Caribbean Hub 15 EU Entities ( 4 FR / 5 UK / 6 NL)

Caribbean hub 15 EU entities ( 4 FR / 5 UK / 6 NL)

Fostering collaboration of nearly half of EU’s overseas entities to maintain their unique biodiversity & attractive ecosystems Ecosystem profile for the Caribbean EU overseas entities

Amandine VASLET SPAW-RAC / RNSM The Caribbean: a diverse region

• 15 EU overseas entities

• 12 OCTs & 3 ORs ©

DV • Politically attached to 3 EU © member states (FR-UK-NL) • Population densities varying: 45 inhab./km² in Montserrat (UK) 1,095 inhab./km² in St.Martin (FR) / St.Maarten (NL)

JC ©

CK AN SW HL © © © © Caribbean hub Biological importance of the region • Contrasting ecosystems: from rainforests and rivers to dry scrublands and coral reefs and mangroves • Included in the Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot • Economical importance of ecosystems for local economies

St-Martin/ St-Maarten Bonaire Guadeloupe 2 million visitors / year MPA surrounding the island Rivers and rainforests (National Park)

DV ©

Coral reef associated Commercial and recreational Freshwater resources recreation reef fisheries 19 million € / year $ 18 million / year (NF 2010) $1.1 million / year (TEEB-IVM 2012) (Hamadé et al. – PNG 2013) Caribbean hub Biological importance of the region Examples of ecosystem services • Marine ecosystems: Mangroves - Seagrass beds - Coral reefs -Shelters, nurseries, feeding areas -Support local fisheries -Shoreline protection -Carbon sequestration and storage -Recreational values

• Tropical rainforests and rivers

-Freshwater resources -Soil stability -Wood production

-Shelters, foraging areas DV ©

Caribbean hub Existing biodiversity: Endemicity • Caribbean Islands Biodiversity Hotspot • At least 630 species regionally restricted (Eastern Caribbean islands) • About 460 species strictly endemic to 1 of the 15 EU islands • Endemic species representing diverse taxa:

Plants Amphibians Reptiles Sebucan (VI)

CK © GG

© AS © AN Aruban Rattlesnake (Aruba) © Anguilla Bush Mountain Chiken (Montserrat) Lesser Antilles Iguana (LA) Invertebrates Fishes Birds Mammals Antillean Fruit-eating bat (LA-PR) Coleoptera (St-Martin) Guadeloupe Woodpecker

Blue-headed Hummingbird

AH (Martinique –Dominica) MY © ©

FD Dutch Antillean Molly (ABC islands) © Spider “Matoutou” (Martinique) Caribbean hub Existing biodiversity: Vulnerability • About 180 globally threatened species - IUCN Red List 2015 including 120 species endemic to the region

• 78 plant sp. and 87 vertebrates globally threatened:

Plants Sebucan (BVI - CR) Amphibians Reptiles Lesser Antilles Iguana (EN)

RTMG

AN RNSM ©

SW CM © ©

FM ©

Acroporids (CR) Hieroglyphic Cone (VU) Queen Triggerfish (VU) Yellow-shouldered Amazon (VU) Spermwhale (VU)

Caribbean hub Existing biodiversity: Vulnerability • Threat assessment for terrestrial and marine taxa Sebucan (BVI - CR)

VU EN CR Terrestrial & Freshwater / Terr. & Marine Terr. & Marine Terr. & Marine Marine species Fresh. Fresh. Fresh. Plants 17 - 26 - 35 - Invertebrates 3 8 1 2 2 2 Lesser Antilles Iguana (EN) Fishes, Sharks & Rays - 25 - 7 - 3 Caribbean Amphibians 1 4 2 region:

15 EU ORs Reptiles 4 2 8 2 7 1 AN © & Birds 4 - 3 - 2 - OCTs Mammals 6 1 - - - - CM © Total 35 36 42 11 48 6

Spermwhale (VU)

Caribbean hub Threats and pressures on biodiversity • Negative impacts of invasive alien species BEST project 2011-2012 UK OTs RSPB / Anguilla – BVI – Cayman Isl.

