UNCCD COP 11

The Eleventh Session of the Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP-11) was held Windhoek, Namibia during the period 9 - 27 September, 2013.

The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was represented at the  meetings by Mr. Julius Smith, Environmental Biologist, who attended the regional  preparatory meetings, the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) and the Conference of Parties (COP), along with Ms. Candace Amoroso, Biodiversity Specialist, who attended the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) only.

The objective of the Convention to Combat Desertification is to combat land degradation and desertification and to mitigate the effects of drought by taking effective action at all levels through international cooperation and partnership agreements in order to achieve sustainable development in the affected areas. This year the theme for the COP was “A stronger UNCCD for a Land Degradation Neutral World.” 

Mr. Julius Smith (right) in discussions  with  delegates of the Latin American region at the regional preparatory  meetings for the UNCCD COP-11; Namibia, 2013

Ms. Candace Amoroso at the start of a plenary session at the CST-11; Namibia, 2013.

It was convened at the halfway point of the 10-Year Strategy of the UNCCD (2008-2018), and reviewed the progress made in the implementation of the Strategy of the Convention. Delegates also considered the outcome of the second and preparations for the third UNCCD Scientific Conferences, and reports of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) and the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC).

 At the end of COP-11 delegates adopted a total of forty-one (41) decisions. Among these decisions, nine (9) were developed by the CST,  twelve (12) recommended by CRIC, and twenty (20) from the Committee of the Whole (COW). 

  >>For more information on the UNCCD COP 11 and the its outcomes visit  ISSD  RS @ UNCCS COP11.

Capacity Building Workshop on the NAP/IFS Alignment Process in the Caribbean

A Sub-Regional Capacity Building Workshop on the National Action Plan/Integrated Financial Strategy (NAP/IFS) Alignment Process in the Caribbean Community Sub-Region was hosted by the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago the Workshop at Capital Plaza, Port-of Spain from August 13-15, 2013.

The workshop was organised by the EPPD, Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources in close collaboration with the UNCCD Secretariat, the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) and the Caribbean Network for Integrated Rural Development (CNIRD) Support Staff.

Several Caribbean Parties of the Convention were in attendance. Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Environmental Biologist, Mr. Julius Smith and Biodiversity Specialist, Ms. Candace Amoroso, both from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources.

The workshop aimed to provide technical support, training and guidance to CARICOM countries for the strengthening of national capacity to facilitate and give impetus to the alignment of their National Action Programmes (NAPs) for the implementation of the UNCCD. 

It was important also in identifying or re-defining priority actions and strengthening cooperation at national and sub-regional levels through NAPs as well as in identifying modalities for financing these NAPs.

The outcomes of this workshop will serve to inform Trinidad and Tobago's national efforts at building capacity to meet its obligations under the UNCCD as well as allow the country to meet out our socio-economic developmental needs through the use of sustainable land management.

Caribbean Sub-Regional Worshop on Capacity Building for the Effective Implementation of the Cartagena Protocol

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) hosted the Caribbean Sub-Regional Workshop on Capacity-Building for the effective implementation of the Cartagena Protocol on Biodiversity from March 4-8, 2013 in St. George's, Grenada.

Two members of the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources had the opportunity to increase their knowledge and understanding of the Cartagena Protocol and its Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress. They included Ms. Candace Amoroso; Biodiversity Specialist and Ms. Avanti Supersad; Legal Officer.

The workshop was organised to contribute to the identification of the needs and development strategies for strengthening the capacities of Parties in the Caribbean Sub-Region to effectively implement the Protocol.  Participants were also introduced to the goal and core requirements of the Supplementary Protocol (SP) on Liability and Redress.

The workshop concluded with participants discussing and determining the way forward with regards to capacity building for the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol and for the ratification and implementation of its SP in the Caribbean Region. 

