The Guyana-based Caribbean Community ( CARICOM) Secretariat says it has started a series of national consultations aimed at advancing endorsement of the draft CARICOM Biodiversity Strategy and its accompanying Resource Mobilisation and Implementation Strategy (RMIS).
It said that the consultations bring together a broad cross-section of national stakeholders, including representatives from environment, finance, economic development, tourism, agriculture, fisheries and marine sectors, biodiversity focal points and other key stakeholders. The engagements will review the updated Draft CARICOM Biodiversity Strategy, validate its priorities, and identify practical approaches for biodiversity implementation, financing, monitoring, reporting, and strengthened regional collaboration.
The consultations so far have highlighted the importance of aligning regional initiatives with national priorities while building synergies with ongoing programmes.
The Senior Project Officer, Sustainable Development at the CARICOM Secretariat, Teshia JnBaptiste, emphasized the importance of engagement with stakeholders to shape the final outcome.
‘The Draft CARICOM Biodiversity Strategy is intended to complement, not replace, national biodiversity strategies and action plans. It seeks to provide a regional framework through which member states can address common challenges, leverage partnerships, mobilise resources and advance biodiversity objectives that are often best addressed through collective regional action,’ Jn Baptiste said.
The Secretariat said that the accompanying Resource Mobilisation and Implementation Strategy is being developed to support implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy by identifying financing opportunities, strengthening regional coordination, and enhancing technical cooperation. It is expected to guide regional biodiversity investments through 2030 and beyond.
The consultations are being conducted with support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft fr Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the main development agency of Germany, through the Promotion of Regionally Harmonised Approaches to the Protection and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in CARICOM member states (CARIBIO) project.