivered a new cycle of the Caribbean Marine Protected Area Management Network and Forum (CaMPAM) Training of Trainers (ToT) Programme for English-speaking countries, strengthening MPA management capacity in 11 Caribbean nations.
  • Strengthened collaboration with other regional and global MPA networks and initiatives to promote knowledge exchange, coordinated management, and the achievement of global biodiversity targets.
  • Provided technical support for new nominations, updated management effectiveness assessments, and guidance on integration with GBF Target 3 and recognition of Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures (OECMs).

 

4.      Advancing Ecosystems Monitoring and Habitat Restoration

  • Coordinated the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN)-Caribbean node and led the preparation of the 2025 GCRMN Report for the Wider Caribbean Region.
  • Supported national and regional coral reef monitoring efforts, facilitating data standardization and integration.
  • Supported ongoing regional Red List of Ecosystems assessment processes through data sharing and expert engagement in coordination with the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
  • Finalized and disseminated the Regional Strategy and Action Plan for the Valuation, Protection and/or Restoration of Key Marine Habitats (2021–2030).
  • Published the State of Nearshore Marine Habitats Report (2023), offering a comprehensive regional baseline for policy and management..

 

  1. Improving Knowledge, Communication and Science-Policy Interface
  • Strengthened outreach and visibility of SPAW through participation in regional and international events, side events, and technical panels, as well as through increased use of social media platforms to share updates, promote initiatives, and engage with diverse audiences across the Wider Caribbean Region.
  • Promoted stakeholder engagement and knowledge sharing across SPAW thematic areas, including through the development of communication products, policy briefs, and webinars.

SPAW Protocol ratification

Last updated: May 2021

What are the benefits to my Government by becoming a party to (ratifying)* the SPAW Protocol?

  • Increased recognition and awareness of national marine protected areas
  • New employment and income generating opportunities
  • Access to Small Grants and other sources of financing 

*Ratification is the process when Governments formally sign on to a regional or international agreement and commit to various national obligations.  

How can my country ratify the SPAW Protocol? 

How to ratify our conventions and protocols.

The national focal point in each country should:  

  1. Consult with other government and non-governmental organizations about the importance of ratification.
  2. Prepare justification letter for ratification. Countries may utilize the submission templates here - EN | ES | FR.
  3. Obtain cabinet /parliament approval for ratification.
  4. Submit instruments of ratification to: Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Colombia. 

SPAW Projects and Initiatives

CEP was established in 1981 as part of the Regional Seas Programme in recognition of the importance and value of the Wider Caribbean Region’s fragile and vulnerable coastal and marine ecosystems including endemic plants and animals.

© United Nations Environment Programme