Resource Mobilization A Caribbean Perspective

1
Resource MobilizationA Caribbean Perspective

• THE ISSUE
• Is land Degradation in the Caribbean Fact or
  Fiction?
• Aerial maps shows most of the Caribbean as green
• Met. data shows only small decrease precipitation
  over the past 20 years.
• Agriculture is still a major industry despite the
  demise of banana in the Windwards.
• The Caribbean is being sold on the tourist market
  as un-spoilt.

2
Realities

• Environment secondary to survival issues
• Land size, population pressure, topography and
  geology all support Desertification
• Consequently there are - reductions in yields
• Increase use of Agrochemicals
• Increase sedimentation of streams and rivers
• The frequency and intensity of floods, drought
  and land slides have increase.
• Surface water supply decreased by gt10 over the
  past 20 years.
• The case of Haiti

3
Implications for resource mobilization

• Financial Resource - International
• The Caribbean is not considered a priority by
  financial institution and donor agencies
• With gtUS70M invested in LAC, not one cent in the
  English speaking Caribbean
• The Global Mechanism has so far shown only token
  interest in the Caribbean.
• GEF has been the only source of funds for
  environmental activities in many Caribbean
  countries.
• Only support received by most CARICOM countries
  came from Secretariat.

4
Regional and Local Financing

• The IDB has expressed some interest but most of
  the Caribbean countries are not members of IDB
  this poses peculiar problems.
• CDB and EU funding for environment not specific,
  most governments use this fund for Public Health
  purposes.
• Locally, Environment is a tag on Ministry. Most
  budgetary allocations go to Social Services.
• Land Degradation issues are becoming more visible
  (thanks to Nature and the CCD), hence
  governments are being to allocate fund for
  specific programmes (tourism, water, agriculture)
  
• Local financial institutions are beginning to see
  wisdom in investing in environmental awareness
  and training EIAs, Vulnerability assessments
  etc.

5
Human and Technical Resource

• The roster of experts show no shortage at the
  global and regional levels but there is serious
  shortage at the national level.
• Technology to address most problems exist in
  scales not appropriate to the Caribbean.
• Attempts at adopting and relocating technology
  and personnel has proven to be mixed blessings
• There is some partnership and networking among
  experts and institutions in the region but their
  focus is often controlled by finances.

6
THE CASE OF THE NAPS

• To date only two CARICOM countries have draft
  NAPS supported by Secretariat.
• NAPS are urgently needed to put land degradation
  issues into perspective.
• Some countries have developed (are developing)
  NEMS with international help - finance and
  personnel.
• St. Georges Declaration, a thematic approach to
  environment, is a partnership between regional
  and international agencies.
• Emerging NAPS should take into account existing
  NEMS, and SGD.

7
The Vincentian Example

• There is no programme or funding specific to CCD.
• Technical institutions and NGOs are few and weak.
• There is a grave shortage of quality Human
  Resource.
• Despite these limitations, GoSVG, through the
  Department of Forestry has taken the bold step to
  initiate a project aimed at combating land
  degratation, protecting watersheds and
  biodiversity, creating alternative livelihoods.

8
The Vincentian Example Contd.

• Integrated Forest Management project to address
  Land Degradation, estimated cost US 9.8 M over
  five years
• Synergistic funding (CBD, FCCC) 0.3 M
• Technical support from sub-regional agencies
  0.7M
• Initial cost of 1.8 M provided from national
  consolidated fund
• Local partnership with private sector US2M
• Funds needed US 5M???

9
Conclusion

• All environmental assessment reports show the
  Caribbean as very vulnerable (biodiversity,
  water, livelihoods, coastal erosion, land
  degradation) scientific FACT.
• Financial support for the Caribbean is pauce,
  meager and donor directed.
• Technical and Human resource may be available but
  not always appropriate
• There is a need for a scientific review of the
  Caribbeans position based on currently available
  data, resources availability and allocations,
  policies and programmes.
• The governments and peoples of the Caribbean are
  aware of their problems and in some measure are
  taking steps to correct them.

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OUR NEED

• WE DO NOT NEED SYMPATHY OR EMPATHY
• WHAT WE NEED IS UNDERSTANDING AND APPRECIATION OF
  OUR EFFORTS AND YOUR SUPPORT, NOT IN WORDS BUT IN
  DEED.
• THANK YOU