Convention for the Protection & Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region – Cartagena Convention Exchange of Experiences on LME-related Data & Information Issues

1. EL PROGRAMA AMBIENTAL DEL
CARIBE
Christopher Corbin
Programme Officer
Secretariat for the Cartagena Convention
Convention for the Protection & Development of
the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean
Region – Cartagena Convention
Promoting Information Management & Sharing
within the Wider Caribbean Region
Exchange of Experiences on LME-related Data &
Information Issues
Buenos Aires, Argentina
11-14 June, 2013

2. OPINIONS EXPRESSED IN THIS PRESENTATION?

3. CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENT
PROGRAMME
MISSION
“To promote regional co-operation for the
protection & development of the Wider
Caribbean Region”
OBJECTIVE
“To achieve sustainable development of
marine & coastal resources in the Wider
Caribbean Region through effective, integrated
management that allows for economic growth
& sustainable livelihoods”

4. Oil Spills Protocol
Adopted in 1983
Entered into force in 1986
Specially Protected
Areas and Wildlife
Protocol (SPAW)
Adopted in 1990
Entered into force 2000
Protocol concerning
Land-Based Sources
of Pollution (LBS)
Adopted in 1999
Entered into force in
2010
Cartagena Convention
Adopted in 1983
Entered into force 1986
CARTAGENA CONVENTION &
PROTOCOLS

5. Article 22: TRANSMISSION OF INFORMATION
“The Contracting Parties shall transmit to the
Organization information on the measures
adopted by them in the implementation of
this Convention and of protocols to which
they are parties, in such form and at such
intervals as the meetings of Contracting
Parties may determine”
Reporting Template Adopted at 14th
IGM
What are the obligations for
exchange of information?

6. “Cooperate in scientific research, monitoring & the
exchange of data & other scientific information relating
to the Convention”
“Assess periodically the state of the environment in the
Convention Area”
Article 13
Scientific & Technical
Cooperation
Article 16
Meetings of the Parties
Article VI & XII of LBS Protocol
(vi) Identify & assess patterns & trends in the
environmental quality of the Convention Area;
(xii) Report on the State of the Convention Area;

7. Why do we need environmental data?
–– support an understanding & greatersupport an understanding & greater
awareness of environmental issues, causes,awareness of environmental issues, causes,
sources & impacts;sources & impacts;
–– function as an ongoing component of thefunction as an ongoing component of the
development & assessment of managementdevelopment & assessment of management
policies, strategies & interventions;policies, strategies & interventions;
–– promote new legislative & policy initiativespromote new legislative & policy initiatives
for sustainable resource management &for sustainable resource management &
pollution prevention, reduction & control;pollution prevention, reduction & control;
-facilitate improved enforcement, decision--facilitate improved enforcement, decision-
making & individual actionmaking & individual action

8. Our Regional Support Mechanisms
Government Experts: Scientific & Technical Advisory
Committees (STACs) for Biodiversity & Pollution;
Working Groups of Experts
Regional Activity Centres (RACs) for the Protocols
Regional Activity Network (RAN): Collaborating
Agencies & Partners
Intergovernmental fora for Decision-Making
Data & Information: CEP Technical Reports, Clearing
House Mechanism; Methodologies & Manuals; Data
bases; Toolkits; Guidelines;
Links to State of Convention Area Report

14. How many more new Project Data Bases do
we need or can we use?
How many more new Clearing House
Mechanisms do we need or can we use?
Who will maintain the data bases & Clearing
House Mechanisms once the project ends?
Who will continue to need and use the data &
information generated and Why?
Our Reality Check:

15. Regional Monitoring Programmes are most
effective when supported by strong
harmonized national monitoring programmes
– local interest, sense of assurance, demand
Improve the use of scientific data &
information for policy setting & decision
making e.g. strengthen national/regional labs;
develop more effective visualization tools
Sensitivity & Quality Assurance of data e.g.
recreational water quality
Our Experiences:

16. Data/Information is not only for Decision
Makers:
• Value of Community Based Monitoring &
Assessment (IWCAM, CLME)
• Data & Information should promote changes in
community & individual attitudes, behavior &
response actions (role of media)
• Present data back to local communities
Maximize use of technologies – GIS, Video,
facebook, twitter
Importance of traditional knowledge &
Qualitative data – How do we measure?
Some More Experiences:

17. Data Accessibility and Availability
Statistics – Human Development Reports
Data collection is expensive, time consuming
& can be long-term
Other national country priorities – success of
water information system in Grenada under
IWCAM
Focus on few key indicators – establish,
monitor, evaluate and enhance;
Water Quality, Valuation Reports – social &
economic conditions
Role of academic and research institutes
Even More Experiences:

18. We already have:
IW Learn, E Forums, List Serves, Clearing
House Mechanisms, Data Bases, Web Sites,
Interactive Web-based maps, GIS Tools, Case
Studies, Experience Notes, Regional
Mechanisms & Institutions;
Data Harmonization, Data Analysis &
Interpretation - Indicators, Comparable
Methodologies, National Monitoring &
Assessment Capacities.
Simple, Practical & Incremental
Short, Medium & Long Term Plans
SUSTAINABLE
Our Recommendations:

19. Protecting our Caribbean Sea
Sustaining our Future!
www.cep.unep.org
cjc@cep.unep.org