FINAL REPORT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF SWEDEN AND UNEP ON SUPPORT TO THE WHITE WATER TO BLUE WATER INITIATIVE IN THE WIDER CARIBBEAN REGION

Transcription

1 FINAL REPORT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF SWEDEN AND UNEP ON SUPPORT TO THE WHITE WATER TO BLUE WATER INITIATIVE IN THE WIDER CARIBBEAN REGION Sida ref: Component: UNEP-CAR/RCU

2 Table of Contents Annexes: 2 ABBREVIATIONS 3 Executive summary 4 1. PROGRAMME CONTEXT 5 2. PROGRAMME AREAS SUPPORTED UNDER THE WW2BW PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE EVALUATION OF IMPACTS CHALLENGES CONCLUSIONS, RECOMMENDATIONS, AND LESSONS LEARNED 51 Annexes: 1: WW2BW a) Meeting Report White Water to Blue Water Partnership Conference Final Co-chairs Report b) WW2BW Action Plan : Regional Network in Marine Science and Technology for the Caribbean: The Know-why Network a) Final Summary Report b) Cimab Report PROGRAMA DE MONITOREO DE LA CALIDAD DE ECOSISTEMAS MARINOS EN ZONAS DE ALTO RIESGO EN LA REGIÓN DEL GRAN CARIBE. c) CEHI Report: Coastal Water Quality of Caribbean Small Island Developing States 3: IMA a-b)translated brochures (LBS S & Fr) c)translated TR 43 4: SPAW a) Final Report: Fifth regional workshop on the assessment and management of the Caribbean spiny lobster b) Exchange Programme c) Sustainable Fisheries Report GCFI d) GCFI Meeting Report e) Training of Trainers Report f) CORAL Final Report (zip) 5: Final Report AMACHUBAT: Proyecto de Desarrollo Integrado de la Cuenca Banaderos en la Bahia de Tela 6: Final Report Palisadoes Protection and Rehabilitation Project 7: Final Report Caribbean Workshop to Develop Regional Cooperation Mechanism for Responding to Oil Spills 8: IMA a) Updated CEP Technical Report no. 33-Land-based Sources and Activities in the Wider Caribbean Region b) RAC material 9: Final Report ARPEL/COCATRAM/REMPEITC

3 ABBREVIATIONS AMACHUBAT AMEP Assessment and Management of Environmental Pollution CAMPAM Caribbean Marine Protected Area Managers Network CAR/RCU Caribbean Regional Coordinating Unit CATHALAC Center for Water in the Tropics for Latin America and the Caribbean, Panama CEP Caribbean Environment Program CETA Communication, Education, Training and Awareness CIMAB Center for Engineering and Environmental Management of Bays and Coasts COCATRAM Central American Commission for Maritime Transport CRFM Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism GCFI Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute GEF Global Environment Facility GIS Geographic information systems GPA Global Program of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency ICRAN International Coral Reef Action Network ICRI International Coral Reef Initiative IGM Inter Governmental Meeting IMA Institute of Marine Affairs, Trinidad and Tobago IMO International Maritime Organization ISTAC Interim Scientific and Advisory Committee IWCAM Integrating Watershed and Coastal Area Management in Small Island States LBS Land-based sources (of pollution) MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships MPA Marine Protected Area NEPA National Environmental Planning Agency NOAA National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration NPA National Program of Action RAC Regional Activity Centre RAN Regional Activity Network REPCAR Reducing Pesticide Runoff to the Caribbean Sea, UNEP/GEF project REMPEITC Regional Marine Pollution Emergency, Information and Training Centre RSP Regional Seas Program SGF Small Grants Fund SIDA Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency SPAW Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife TNC The Nature Conservancy UNEP United Nations Environment Program WECAFC Western Central Atlantic Fishery Commission WW2BW White Water to Blue Water Initiative