Eradication of exotic sp.

• Pollution: domestic effluents, • Threats from urbanization, terrestrial runoff, pesticides land reclamation, destruction of natural habitats

Caribbean hub The Ecosystem profile process • 15 EU Overseas entities: 6 NL – 4 FR – 5 UK June 2016 • Broad consultation process: 90 institutions/organisations, 200 persons • Local governments, institutions, organisations, scientific experts

Caribbean hub Key biodiversity areas (KBAs) • KBAs identified for St-Martin (French OR) Network of PAs / + Species / Sites outcomes + Threats Ramsar / IBAs… RNSM ©

RNSM TB © ©

Simpson Bay Lagoon

Identified KBAs

Terrestrial 2 : RNSM Marine & Terrestrial 1 Total 3 Photo credits

Caribbean hub Key biodiversity areas (KBAs) • KBAs identified for Bonaire (Dutch OT) Network of PAs, IBAs… + Species / Sites outcomes + Threats

SW ©

KBAs

Terrestrial 4 SW © Terrestrial, 1 ponds, bays Marine 1 KBA Marine Park Total 6

Caribbean hub Key biodiversity areas (KBAs) • KBAs identified for Anguilla (UK OT) Network of PAs, IBAs… + Species / Sites outcomes + Threats

LS © AS ©

KBAs

Terrestrial 2

ANT © Marine & 2 terrestrial Total 4 KBA Ponds network

Caribbean hub Key biodiversity areas (KBAs) • KBAs identified in the 6 Dutch OCTs: Aruba Bonaire Curaçao NL - 6 OCTs -Aruba -Bonaire -Curaçao -St.Maarten -Saba -St.Eustatius

St.Maarten KBAs Saba St.Eustatius Terrestrial 10 Terrestrial & 8 coastal, ponds, bays Marine 4 Total 22

Caribbean hub Key biodiversity areas (KBAs) • KBAs identified in the 4 French overseas entities St.Martin St.Barthélemy FR - 1 OT & 3 ORs -St.Martin -St.Barthélemy -Guadeloupe -Martinique Guadeloupe Martinique

Identified KBAs

Terrestrial 5 Marine & Coastal 10 Marine 5 Total 20

Caribbean hub Key biodiversity areas (KBAs) • KBAs identified in the 5 UK Overseas Territories (OTs) Anguilla Virgin Islands UK - 5 OTs -Anguilla -Virgin Islands (BVI) -Turks and Caicos -Montserrat -Cayman Islands

Montserrat Cayman Isl. TCI KBAs

Terrestrial 13 Marine 3 Marine & 6 terrestrial Total 22

Caribbean hub Current conservation activities Caribbean Recognition of Protected areas Some projects EU ORs & natural habitats and (PAs) in conservation OCTs wildlife -VI : Biodiversity profile mapping 5 UK -Anguilla : seabird populations OTs -Network of terrestrial PAs and monitoring MPAs, including: - 3 Ramsar sites -Montserrat: Blue Halo Initiative for - 50 MPAs - 41 IBAs sustainable ocean management - 36 terrestrial PAs -Cayman Isl.: RAMSAR sites - 14 fisheries PAs

World Heritage Nomination -10 Ramsar sites 6 Dutch -11 National PAs, -3 2 IBAs OCTs -Dutch OCTs: designation of a shark including 5 Marine Parks -3PAW S areas and marine mammal Sanctuary and Saba Bank National Park - Saba Bank: (YARARI)

(2680 km²) Particularly Sensitive HL

© Sea Area -1 National Natural Park -1 Regional Natural Park -Martinique: sites considered for 3 French -6 National Natural Reserves, 1 -3 Ramsar sites UNESCO World Heritage ORs & 1 OT Regional Natural Reserve -25 IBAs Nomination.

