News

Celebrating International Day for Biological Diversity!

 

From 20-21 April and 27-28 April 2022, the Cartagena Convention Secretariat will participate in the Sustainable Ocean Initiative Capacity-Building Workshop for the Wider Caribbean and Central America on Other Effective Area-Based Conservation Measures in the Marine Fishery Sector.

The geographic area of Northern Clarendon in Jamaica boasts a vast number of fruit trees, lush vegetation, and forested land. Its beautiful landscape is typical of hilly rural areas that are interspersed across Jamaica, and which depend heavily on agriculture for livelihoods. Residents in the communities of Northern Clarendon, however, are challenged by the lack of a crucial resource- water.

To mark five decades of the environmental movement with the Stockholm+50 international meeting, we are celebrating global collaboration on environmental challenges through this Q and A series with representatives of Multilateral Environment Agreements (MEAs).

Nairobi, 03 March 2022 – A series of regional conventions and policies are playing an essential role in monitoring climate change and preparing for extreme weather events, preventing oil spills, reducing plastic and other waste, saving coral reefs, and providing overall ocean protection and restoration of marine ecosystems.

During the month of November 2021, the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat hosted two workshops for Non-Contracting Parties to its Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS).

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Cartagena Convention Secretariat extends warmest season’s greetings to you. As the year 2021 comes to a close, let us reflect not only on the challenges that confronted us during this past year, but let us also celebrate the opportunities and partnerships that have allowed us to achieve successful outcomes.

Mangroves in the Mesoamerican Reef Region (MAR) and the Wider Caribbean are the economic foundation of over 134 million people living in the coastal regions. Due to their close relationship with other ecosystems, such as coral reefs and seagrasses, mangroves and the ecosystem services they provide are the conservation pillars of coastal ecosystems.

Grant Funding for Short-Term Small-Scale Integrated Water Resources and Wastewater Management (IWWM) Projects in the Caribbean The Global Water Partnership- Caribbean (GWP-C) in collaboration with the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat has re-opened the Call for Concept Notes for the implementatio

New Providence, THE BAHAMAS – From destructive hurricanes, storm surges and flooding to salt intrusion in water resources and other development threats, East Grand Bahama (EGB) has endured its share of challenges over the years. Yet, the willpower of its people to rebound has remained strong.

#RestorationBeginsWithMe  The United Nations (UN) has declared 2021-2030 as the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, in a rallying call for the protection and revival of ecosystems around the world. Led by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the UN Decade is building a strong, broad-based global movement to ramp up restoration and put the world on track for a sustainable future.

On World Water Day 2021, the GEF CReW+ wants to highlight the multidimensional values of wastewater. If you want to learn more about the value of wastewater in the Wider Caribbean Region, join the CReW+ Academy. “Wastewater is a byproduct of human activity. Like most byproducts, it can have some sort of a second life.

“As we celebrate World Water Day on 22 March 2021, the Cartagena Convention Secretariat is pleased with the new mandate that Scientific and Technical Experts from the Wider Caribbean Region have recommended for inclusion in the 2021/2022 work programme of the Secretariat.

Applications are now open for the 2nd UNEP-ICRI small grants programme 2021 to support the conservation and restoration of coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass.

The GEF CReW+ Project held its Inception Meeting  The Caribbean Region faces many challenges in the water and sanitation sector. About 70% of the region’s population lacks access to safely managed sanitation services, implying severe environmental and public health risks. 

Collaboration under the United Nations Development Programme/Global Environment Facility (UNDP/GEF) Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME+) Project  

During the 2019/2020 biennium, the UNEP Cartagena Convention Secretariat has been fortunate to welcome 8 young, bright minds to its Internship Programme. Hailing from Aruba, China, France, India, Jamaica, Norway and the United Kingdom, these university graduates are connected by their shared interest in environmental science and their desire to make meaningful contributions to sustainable development at all levels.

The United States Coast Guard has conferred on Ms. Carla Bikker the Medal of Honor, Respect and Devotion to Duty for her 25 years of dedicated service as Operations Manager, and now newly appointed Director of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO)/ United Nations Environmental Programme's (UNEP) Regional Activity Center (RAC)/Regional Marine Pollution Emergency Information and Training Center (REMPEITC).

The Steering Committee of the UNDP/GEF CLME+ Project “Catalyzing implementation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems project, Chaired the Government of Panama, convened virtually from 16-18 June 2020.

What do the UNDP/GEF Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystems (CLME+) Project, the Italian-funded Biodiversity for Sustainable Development Project and the Ecosystem-Based Management sub-project in the North-Brazil Shelf all have in common?

The United Nations Environment Programme’s Cartagena Convention Secretariat, as the lead co-executing agency, will be convening the Fourth Regional Project Steering Committee Meeting (RPSC) of the GEF-funded Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystem Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (UNEP GEF IWEco) Project from 1-2 July 2020 through virtual means. The main objectives of the meeting will be to:

Monday, 15 June 2020, marks the 25th Anniversary of RAC/REMPEITC-Caribe.

The Global Environment Facility-funded Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (GEF IWEco) Project, executed by the Cartagena Convention Secretariat, is thrilled to announce that its "Caribbean Breaking Up With Plastics" video won two major awards in May 2020!     

The health of our oceans and seas is inextricably linked with the health of our planet and all life on earth. Many nationalities, including mine, have a special relationship with the sea. The truth is, the sea has a special relationship with all of us.