4 Executive summary The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) pledged to support partnerships within the White Water to Blue Water (WW2BW) initiative in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR). The Swedish support to the partnership initiative, 1 million USD, was to be channeled and coordinated by the Caribbean Environment Programme, and be distributed to selected partnerships that are strategically relevant to the Cartagena Convention and its protocols, and involving Sida supported regional and international organizations in the WCR. Of the USD 1 million, a maximum of US $ (1 million SEK) was available for the planning phase during 2004 and the remaining US $ (7 million SEK) for the implementation phase during The Swedish support was envisaged to greatly enhance cooperation between ongoing initiatives in the region by providing opportunities for collaboration between organizations, thereby promoting partnerships in the WCR. The main partnerships are outline below namely; Partnership Cost 1. LBS Protocol RAC/CIMAB/IMA, IOCARIBE, INVEMAR US $ Regional Network in Marine Science and Technology for the Caribbean: The Know-why Network 2. LBS Protocol and RAC/IMA US $ 3. SPAW Protocol ICRAN, WECAFC, OSPESCA US $ 4. UNEP-CAR/RCU, Tela, CATIE US $ 5. GoJ, UWI, PIOJ, UNEP-CAR/RCU US $ 6. COCATRAM, SICA/CCAD, and UNEP CAR/RCU (Replaced) US $ 7. COCATRAM, SICA/CCAD, ARPEL, UNEP CAR/RCU, RAC/REMPEITIC-Carib US $ Administrative support to CEP % of a L5/L4 post for a period of two years US $ ( US $) 9. UNEP CAR/RCU for partnership coordination US $ Support to the partnership conference 10. Contribution to the Miami conference US $ Total US $ The WW2BW Partnership Initiative provided the region with an opportunity to bring together all sectors of society to share views about sustainable development and coordinate relevant actions. All institutions, NGOs, academia, UN agencies, private sector and civil society represented had the chance to discuss the current environmental situation in the Wider Caribbean and the challenges for the future. For UNEP, and particularly for UNEP s Caribbean Environment Programme (Regional Seas Programme), it was a unique opportunity to liaise with almost all the partners and stakeholders concerned with the sustainable development of a common heritage, the Caribbean Sea. Through the Miami Conference and the synergies it initiated or cemented, the CEP was able to identify the real actors involved in the management of the Caribbean Sea and establish linkages and partnerships with those genuinely committed to the development of concrete actions to sustain our coastal and marine resources and the livelihoods of the Caribbean people. Furthermore, it was considered encouraging to see that the opportunities for and results of the partnerships were being made available through a comprehensive and informative website for the benefit of all actors interested. The WW2BW Partnership Initiative and the projects supported by Sida have promoted increased cooperation in the region at all levels and between a wide range of stakeholders as can be noted in the summaries provided under each project.

5 1. PROGRAMME CONTEXT 1.1 WIDER CARIBBEAN REGION The Wider Caribbean Region includes the marine environment of the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and the areas of the Atlantic Ocean adjacent thereto, south of 30 north latitude and within 200 nautical miles of the Atlantic coasts of the states (Figure 1). Thirty-six States and Territories belong to this region, twenty-eight of which are UN Member States, which vary in their stages of development. Many are Small Island Developing States with a heavy reliance on their coastal areas and marine environment for economic activities within tourism and fisheries. Recent and ongoing reviews by the Caribbean Sea Ecosystem Assessment (CARSEA), the Global Environment Outlook 4 (GEO 4), and the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem project (CLME) indicate that the unique biodiversity of the WCR and the fragile ecosystems supporting many livelihoods are threatened, not only by stresses from untreated sewage and agricultural run-off, overfishing, shipping and uncontrolled coastal development, but also from climate change. Figure 1. Map of the Wider Caribbean Region. 1.2 THE UNEP REGIONAL SEAS PROGRAMME UNEP s Regional Seas Programme, initiated in 1974, provides a legal, administrative, substantive and financial framework for the implementation of Agenda 21, and its chapter 17 on oceans in particular. The Plan of Implementation of the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD, Johannesburg 9/2002) also focuses on the issue of oceans, seas, islands and coastal areas as critical elements for global food security and for sustaining economic prosperity. The Plan emphasizes that sustainable development of the oceans requires effective coordination and co-operation, at the global

6 and regional levels, and between relevant bodies. The Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans provide a platform for the implementation of this concept. Regional Action Plans, related to a common body of water form the basis for UNEP s Regional Seas Programme. These plans are usually adopted by high-level intergovernmental meetings and implemented, in most cases, in the framework of a legally binding Regional Seas Convention and its specific protocols, under the authority of the respective Contracting Parties or Intergovernmental Meetings. The Regional Seas Conventions and Action Plans serve two major objectives: As a principal platform for regional implementation of global conventions, MEAs (Multilateral Environmental Agreements) and global programmes or initiatives that is, to provide the UN agencies or global programmes an existing regional mechanism through which they could implement their activities on a regional scale; and as a regional platform for co-ordination of activities that will contribute to sustainable development of the shared marine and coastal environment. In addition the individual Regional Seas Programmes increase both regional and inter-regional collaboration by promoting horizontal ties among the Regional Seas Programmes and partner programmes; strengthening their co-operation with international organizations; and forging new partnerships. As mentioned, each of the RSP s Action Plans is based on the respective region s particular environmental concerns and challenges, as well as its socio-economic and political situation. It may cover issues ranging from chemical wastes and coastal development to oil spill preparedness and response or the conservation of marine species and ecosystems. However, all Regional Seas Programmes evolve around a common axis and their identified shared priorities include: Land-based sources of marine and coastal pollution Ship-generated marine pollution (oil, chemicals, litter, invasive species) Increased urbanization and coastal development causing destruction of ecosystems and habitats Conservation and management of marine and coastal ecosystems Integrated Coastal Area Management (ICAM) and Integrated Coastal Area and River Basin Management (ICARM) Over-exploitation and depletion of living marine resources, including fisheries Monitoring, reporting and assessment of the marine environment 1.3 CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENT PROGRAMME Recognizing the critical dependency of the Caribbean people on the marine and coastal resources for their economic livelihoods and the need for joint action and regional cooperation, the countries of the WCR created in 1981 the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP). The Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Cartagena Convention) followed in 1983 and provides the legal framework for the CEP. The Cartagena Convention is a legally binding agreement for regional cooperation whose specific areas of focus include protecting the marine environment from pollution from ships, dumping of wastes, land-based activities, seabed activities, airborne pollution and conservation of wildlife and