 

Workshop facilitators and participants including Ms. Candace Amoroso, Biodiversity Specialist (front row, second from the left) and Ms. Avanti Supersad, Legal Officer  (back row, second from the right) from the  Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources with the newly installed  Honourable Roland Bhola; Minister for Agriculture, Lands, Forestry and  Fisheries and the Environment, Grenada (centre) - St. George’s, GRENADA.

The Caribbean Regional Workshops on MEAs

At the end of January, 2013 The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Secretariat hosted two workshops in St.Lucia during the period January 23 - 30th, 2013.

The workshops addressed the harmonisation of reporting by Caribbean Countries and the usage of Integrated Environment Assessment tools (IEA) tools to mainstream four (4) biodiversity related multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) into national policy:

• The Convention on Biological Diversity 
• The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)
• The Convention Wetlands of International Importance, especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar)
• The Protocol Concerning Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (the SPAW Protocol) of the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (the Cartagena Convention)  

These workshops were executed by the Caribbean Hub of the Project for Capacity Building Related to MEAs in African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) States, in collaboration with the Government of St. Lucia. The Caribbean Hub is a partnership between CARICOM Secretariat and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP).   

Attendees included representatives of the CARICOM Member States including Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba, The Dominican Republic, the African Commission, the Pacific Regional Environment Programme and other regional and international organisations.

Ms Candace Amoroso Biodiversity Specialist in the Multilateral Environment Agreements Unit (MEAU); Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources represented Trinidad and Tobago at the first workshop on the Development and Use of a Proposed Caribbean Harmonised Reporting Template (CHART). This workshop took place during the period January 23-25, 2013. 

The goal of the workshop was to promote awareness and adoption of the CHART which was designed to make obligatory reporting on biodiversity related MEA activities efficient and easier to undertake. Discussions included the challenges facing synchronised reporting and concluded on the "Next Steps"  for the CHART.

Ms. Candace Amoroso (right) receiving a certificate of participation from the CARICOM-Secretariat 

The second workshop on MEA mainstreaming occurred from January 28-30, 2013. Ms. Denise Hakim, Research Analyst of the MEAU; Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources represented Trinidad and Tobago at this session. This workshop addressed the importance of mainstreaming MEAs into national policy to ensure their effective implementation and fulfilment of their objectives. Further application of IEA tools was recommended for action particularly regionally developed, in the creation of national development plans, policies and strategies with regards to MEAs.

Ms. Denise Hakim (left) receiving a certificate of participaton from the CARICOM-Secretariat

NBSAP Revision Workshop

The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) is the principal instrument for implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the national level. The strategy is a mechanism to ensure that biodiversity, its sustainable use and conservation is mainstreamed into the planning and activities of all those sectors whose activities can have an impact (positive and negative) on it.

The Regional Workshop for the Caribbean Region on Updating and Revising of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs) was held at the Hyatt Regency, Trinidad during the period September 5th -7th, 2012. The Caribbean Regional Preparatory Meeting to the 11th Conference of Parties (COP) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) was subsequently held on September 8th, 2012 at the same venue.

Both sessions were attended by representatives from the Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources; these being Ms. Candace Amoroso, Biodiversity Specialist, Multilateral Environmental Agreements Unit and Mr. Julius Smith Environmental Biologist, Environmental Policy and Planning Division.

The Regional Workshop was held to address various issues that countries in the Sub-region may have or will encounter when updating their NBSAPs. Specific problematic areas garnered focus, such as target setting, stakeholder engagement and the development of country-specific plans for mobilizing financial resources for the implementation of NBSAPs. 

The COP Preparatory Meeting, coordinated by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), was the first meeting of its kind in the Sub-region, aimed at establishing a common Caribbean position on major issues to be negotiated at the Conference of the Parties (COP) and the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (COP-MOP) in Hyderabad, India during October 2012. As such, the meeting would better enable the Sub-Region to prepare for meaningful participation at the COP.

Representatives from over 11 Caribbean countries attended both sessions, along with representatives from Governments, non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs), financial organisations, research institutions and tertiary education institutes.