Marine and Coastal Ecosystems

Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine and Coastal Ecosystems

Caribbean marine and coastal ecosystems, which include coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds, are threatened by a number of factors including unsustainable development and fishing practices. One of the most holistic approaches to protecting marine and coastal ecosystems is Ecosystem-Based Management (EBM) which recognizes the need to protect entire ecosystems instead of individual species.

The main objectives of this SPAW programme element are to:

• Assist with the management of marine and coastal ecosystems of the region on a sustainable basis, particularly through sustainable practices;
• Mobilize the political will and action of governments and other partners for the conservation and sustainable use of coral reefs and associated ecosystems such as mangroves and seagrass beds;
• Effectively communicate the value and importance of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass beds, including their ecosystem services, the threats to their sustainability, and the actions needed to protect them; and
• Promote the ecosystem management approach and the principles and values of good governance for the conservation and management of marine ecosystems in the region.

Activities during the 2019-2020 biennium will continue to focus on:

Coral reefs

• Reactivation of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) and collaboration with the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI).
• Promotion and implementation of the Regional Guidelines for Coral Reef Biophysical Monitoring.
• Development of a communication strategy and tools – in particular, those concerning the Stony Coral tissue loss disease.
• Representation and promotion of the guidelines at relevant fora.
• Implementation of capacity-building activities such as workshops and small grant funding for field work.

EBM Application in the Region

• Continued collaboration with the pollution sub-programme and other partners in the implementation of the CLME+ project via development of a “Regional Strategy and Action Plan for the valuation, protection and/or restoration of key marine habitats in the CLME+”; and implementation of pilot projects demonstrating the transition to an EBM approach at the sub-regional/site level in the CLME+.
• Through the completed Italian-funded project “Biodiversity for Sustainable Development in the Caribbean (EBM)” there has been preparation of a technical document about lessons learned on EBM and DSS (Decision Support System) application in the Wider Caribbean, along with a final project report towards a Phase II project in 2021.
• Implementation of the BEST Initiative (executed through the SPAW-RAC) which aimed to support conservation of biodiversity and sustainable use of ecosystems services in Overseas Territories of the European Union. It included 4 medium-sized grants to address invasive alien species, sea turtle conservation, coral reef restoration and establishment of Aruba’s first marine park. Many of the projects ended in late 2018/ others completed in Spring 2019. BEST 2.0 officially ended in December 2019.