7 specially protected areas. The Convention is supported by three Protocols which address specific environmental issues through cooperation in combating oil spills, managing specially protected areas and wildlife (SPAW), and preventing and reducing pollution from land-based sources and activities (LBS). The Cartagena Convention is the only regional agreement of its kind allowing governments to work together to protect the economic and environmental sustainability of the region through improved management of coastal and marine resources In keeping with its mission of promoting regional cooperation for the protection and development of the marine environment of the WCR, the CEP strives to address evolving environmental needs and concerns of the WCR. Regional governmental confidence in the CEP is high and is demonstrated through the recent increase in the number of countries contributing to the Caribbean Trust Fund (CTF) and in the amount of their contributions. In the last few years, some countries, having had a twenty-year history of non-payment, have started paying arrears and keeping current with their payments. The CEP provides its active support to the implementation of actions pursuant to e.g. the Barbados Plan of Action (BPOA) for Sustainable Development of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and follow up to the Mauritius Strategy, carrying out a range of activities supporting the mandate established in the Cartagena Convention and its three protocols. The Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Convention through their biennual intergovernmental meeting (IGM) actively collaborate through innovative partnership arrangements and resource mobilization to ensure that programmes and project activities contribute to poverty alleviation, social resilience and economic and environmental sustainability. All the projects and activities are being implemented in collaboration with, and in support of the governments of the region who compose the IGM of the CEP. Projects and activities of CEP are developed and implemented to assist countries of the WCR to become parties to the Cartagena Convention and the three protocols, and facilitate implementation of the same. The inclusion of key components such as awareness raising, capacity building, data collection and ease of access to information aims to facilitate informed decision making in support of the sustainable management of the marine and coastal resources of the WCR. As a member of the Caribbean Sea Commission established to follow up and implement the resolution, the CEP has participated in the high level policy related processes and meetings, as well as in programmes related to marine spill and pollution management; the establishment of ecosystem, habitat and species conservation measures; and capacity building. Current state of ratifications to the Convention and its Protocols are shown in Figure 2, 3 and 4.

8 Figure 2. Status of ratification of the Cartagena Convention and the Oil Spills Protocol. Figure 3. Status of ratification of the LBS Protocol.

9 Figure 4. Status of ratification of the SPAW Protocol. 1.4 THE WHITE WATER TO BLUE WATER PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE In late August and early September, 2002, more than 21,000 participants from 191 governments, United Nations (UN) agencies, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), multilateral financial institutions, and other groups participated in the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg, South Africa. Their task was to assess global changes in the ten years since the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, held in Rio de Janeiro in At the Earth Summit, as the Conference in Rio de Janeiro was widely known, the participants adopted Agenda 21, 7 a 40 chapter program and comprehensive plan of action designed to implement the outcomes of the meeting. Its purpose was to better manage and protect the environment as well as promote sustainable and environmentally sound development in all countries. As a means to improve the implementation of Agenda 21, preparatory meetings for the WSSD examined new initiatives such as developing different kinds of multi-stakeholder partnerships aimed at building more effective relationships among the various actors involved in international conservation and development policy. As a result, the WSSD endorsed the use of partnerships, also known as Type II partnerships, to improve implementation of Agenda 21. One such partnership was White Water to Blue Water (WW2BW). The WW2BW partnership initiative was formed with the underlying understanding that sustainable development in most regions of the world would not be possible without integrated watershed and marine ecosystem-based management. The White Water to Blue Water partnership initiative was formed under the direction of an international Steering Committee, representing governments, UN organizations, non-governmental organizations, universities, and the private sector. The initial focus of the initiative was the Wider Caribbean

