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January 2008

January 2008. The Caribbean Challenge:. The Bahamas. How did it all start?. 188 Countries adopted the Programme of Work on Protected Areas, committing to protect 10% of the representative terrestrial and marine ecosystems by 2010 and 2012 respectively. The Bahamas was one of these countries.

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January 2008

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  1. January 2008 The Caribbean Challenge: The Bahamas

  2. How did it all start? 188 Countries adopted the Programme of Work on Protected Areas, committing to protect 10% of the representative terrestrial and marine ecosystems by 2010 and 2012 respectively. The Bahamas was one of these countries.

  3. Challenge Objective To effectively conserve at least 10% of the Caribbean’s terrestrial and marine habitat by 2010 and 2012 respectively, supported by the creation of Protected Area Trust Funds, funded by a combination of private and public funds and new funding mechanisms developed and implemented at the national level.

  4. Myths about the Wider Caribbean There is nothing left to protect What is left will all be gone in near future due to climate change Sustainability is impossible

  5. Reality of the Wider Caribbean Globally outstanding intact marine biodiversity

  6. Why the Wider Caribbean is a good place to invest in conservation • Peaceful – few conflicts • Tourism based economies • High literacy • Growing capacity

  7. Caribbean Challenge Marine Initiative (CCMI) • GEF Full-sized projects • Regional and national in scope • Countries involved: Bahamas, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica and Eastern Caribbean (Antigua & Barbuda, Grenada, and St. Vincent & the Grenadines)

  8. Caribbean GEF Initiative proposed sites for marine and coastal conservation. Bahamas National Eastern Caribbean(6+ countries) Jamaica National Caribbean Biological Corridor (DR, Haiti, Cuba) Belize National

  9. CCMI Project Outcomes • PoWPA – national master plans, PA systems and MPA networks • Management effectiveness – RAPPAM scores increased 75% • MPA expansion – 2 million hectares (nearshore and shelf) effectively protected; 5 million hectares granted legal MPA status

  10. CCMI Project Outcomes • Sustainable finance – protected area trust funds established and capitalized; other conservation finance mechanisms developed and implemented (e.g. tourism departure fees, development fees, etc) • Demonstration sites – sites functioning and ready for replication and scaling up across the region • Project management – to be determined amongst participating countries as proposals develop

  11. Why This Project? • Extensive intact marine biodiversity • No action= loss of many intact coastal systems • Healthy ecosystems= healthy people • Protecting 10% in this region= Global PoW PA statement on advancing marine conservation in tropics where most marine biodiversity is concentrated.

  12. Bahamas PA Trust Fund • An umbrella fund • Endowment fund • Sinking/revolving fund • Will support annual requests from Government and NGOs for activities in national PA system • Trust managed by a Board with multi-sector representation (majority non-Government) • Endowment investment funds will be managed by an investment management firm (e.g. UBS, Smith Barney, JP Morgan)

  13. Commitment of The Bahamas • Resources of NISP Partner agencies dedicated to this work • Intent to establish $12 Million Trust Fund • $2 Million in cash to assist in establishment of the Protected Area Trust Fund committed by The Nature Conservancy • $2 Million in cash from German Government to help capitalize PA Trust endowment • $650,000 in GEF funding from Bahamas’ country allocation to implement the CCMI project

  14. Next Steps • More Caribbean countries indicate their interest and willingness to participate • Further dialogue to complete the GEF proposals • Completion of PIF and formal government endorsement by mid February 2008 • Submission of PIF to GEF Council at the First Intercessional Meetings 2008 • International launch of the Challenge at CBD COP9 in Bonn, Germany, May 2008

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