Community-based water, land and ecosystems management in Caribbean small island developing States : experiences and lessons learnt from IWEco-UNDP/SGP Partnership Program

Abstract

The Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) are confronted with significant multidimensional development challenges including high unemployment rates, poor sanitation, marine plastic pollution, land degradation and travel restrictions and lockdowns due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19). These development problems have negative impacts on human and soil health, ecosystems, livelihoods, and recreational services and affect resilience to natural disasters, and have persisted in SIDS due to their small landmasses, vulnerable economies, and heavy dependence on external energy resources, coupled with rising populations. With financing support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) established a partnership to implement the Integrating Water, Land and Ecosystems Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (IWEco Project), a multi-focal regional project. This project is being implemented in Antigua and Barbuda; Barbados; Cuba; Dominican Republic; Grenada; Jamaica; Saint Kitts & Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Trinidad & Tobago.