10 Region (WCR). The basic concept is such, however, that it can easily be transferred to other regions of the world. The WW2BW process was designed to create, reenergize, and expand as many partnerships as possible with the potential to contribute to the twin goals of integrated watershed and marine ecosystem-based management in the Caribbean. The two key elements of the process were intensive preparatory work and the design of a highly-attended partnership Conference in Miami, early in Miami Partnership Conference Preparatory work for the Miami Conference began approximately two years before the event. Several different methods were employed to build momentum. International visiting teams, consisting of members of the Steering Committee traveled throughout the region, meeting with representatives of government, the private sector, academia, and non-governmental organizations in almost all the states and territories in the WCR. In addition to spreading information about the WW2BW process, these teams encouraged the formation of interagency Country Teams, which functioned as coordinating units prior to and at the Miami Conference. They were tasked with identifying priorities and developing cross-sectoral partnerships and management strategies before, during, and after the Conference. The Country Teams were made up of representatives from government ministries with critical mandates for watershed and marine sector affairs, such as Environment, Tourism, Agriculture, Finance, and Fisheries. They also included representatives from civil society, the private sector, and universities active in these areas. Prior to the Conference, the international Steering Committee held monthly meetings to strategize, discuss progress and developments, and delegate action items for the next month. Additionally, four main themes were established for the Conference: integrated watershed management; marine ecosystem-based management; sustainable tourism; and environmentally sound marine transportation. Each theme was managed by co-chairs from the region, supported by a professional liaison. Theme co-chairs also held monthly meetings and were charged with developing the agenda of the Conference. This included recruiting speakers, organizing breakout sessions, and pre-identifying partnership opportunities among participants. This collection of possible partnerships, organized by theme, was assembled and transferred to a matchmaking website. Periodic newsletters were also distributed in the region to keep interested parties up to date on developments. The Miami Conference was held over four days in March 2004 (Report available in Annex 1a) and was important in formation of the partnership initiative chiefly because of the attention brought to bear on the four main themes and on several cross-cutting themes, including education, marine science, and adaptation to climate change. In the desire to create as many partnership opportunities as possible and encourage interaction and discussion among Conference participants, several deliberate steps were taken when planning the meeting agenda. Plenary sessions were designed to be short and inspirational in nature and most of the Conference was organized into small breakout sessions. The first plenary session of each day was reserved for announcements of new partnerships, which then motivated others to find a partner. Two evenings were also set aside for informal matchmaking socials, in which a large room was filled with tables, each dedicated to a specific topic. Participants could then join in informal discussions on the posted topic and in some cases formed incipient partnerships. In association with the Conference, the Smithsonian Institution also planned and organized an Institute to provide training to interested participants. Although it was anticipated that

11 the Miami Conference would attract about 400 participants, actual attendance exceeded seven hundred. Participants were drawn both from the WCR itself as well as from a wide variety of locations outside the region, including Africa, the South Pacific, Spain, Sweden, Italy, Ukraine, Brazil, and Argentina. At the end of four days, the Conference yielded several outputs. It generated, for example, more than 70 emerging partnerships and offers to form partnerships, all focused on integrated watershed and marine ecosystem-based management. The associated Smithsonian WW2BW offered 32 training courses related to the four main Conference themes, led by 56 instructors from twelve countries. A meeting report was also produced with a principal focus on the WW2BW process and the action it induced. Each of the four WW2BW themes was the focus of one day at the conference. In the case of integrated watershed management, participants focused attention on the fact that landbased activities are responsible for eighty percent of marine pollution, which in turn is associated with a number of environmental and health impacts. As a consequence, the proper management of watersheds is essential for the protection of the marine environment and health of the region s people. The day s proceedings also addressed activities that impact watersheds, such as agriculture, forestry, settlements, tourism, and wastewater treatment. Particular attention was given to protection of water supplies by addressing appropriate technologies, through water conservation, and through better land use policy and planning. Discussions also raised issues about the transfer of benefits from tourism, the mitigation of the land degradation impacts sometimes associated with tourism, the collection of better data on tourism impacts, and associated questions of enforcement and compliance. A significant partnership offer under the marine ecosystem theme was the Caribbean Marine Protected Area Management (CaMPAM) Network and Forum, a comprehensive partnership aimed at improving communications among marine protected area (MPA) stakeholders. The partnership strategy is to bring a variety of existing efforts under a single umbrella. Organizations that have signed up for the partnership include the Gulf and Caribbean Fisheries Institute (GCFI), UNEP-CEP, The Nature Conservancy, Environmental Defense, the Office of International Affairs of the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, the Caribbean Marine Research Center, the University of Puerto Rico, Coral Resources Management, the Caribbean Conservation Association, the Society for the Conservation of Reef Fish Aggregations, and the World Resources Institute. The partnership uses the annual meetings of GCFI and the GCFI and CaMPAM listserves to facilitate the discussion of MPA emerging issues, for improving its MPA database with inputs from managers and scientists, for developing training activities for MPA managers, for producing and disseminating technical documents and lessons learned, and for providing technical support to small grant programs that promote sustainable livelihoods and fisheries. On the day devoted to sustainable tourism, participants examined priority sustainable development issues in the tourism sector. There were discussions of master planning, community tourism, destination management, guidelines for tour operations, environmental management of hotels, the education of tourists, and standards and certifications. The participants agreed that to address all these issues and actually make tourism more sustainable, all sectors of the industry had to be involved and there had to be real collaboration on the development and implementation of solutions, including training and capacity building. The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), that participated in the Miami Conference, pledged to support partnerships within the WW2BW partnership initiative in the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR). The Swedish support to the partnership initiative, 1 million USD, was to

