National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators Workshop

On April 30^th, 2014, the Multilateral Environmental Agreement Unit (MEAU) of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources (MEWR) held a Workshop with an initial set of key stakeholders with the aim of refining draft National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators.

This Workshop emanated from the decisions of the Tenth Meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP-10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), where the updated Strategic Plan for Biodiversity for the 2011-2020 period was adopted. This Strategic Plan which included 20 targets termed Aichi Biodiversity Targets are to be revised and adapted into national biodiversity strategies and action plans.

View of participants and Ms. Amoroso (MEAU) giving a presentation on the CBD and the Strategic Plan 2010-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets

The Draft National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators were initially developed within the MEAU. Their achievement would greatly contribute to the country in accomplishing the three (3) objectives of the Convention:

1. the conservation of biological diversity,
2.  the sustainable use of its components, and
3. the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.

In attendance were representatives from the Ministry of Food Production, the Institute of Marine Affairs (IMA), the Environmental Management Authority (EMA), the University of the West Indies (UWI), Forestry Division, the Central Statistical Office (CSO) and the Tobago House of Assembly (THA).

Dr. Homer (MEAU) giving a presentation on biodiversity indicators.

An additional Workshop is in the process of being planned for June 2014. The draft National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators coming out of the initial Workshop held on April 30th, 2014 will be further discussed and refined by the MEA Focal Point Network before they are submitted to Cabinet for approval as the National Biodiversity Targets and Indicators of the country. 

Presentations from the National Biodiversity Targets Workshop: 

• Introduction to the CBD and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets
• Introduction to the development of Biodiversity Indicators