Ministry of Environment and National Beautification

Vision

To be the lead agency in the preservation, conservation and protection of the country’s environment and to ensuring that environmental consideration is at the heart of Barbados’ Sustainable Development agenda.

Mission

The Mission of the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification is:

“To formulate and implement environmental management programmes that:

Facilitate the sustainable use of our natural resources;
Complement the national, social and economic development agenda; and
Include stakeholder input into decision making.”

Core Values

The Ministry of Environment and National Beautification Core Values are:

Science driven, evidence-based decision-making
Transparency
Professionalism
Respect

Objectives

To provide and promote a national framework for decision making based on the principles of sustainable environmental management to underpin national sustainable development.
To sensitize and educate all persons in Barbados about the importance of sound environmental management and the need to integrate environmental consideration in all aspects of their lives.

Strategies

The importance of the role of the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification, within the context of the integrated planning and resource management, cannot be over-emphasized, as we continue to strive to make a positive contribution to preserve, conserve and enhance the growth of our society, economy and country as a whole, within the limitation of our existing human, financial, natural and legislative resources.

An integrated planning and resource management framework would allow the Ministry of Environment and National Beautification to mainstream all aspects of environmental concerns into the Barbados Sustainable Development Policy and Action Plan.

Fundamental environmental management areas must be, but not necessarily limited to:

Climate Change & Sea Level Rise
Green Economy – Consumption and Production
Waste Management
Land Resources Management
Tourism Resources Management
National Institutions & Administrative Capacity Building
Human Resource Development Management
Natural & Environmental Disasters Management
Coastal & Marine Resources Management
Energy Resources Management
Biodiversity Resources Management
Natural Heritage Management
International and Regional Institutions & Technical Cooperation
Science & Technology Development
Implementation, Monitoring & Review of Legislation

Additionally, Barbados is signatory to several international and regional agreements and conventions. The below list is far from exhaustive, but shows the extent of our international and regional commitment to sustainable development and the integration of environmental management. We also actively participate in international initiatives to raise global environmental awareness.

Environmental Management

Administration

Provision of timely and cost effective administrative support for the delivery of services that fall within the sphere of the Ministry’s responsibilities and influence.

Green Economy and Sustainable Development

To support national policy processes aimed at ensuring environmental sustainability principles which are at the centre of macroeconomic growth strategies
To facilitate and enable localized community involvement in environmental stewardship and in adopting a sustainable lifestyle philosophy throughout Barbados
To ensure Barbados’ school system remains a key agent in interpreting, promoting and pursuing sustainable development
To support the ministry’s input into national governance (planning and review) processes and mechanisms
To engage the multilateral system towards realizing national sustainable development goals

Climate Change, ODS Phase-out and GEF

Establishing and coordinating a comprehensive framework for the development and implementation of policies, programmes and projects to systematically reduce Barbados’ green-house gas emissions profile and to build climate resilience into the economy, in keeping with the goals and objectives for sustainable development
Developing and implementing measures for the eventual phase-out of Ozone Depleting Substances (ODS) in compliance with national obligations and targets established under the Montreal Protocol to the Vienna Convention on the Protection of the Ozone Layer
Promoting and facilitating the integration of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as a financing mechanism for environmental projects of national and regional importance

Biodiversity Conservation and Management

To undertake effective management of the biodiversity and land resources of Barbados, particularly in degraded areas; and
To contribute to their conservation, effective management and increased awareness of the importance of local biodiversity and land resources and their contribution to local development

Environmental Protection

To monitor, characterize and control ambient air quality.
To improve construction standards for residential, commercial and industrial developments
To identify and remove derelict structures and vehicles which are potential breeding sites for mosquitoes, rats and other disease vectors
To develop and implement measures to meet Multilateral Environmental Agreement (MEA) obligations
To foster the awareness, knowledge, skills and attitudes within individuals needed to protect the environment and achieve sustainable development
To provide technical expertise throughout the phases of the hazard management cycle
To regulate and ensure the safe handling, storage, distribution, transport, use, disposal and overall management of hazardous materials
To prevent, reduce, control and characterize pollution of the marine environment of Barbados
To monitor, characterize and control noise
To regulate the solid waste management system
To monitor, characterize and protect the quality of Barbados’ water resources.

Natural Heritage

To establish a nationwide system of parks and open spaces, which will promote landscape preservation, ensure the conservation of natural areas, meet the active and passive recreation needs of residents of Barbados and enhance amenities for residents and tourists alike
To establish a Barbados National Park which will protect and conserve the natural and cultural assets of the area, while supporting the social and economic development of existing communities within the Park boundaries
To conserve and enhance the character and quality of the landscape and marine resources in the Park, including all features of natural and cultural heritage
To define and protect a functionally connected natural heritage system based on an ecosystem approach
To foster an awareness of the value of the National Park to the daily lives of residents of Barbados
To ensure that the use and management of the land and marine resources in the Park is of a sustainable nature and is supportive of the social and economic development of local communities
To establish a strong presumption against activities which conflict with or are detrimental to the landscape, seascape and environmental qualities that led to National Park designation
To provide opportunities for passive recreation and to promote an understanding and enjoyment of the special qualities of the Park

Project Management and Coordination

The Integrated Water Resource Management Programme for Climate Change and Stormwater Management
The Integrated Solid Waste Management Programme
Biodiversity Management – Graeme Hall Swamp Monitoring Programme

National Botanical Garden

To establish a Botanical Garden in Barbados to conserve, preserve, protect and demonstrate the importance of the protection of flora, fauna, habitat and ecosystems for residents and visitors to Barbados

National Conservation

Conservation of the natural beauty, topographic features, historic buildings, sites and monuments of Barbados.
Control, maintain and develop public parks, public gardens, and beaches of Barbados.
Develop and maintain public accesses to the beaches/windows to the sea.
Provision of a Lifeguard Service at such beaches as it sees fit.
Provision of beach facilities as the need arise and to maintain existing ones.
Development of a network of protected areas, both marine and terrestrial.
Engendering environmental stewardship in Barbados.

Sanitation Services

To achieve sustainability throughout the Authority’s integrated solid waste management programme
To maintain the Authority’s fleet of refuse collection vehicles and equipment, while promoting the safety of driver operators, loaders and the protection of the public
Conduct regular pre-trip inspections in order to identify vehicle and equipment problems and ensure that vehicles are in good operating condition
Conduct basic Preventive Maintenance service routines in a timely manner to identify vehicle problems and keep vehicle systems in good repair
Maintain a clean appearance for vehicles through regular interior and exterior cleaning
Regularly inspect vehicles in order to identify and correct problems to prevent service interruptions
Schedule repairs promptly in order to minimize service interruptions
Maintain and repair vehicles to ensure their operation at peak efficiency, including fuel efficiency
Analyse fleet fuel usage and overhaul data and identify vehicles which may need remedial work or may need to be made inactive
Maintain vehicles and equipment to maximize the useful vehicle life, including the life of key components such as tires, brakes, batteries, etc.
Manage the maintenance program to be cost effective in terms of the utilisation of staff time, sourcing service providers, parts, supplies and requisite costs

National Beautification

Promote the development of green and open spaces throughout the island.
To provide frequent, reliable, scheduled garbage collection services for households and businesses
To contribute to national beautification through the maintenance of our beaches, parks and open spaces
To develop the National Botanical Garden at Waterford as a safe habitat for biodiversity, a place of beauty, art, culture, recreation and low-impact entertainment
Make beaches, gullies and public spaces more welcoming and safe by beautifying and utilizing them as part of the island’s national culture, heritage and community assets