12 be channeled and coordinated by the UNEP Caribbean Environment Programme, and be distributed to selected partnerships that were strategically relevant to the Cartagena Convention and its protocols, and involving Sida supported regional and international organizations in the WCR. The Swedish support was envisaged to greatly enhance cooperation between ongoing initiatives in the region by providing opportunities for collaboration between organizations, thereby promoting partnerships and synergies of efforts. Following the 2004 Miami Partnership Conference, CEP with the support of SIDA and USAID has undertaken specific activities related to the WW2BW thematic areas and linked to long established CEP programme areas including support for the SPAW and LBS protocol related activities as well as IWCAM, (Integrated Watershed and Coastal Area Management), Sustainable Tourism, Education Training and Awareness and environmentally sound marine transportation. During 2005, efforts were made to initiate the implementation of the SIDA support for CEP which was pledged in Miami to be channeled through the CEP for the support of selected partnerships considered strategic to the implementation of the Cartagena Convention and its Protocols. Coordination These activities, facilitated by the RCU programme officers and part time coordinators supported with partnership funds, have led to strategic, innovative partnership building involving in some cases CEPs RACs (Regional Activity Centres) including CIMAB (Cuba), REMPEITC (Curacao) and the IMA (Trinidad) as well as other partners. The CEP in late 2005 also actively participated with a core group of regional stakeholders, in efforts to review, reformat and reenergize the WW2BW network. A Strategic Retreat was held in 2005 with the participation of the main WW2BW stakeholders to review the status of the initiative, assess directions and options, and to identify strategies and actions to further develop the initiative and seek to make it sustainable. A draft Strategy document developed by the CEP team became the basis for a number of actions undertaken by the core group at the Retreat. Measures agreed upon included the establishment of an Executive Committee and an improved arrangement for governance and follow up of WW2BW activities. Following this Panama interaction, several coordinating and facilitating activities were therefore undertaken by the CEP and a close working relationship was continued with other critical stakeholders through the arrangements arrived at including the agreement that the US NOAA and CEP would Co Chair the Executive Committee. Commencing in 2006, following the strategic retreat held in Panama, an effort was undertaken - through the establishment of an Executive Committee; the formalizing of a genuinely participatory Thematic Co Chairs Panel to reactivate the wider Stakeholders Council. This effort continued through 2006 and At the end of 2006, a Working Session held on the margins of the UNEP CEP Twelfth Intergovernmental Meeting on the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme and Ninth Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region. 29 November - 2 December 2006, Montego Bay, Jamaica (12 th IGM) agreed on general directions and endorsed a refinement of the Panama Strategic Plan to seek to put the partnership initiative on a sustainable basis. The WW2BW Council meeting - which was deliberately timed and co-located to take advantage of the presence at the IGM of a wide range of high level stakeholders - was used to brief IGM participants fully on the status of the partnership, to indicate efforts to support, complement and facilitate the CEP strategies and programme areas through the WW2BW partnerships and to ensure genuine participation by all

13 stakeholders in the Wider Caribbean. The opportunity was also taken to share information on wider partnership opportunities including those related to the GEF and deliberate on next steps for the WW2BW including emerging trends such as the convergences possible with the SIDS sustainability programmes, the ACS and CARICOM secretariats work on the sustainability of the Caribbean Sea, as well as appropriate strategic linkages to the Millennium Development Goals and ongoing poverty alleviation programmes. The WW2BW Council at the December 2006 discussions solicited and received from the IGM participants both input and indications of their support as stakeholders for a 2 - year (indicative) Action Plan. The Action Plan sought to enhance the regions efforts at protecting and conserving the Caribbean Sea while achieving the agreed upon targets such as those set out in the Millennium Development Goals and the SIDS Barbados and Mauritius POA. (Annex 1b) The CEP based coordinator supported by appropriate contracted consultant services actively developed proposals and participated in the dialog which revitalized the initiatives governance and management arrangements over the period The system of Co Chairs working with and through the Executive Committee, and Thematic Area groups (representing the four WW2BW Thematic Areas and relevant sectoral interests) were agreed upon. The co chairing arrangement has facilitated 'buy in' from a wider range of stakeholders and is expected to continue to expand over time. WW2BW promotion The participatory, information and lessons sharing, and partnership building facets of WW2BW were maintained and facilitated through the WW2BW website. The team designed and developed a series of WW2BW posters and standard display materials for conferences and exhibits. Several inter organizational meetings and teleconferences in support of and as part of the executive committee were held and these contributed to the drafting of a Resource ( Treasure Chest ) Guide and a Primer on Partnership Building (The Mobilizing Resources Primer ) to assist partners to mobilize resources and generate project funds. These are available for download from The web site was redesigned and redeveloped so as to complement that of the CEP. While it the updating was somewhat set back due to technical support issues related to the capacity of the CEP after the loss of a key staff members with IT expertise in mid-2006, this was rectified in 2007 following decisions taken at the IGM related to the Communication, Education, Training and Awareness functions of the CEP and new priorities regarding the development and maintenance of ITC and web support capacity of the CEP. WW2BW related presentations were made at various fora (regional / global including the CSD and GPA) as well as the at the Executive Committees meetings held in conjunction with the 12 th IGM in Montego Bay, Jamaica. At the IGM press kits and news release to support a positive profile of WW2BW were prepared and distributed. The WW2BW communication and outreach strategy first outlined in the Panama recommendations was reviewed and endorsed by the WW2BW executive following feedback from the IGM in November 2006 and proposals were put forward for the use of the WW2BW brand/logo. Proposals were considered for making the WW2BW initiative sustainable through Private Sector partnerships and donations and a discussion paper was formulated based on the concept of outreach involving the private sector and an initiative entitled Friends of White Water to Blue Water. These are available from the WW2BW website

