Overview
The primary focus of the Biodiversity Conservation and Management Section is the servicing of Multilateral Environmental Agreements and meeting international commitments through the development and execution of projects aligned with national priorities. The programme services a number of biodiversity and sustainable land management related MEAs to ensure that synergies are achieved in the implementation of activities and reporting on national targets. It also ensures the harmonization of national programmes and policies to achieve identified targets across these conventions as well as national priorities.
Additionally, the section facilitates communication between the Ministry and the various Secretariats; disseminates information; responds to various requests, collaborates with other stakeholder groups; monitors, and promotes and/or facilitates national implementation of these MEAs including:
- the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
- the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
- the Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife in the Wider Caribbean Region (SPAW)
- the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands
- the Convention to Combat Desertification and Drought (UNCCD);
CBD
The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international environmental treaty that has as its objectives, the conservation of biodiversity or all living organisms; the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits from the use of biodiversity.
Barbados ratified the Convention on Biological Diversity in December 1993. The country is therefore bound by the provisions of the Convention and has the responsibility for ensuring that the provisions of the Convention are met, in accordance with the particular conditions within and with the country and with the available financial, technical and other resources.
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to the CBD is an international treaty governing the movement of living modified organisms (LMOs) resulting from modern biotechnology from one country to another. It was adopted on 29 January 2000 as a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity and entered into force on 11 September 2003.
The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. The Protocol also establishes a Biosafety Clearing-House to facilitate the exchange of information on LMOs and to assist countries in the implementation of the Protocol.
Barbados has been a Party to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) since the Protocol entered into force on September 11 2003.
Barbados completed National Biosafety Framework (NBF) through a Global Environment Facility (GEF) project, in September 2005 and initiated work on the implementation of the National Biosafety Framework through a regional project approved by the GEF in September 2010.
CITES
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international, legally binding agreement, which was entered into force on July 1, 1975. Barbados became a party to this MEA on the 9th December 1992.
CITES regulates international trade in specimens of species of wild fauna and flora on the basis of a system of permits and certificates, which are issued when consignments of specimens leave or enter a country.
The issuance of CITES permits and the coordination of meetings of the CITES Scientific Authority, as the CITES Management Authority for Barbados, will be executed.
The preparation and submission of the CITES annual report for 2017 which highlight Barbados CITES trade data will be completed.
The timely preparation of briefs and cabinet papers to facilitate Barbados’ funding for participation in and representation at various international and regional meetings will be completed.
Key Performance Indicators:
- Number of CITES Permits Processed
- Meetings of the CITES Scientific Authority convened
- Timely preparation and approval of CITES SA meeting minutes
- Timely submission of Annual and Biennial reports
SPAW
The Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (the SPAW Protocol) has been internationally recognised as the most comprehensive treaty of its kind. Adopted in Kingston, Jamaica by the member governments of the Caribbean Environment Programme on 18 January 1990, the SPAW Protocol preceded other international environmental agreements in utilising an ecosystem approach to conservation.
The SPAW Protocol supports activities for the protection and management of sensitive and valuable natural marine resources and species and preceded other international environmental agreements in utilising an ecosystem approach to conservation.
UNCCD
Following a Cabinet Decision of 03 April 1997, Barbados acceded to the Convention on August 12, 1997. The Convention is the principle international instrument addressing the global problem of land degradation and drought. The National Committee was convened and has undertaken an important role as a project steering Committee. However at its meeting of March 11, 2014, Cabinet agreed that the functions of the National Land Degradation Committee should be taken up by the Working Group on Biodiversity.
