EL PROGRAMA AMBIENTAL DEL CARIBE

Christopher Corbin Programme Officer

Secretariat for the Cartagena Convention

Convention for the Protection & Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean

Region – Cartagena Convention

Promoting Information Management & Sharing within the Wider Caribbean Region

Exchange of Experiences on LME-related Data &

Information Issues

Buenos Aires, Argentina11-14 June, 2013

OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PRESENTATION?

CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME

MISSION

“To promote regional co-operation for the protection & development of the Wider

Caribbean Region”

OBJECTIVE

“To achieve sustainable development of marine & coastal resources in the Wider

Caribbean Region through effective, integrated management that allows for economic growth

& sustainable livelihoods”

Oil Spills Protocol Adopted in 1983

Entered into force in 1986

Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife Protocol (SPAW)

Adopted in 1990Entered into force 2000

Protocol concerning Land-Based Sources

of Pollution (LBS) Adopted in 1999

Entered into force in 2010

Cartagena ConventionAdopted in 1983

Entered into force 1986

CARTAGENA CONVENTION & PROTOCOLS

Article 22: TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION

“The Contracting Parties shall transmit to the Organization information on the measures adopted by them in the implementation of this Convention and of protocols to which they are parties, in such form and at such intervals as the meetings of Contracting

Parties may determine”

Reporting Template Adopted at 14th IGM

What are the obligations for exchange of information?

“Cooperate in scientific research, monitoring & the exchange of data & other scientific information relating to the Convention”

“Assess periodically the state of the environment in the Convention Area”

Article 13Scientif ic & Technical

Cooperation

Article 16Meetings of the Parties

Article VI & XII of LBS Protocol(vi) Identify & assess patterns & trends in the environmental quality of the Convention Area;

(xii) Report on the State of the Convention Area;

Why do we need environmental data?

– – support an understanding & greater support an understanding & greater awareness of environmental issues, causes, awareness of environmental issues, causes, sources & impacts;sources & impacts;

– – function as an ongoing component of the function as an ongoing component of the development & assessment of management development & assessment of management policies, strategies & interventions; policies, strategies & interventions;

– – promote new legislative & policy initiatives promote new legislative & policy initiatives for sustainable resource management & for sustainable resource management & pollution prevention, reduction & control;pollution prevention, reduction & control;

-facilitate improved enforcement, decision--facilitate improved enforcement, decision-making & individual actionmaking & individual action

Our Regional Support Mechanisms

Government Experts: Scientific & Technical Advisory Committees (STACs) for Biodiversity & Pollution; Working Groups of Experts

Regional Activity Centres (RACs) for the Protocols

Regional Activity Network (RAN): Collaborating Agencies & Partners

Intergovernmental fora for Decision-Making

Data & Information: CEP Technical Reports, Clearing House Mechanism; Methodologies & Manuals; Data bases; Toolkits; Guidelines;

Links to State of Convention Area Report

How many more new Project Data Bases do we need or can we use?

How many more new Clearing House Mechanisms do we need or can we use?

Who will maintain the data bases & Clearing House Mechanisms once the project ends?

Who will continue to need and use the data & information generated and Why?

Our Reality Check:

Regional Monitoring Programmes are most effective when supported by strong harmonized national monitoring programmes – local interest, sense of assurance, demand

Improve the use of scientific data & information for policy setting & decision making e.g. strengthen national/regional labs; develop more effective visualization tools

Sensitivity & Quality Assurance of data e.g. recreational water quality

Our Experiences:

Data/Information is not only for Decision Makers:

• Value of Community Based Monitoring & Assessment (IWCAM, CLME)

• Data & Information should promote changes in community & individual attitudes, behavior & response actions (role of media)

• Present data back to local communities

Maximize use of technologies – GIS, Video, facebook, twitter

Importance of traditional knowledge & Qualitative data – How do we measure?

Some More Experiences:

Data Accessibility and AvailabilityStatistics – Human Development ReportsData collection is expensive, time consuming & can be long-termOther national country priorities – success of water information system in Grenada under IWCAMFocus on few key indicators – establish, monitor, evaluate and enhance;Water Quality, Valuation Reports – social & economic conditionsRole of academic and research institutes

Even More Experiences:

We already have:IW Learn, E Forums, List Serves, Clearing House Mechanisms, Data Bases, Web Sites, Interactive Web-based maps, GIS Tools, Case Studies, Experience Notes, Regional Mechanisms & Institutions;

Data Harmonization, Data Analysis & Interpretation - Indicators, Comparable Methodologies, National Monitoring & Assessment Capacities.

Simple, Practical & IncrementalShort, Medium & Long Term Plans

SUSTAINABLE

Our Recommendations:

Protecting our Caribbean Sea

Sustaining our Future!

www.cep.unep.org

cjc@cep.unep.org