14 1.5 OBJECTIVES UNEP-CAR/RCU, as Secretariat to the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) and Cartagena Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment for the Wider Caribbean Region, developed a number of projects in collaboration with a Sida consultant to promote the practice of integrated watershed and marine ecosystem management in support of sustainable development through the creation of partnerships among different actors in the Wider Caribbean Region. As the WW2BW Initiative brought together major government representatives, marine institutions and other organizations which are contributing to the work on sustainable development and the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals in the Region, projects under this agreement between Sida and CEP should facilitate further partnership building, increased awareness about individual organisations and thereby promote a more focused and efficient cooperation on water related issues in the Region. More specifically the projects aimed to develop a partnership called Regional Network in Marine Science and Technology for the Caribbean: The Know-why Network to strengthen the Wider Caribbean Countries capacity to implement the LBS Protocol; promote best practices in sustainable fisheries management and alternative livelihoods to fishers in the WCR; strengthening of the Caribbean Marine Protected Managers Network and Forum; increase oil spills response mechanisms in the region, and increase regional understanding of the importance and value of the marine and coastal environment. 1.6 METHODS OF IMPLEMENTATION UNEP-CAR/RCU s extensive experience in regional marine environmental co-operation at both the operational and policy-making levels provided a sound basis on which to coordinate the different projects. For the implementation of the majority of the projects, suitable partners were identified based on expertise and relevance to the project objectives and outlined in the project document. Partners include CEP Regional Activity Centers (RACs), Government institutions, Community Based Organizations (CBOs), and local Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), as well as other CEP Partners in the Wider Caribbean Region. The partners were selected based on their proven track record or experience or their strong interest in achieving the aims and objectives of the projects. A further factor in the selection of a partner as a supporting agency for the projects was that the partner had appropriately qualified staff and infrastructure which enabled it to carry out the technical work on site within the participating countries. The Swedish support allowed the CEP to widen and deepen its relationship with the new and existing partners; in addition the CEP was able to initiate collaboration with a number of new partners through e.g. the Know Why Network and strengthen existing partnerships such as CaMPAM and the CEP RACs and the RANs.

15 2. PROGRAMME AREAS SUPPORTED UNDER THE WW2BW PARTNERSHIP INITIATIVE The following presents a summary of activities as previously reported, with additional analysis on outputs, impacts and spin-off effects. Seven partnerships were identified and outlined in the original project document: Partnership Cost 1. LBS Protocol RAC/CIMAB/IMA, IOCARIBE, INVEMAR US $ 2. LBS Protocol and RAC/IMA US $ 3. SPAW Protocol ICRAN, WECAFC, OSPESCA US $ 4. UNEP-CAR/RCU, Tela, CATIE US $ 5. GoJ, UWI, PIOJ, UNEP-CAR/RCU US $ 6. COCATRAM, SICA/CCAD, and UNEP CAR/RCU US $ 7. COCATRAM, SICA/CCAD, ARPEL, UNEP CAR/RCU, RAC/REMPEITIC-Carib US $ The projects were designed to show, through monitoring and evaluation, exchanges, pilot projects and workshops, direct and indirect effects of the benefits associated with a change of habit in the case of sustainable fisheries and alternative livelihoods, improved communication in emergencies such as oil spills, or a renewed understanding of the importance of and interest in the marine and coastal environment through education and increased awareness such as e.g. in the Tela project. The Projects were based on priorities outlined in the CEP workplan and expressed during the partnership conference in Miami in 2004, and were presented for approval to the Eleventh Intergovernmental Meeting on the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme and Eighth Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region. 28 September - 2 October 2004, Montego Bay, Jamaica in 2004 to ensure a transparent process and increase a regional sense of ownership.

16 2.1 PARTNERSHIP 1: IOCARIBE, UNEP CAR/RCU, RAC/CIMAB/IMA and INVEMAR The IOCARIBE, UNEP CAR/RCU, RAC/CIMAB/IMA, INVEMAR and the Swedish International Development Agency-SIDA developed a partnership called Regional Network in Marine Science and Technology for the Caribbean: The Know-why Network. The aim of the partnership was to strengthen the Wider Caribbean Countries capacity to implement the Protocol concerning Land Based Sources and Activities of marine pollution (LBS Protocol) and it was expected to benefit from the efforts of the two LBS-RACs in Cuba and Trinidad and Tobago and the Marine Research Institute of the Ministry of Environment of Colombia (INVEMAR) and/or possible other institutes. There are several issues of common concern that are required to facilitate entry into force and implementation of the LBS Protocol. Following the recommendation of Second Meeting of the Interim Scientific Technical and Advisory Committee (ISTAC) to the Protocol concerning pollution from land-based sources and Activities in the Wider Caribbean, held in Managua, Nicaragua May to update the UNEP study 1994, UNEP CAR/ RCU and CIMAB made an agreement to update the technical report No 33 The regional perspective on pollution from land-based sources and activities in the Wider Caribbean. The overall objective of this project was to establish a baseline of information regarding the discharge of pollution from land based sources into the marine environment of the WCR. The LBS-RACs assist at the scientific and technical levels with the coordination and implementation of specific activities of the CEP Regional Programme as approved by the Contracting Parties at the biennial Intergovernmental Meetings. The scientific and technical support provided to the RCU by the RACs include compiling, updating and disseminating data, reports and expertise in an appropriate form to the States and Territories, a and the relevant partner organizations participating in the Programme. Regarding technical issues of common concern are e.g. how to address the need for local and overall monitoring programmes, assessment systems and connected relevant information systems. What kind of monitoring and assessment is carried out, what is needed and what is affordable. In 1994 CEP concluded the first regional overview of land-based sources of marine pollution. After ten years there was an urgent need for a second overview that would confirm priority sources of marine pollution in the Wider Caribbean Region through the identification of source categories and their discharges. Descriptions of source categories would be detailed, as well as new or emerging sources of concern, including urban run-off, solid waste and leaching from solid and hazardous waste landfills situated in coastal areas or close to ground water sources. The overall objective of the partnership were to implement articles VI, VIII and IX of the LBS Protocol, namely monitoring and assessment and the development of information systems and reporting frameworks. The specific objectives were: to provide baseline information of all point and non-point sources of pollution into the Convention area; to enhance capacity of the CEPNET(CETA) by expansion of information on pollution prevention; and to enhance countries capacity for using other technologies, such as remote sensing and mapping of pollution data and information. Activities of this project were carried out in accordance with the terms of reference for the LBS RACs and included:

17 Identification, compilation and synthesis of existing information on all point and non-point source discharges into, or impacting, the Wider Caribbean; Implementation of a monitoring programme in coastal areas. based on the conclusions of the analysis of the above-described activity.the monitoring programme component provided needed data and information for the definition of a new baseline to serve as a benchmark for measuring the progress under the LBS Protocol; Establishment of a collaborative framework or mechanism for consultation and collaboration in the development of monitoring and assessment standard and proven methodologies; An analysis of the key issues pertaining to transboundary pollution, to identify needs, problems and possible solutions within the framework of the LBS Protocol; and Training and capacity building in planning and management of pollution and water quality data and information providing new management tools and methodologies. The detailed project plan was revised in cooperation between IOCARIBE, UNEP CAR/RCU, INVEMAR and the RACs/CIMAB/IMA. The targets related to this component were adjusted as one of the major institutions involved the IMA-RAC of Trinidad underwent major restructuring and strengthening and it was incorporated into a new university national framework. This resulted in a delay of the implementation of the targeted activities until the restructuring was completed in Following the appropriate changes were made progress was made in terms of equipment acquisition and monitoring arrangements. The Project was launched during Press Event at 2nd LBS ISTAC in Mexico in August 2005 and the Project Steering Committee was established and met in December 2005 followed by the revision of the Work Plan and Budget in January The KNY Partnership activities can be divided into the following thematic areas: Capacity Building Monitoring and Assessment Information Management Partnerships Capacity Building A number of activities were implemented to support capacity building efforts such as an Experts Workshop held in Cuba in April 2006 to define water quality indicators for future national and regional monitoring programmes. Training was also provided in Methodologies for assessing point and non-point polluting loads and for municipal and industrial waste characterization. Experts from CIMAB and the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (co-executing agency for the IWCAM project and member of the RAN) participated in Reunión de Consultores sobre Acercamientos Analíticos Integrados para evaluar Indicadores de Efectividad de la Gestión de las Practicas de los Plaguicidas" 4-11 June 2006, Vienna, Austria, and Preparación del Perfil Estratégico Regional para América Latina y el Caribe , bajo el Acuerdo Regional de Cooperación para la Promoción de la Ciencia y la Tecnología Nucleares en América Latina y el Caribe (ARCAL-OIEA), March 2007, Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia.

18 Monitoring and Assessment Assessment and monitoring programmes were initiated to update baseline pollution information through capacity building, scientific analysis, and the increased use of Geographical Information Systems (GIS) for mapping the marine environment, water quality and pollution loads from land based sources. Existing information systems were evaluated to develop a pollution information node and a database on the state of the marine environment of the WCR. Standardized Methodological guidelines for marine waters classification into Class I and Class II in accordance with the provisions of the LBS Protocol were developed. Identification and Monitoring of Regional Hot Spots The Selection criteria and methodology developed for Monitoring of Hot Spots was finalized in April 2006 were used for the in situ Regional Pollution Hotspot monitoring programmes throughout 2008/9. Monitoring programmes were developed and implemented for the selected regional hotspots in Havana Bay (Cuba), Kingston Harbour (Jamaica), Bluefields Bay (Nicaragua), Cariaco Bay (Venezuela), Santa Marta Bay (Colombia) and Point Lisas (Trinidad and Tobago). The processes for the analysis and data interpretation were finalized by the regional partners and reviewed during the terminal workshop convened in Havana Cuba, in March A positive outcome was the determination of the related regional projects and the discussion of opportunities for a regional reporting frameworks and further application of GIS analysis. Monitoring data analysis & Water classification Monitoring data from the Regional Hot Spots were compiled and analyzed( Annexes ). This information is being superimposed with the results of the recently completed updated Technical Report 33 - "Update to the Regional Overview of Land-Based Sources of Pollution in the Wider Caribbean Region. The methodological guidelines for marine waters classification, in Class I and Class II were applied in Cuba and St. Lucia and lessons learned from both methodologies were shared at the Final workshop. These examples are to be compiled and disseminated to the other regional partners. Geographical Information Systems RAC-Cimab received technical assistance and funding for equipment and institutional strengthening with a primary focus on environmental data collection, analysis and mapping using Geographical Information Systems technology (GIS) under the support provided under an agreement with the Swedish National Board of Fisheries. These resources were further utilized in the implementation of the Know-Why network and additional laboratory equipment was purchased for Cima, IMA and INVEMAR thereby strengthening the analytical capacity of the respective laboratories. Training was conducted on GIS and a technical case study completed using the applied GIS techniques to determine the sources of pollution in the Havana Bay in Cuba. This analysis provided current and relevant information for stakeholders and policy makers and demonstrated practical application of the GIS technology and the relevance of the work currently ongoing at RAC-Cimab. The GIS lab that was established and equipped with Arc View software, computer hardware and human resources enabled RAC-Cimab to operate as a regional node for the spatial analysis of coastal water quality data and to provide support to the development of the final version of the Regional GIS Atlas.

19 Information Management The CEP Technical Report No 33 - The update to the Regional Overview on Pollution from Landbased Sources and Activities in the Wider Caribbean is now available in English and Spanish The report provides a current overview of the primary land based sources of marine pollution to the Caribbean Sea. An assessment of the English speaking Caribbean SIDS was completed in order to capture information on the pollution profiles of the various islands, particularly in sensitive coastal habitats and areas of significant economic interest are affected. The information generated from the KNY monitoring programmes and CEP TR33 are currently being incorporated into an online database that will be available online for use by member governments, academia, natural resource managers, community based groups and other stakeholders. The pollution load data and information generated from the TR33 project has assisted countries of the Wider Caribbean Region in the ratification and implementation of the LBS Protocol and the development of effective coastal management mechanisms as exemplified by St. Lucia s applied use of this data in the development of mechanisms to assist in the implementation of the LBS Protocol and recreational water classification guidelines. Cuba has used the information generated to develop a GIS map and assist in the islandwide classification of their beaches. The need for current water quality data and a standardized reporting framework was underscored during the final regional workshop for the KNY Project. The participants emphasized that the reporting template and methodologies developed through the KNY partnership, this should be supplemented with a regional reporting and database mechanism. To further promote the ratification of the LBS Protocol, National Promotional Workshops on the LBS Protocol were facilitated by the LBS RACs in Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Saint Lucia. Saint Lucia has since ratified the LBS Protocol and joined the Governments of Belize, Trinidad & Tobago, Panama and France (07). The U.S. is the most recent country to ratify the LBS Protocol (February 2009). Three more signatories are required for the Protocol to become legally binding for the 23 Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Convention; In October 2007, a regional meeting entitled Strategy for the management of data and information for the AMEP sub-programme. was convened to facilitate effective regional coordination of information between partners of the Know-Why Network and the GEF sponsored Projects, IWCAM and Reducing Pesticide Run-off to the Caribbean Sea (REPCar). Further to the development of an information management strategy and the identification of regional gaps in the applied use and institutionalization of GIS, cooperation was initiated with El Centro del Agua del Trópico Húmedo para América Latina y el Caribe (CATHALAC) and RAC-Cimab. A regional training workshop on modelling non-point sources of pollution data was convened and an atlas describing projects undertaken under the assessment and management of environmental pollution (AMEP) subprogramme was developed. Following the workshop and outputs from the KNY, TR33 and related regional initiatives, CATHALAC was engaged for the development of CEP s first regional online interactive projects and activity map (IPAM) that also has a database feature for the storage of data files. Following its completion in 09 the IPAM will allow easy visualization of the outputs from the CEP projects according to thematic and project headings including KNY,TR33. During the lifespan of the Know Why Network Project, the CEP and partners have promoted the LBS Protocol using brochures, promotional DVDs and other public awareness materials. All of these materials have been translated into Spanish and French as possible to ensure active involvement of non-english Speaking member states. Several types of promotional and outreach materials were produced for wide scale distribution and information sharing.