- Coastal areas protected by - 1 Man and -St.Martin : transboundary

CELRL Biosphere reserve conservation projects

managed by ONF - 155 ZNIEFF and flora mapping

-AGOA marine mammals - 5 SPAW areas -Guadeloupe: manatee

Sanctuary over all French reintroduction project (PNG) Antilles EEZ (143 256 km²) Current conservation activities • 4 BEST projects funded in the Caribbean region (2011-2012)

Project CARIPES - Quantification of MPAs ecosystem services - Université des Antilles - Centre de recherche sur les pouvoirs locaux de la Caraïbe Project EcoServPlantain - Quantification of Ecosystem Services in Agroecosystems, case of Plantain banana in Martinique CIRAD (Centre de Coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement)

Project Conserving Species and Sites of International Importance by the Eradication of Invasive Alien Species in the Caribbean UK OTs - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds – (Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Virgin Islands)

Project MANG - Giving impetus to a collective movement in favour of coastal wetlands preservation in EU OTs Atelier Technique des Espaces Naturels Marine mammals Sanctuaries Network AGOA (FR) / YARARI (NL) • Some current conservation

NOAA ©

Some current investments in conservation 5 UK OTs 6 Dutch OCTs 3 French ORs & 1 OT • BEST Initiative (ORs & OCTs) • BEST Initiative (ORs & OCTs) • BEST Initiative (ORs & OCTs) • EDF (OCTs) • DF E (OCTs) • EDRF (ORs) European • LIFE +, LIFE Environment • LIFE +, LIFE Environment • DFE (OCTs) level • INTERREG Caraïbes • INTERREG Caraïbes • EAFRD, EMFF • LIFE +, LIFE Environment • INTERREG Caraïbes • DEFRA UK- Darwin Initiative • DCNA Trust fund (Dutch Gvt, • Ministère de l'Ecologie, du • Flagship Species Fund (Defra, National Lottery, IUCN, WWF) Développement durable et de FFI) • Dutch Parliament (BES islands) l'Energie (DEAL) • Local Governments • Local Governments • Ministère de l’Outre-Mer • Royal Society for the Protection • Dutch Postcode Lottery (IFRECOR) of Birds (RSPB) • Prince Bernhard Culture Fund • Conseils Régional et Général, National • UK Joint Nature Conservation (Educational programs – Overseas Collectivities (COM) & Committee (JNCC) NGOs) • Agence des Aires Marines Regional • Association of EU OCTs • Association of EU OCTs Protégées (AAMP) level (OCTA) (OCTA) • Conservatoire du Littoral et des • Overseas Territories • BirdLife International : Espaces Lacustres (CELRL) Environment Project (OTEP) – Vogelbescherming Nederland • Association of EU OCTs (OCTA) not available anymore • Caribbean Trust Fund – • Caribbean Trust Fund – UNEP- UNEP-CEP/SPAW Protocol CEP/SPAW Protocol • SPAW-RAC • SPAW-RAC Caribbean hub Critical areas for action & investment needs • Conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial and marine environments

- Promote ecosystem management approach - Mitigating urbanization and land reclamation - Integrate biodiversity conservation into landscape and development planning - Build or strengthen local capacities

• An outstanding biodiversity highly vulnerable to Invasive Alien Species (IAS)

IAS eradication: proven strategy to prevent decline or extinction of native species

Caribbean hub

Contact the BEST III Caribbean Team

Romaine RENOUX Anne FONTAINE Amandine VASLET BEST III BEST III BEST III Caribbean Hub Caribbean Hub Caribbean Hub Coordinator Expert Ecosystem Profile Expert [email protected] [email protected] [email protected]

Thank you for your attention

Photo credit: DV Denis Vaslet AH Adeljean Ho FD Frantz Delcroix AN Anna Najbar FM Franck Mazéas LS Lawrence Scott ANT Anguilla National Trust GG Geraldo Garcia MY Mark Yokoyama AS Andre Samuel HL Hans Leijnse RNSM Réserve Naturelle St Martin CK Christian Koning JC Julien Chalifour RTMG Réseau Tortues Marines Guadeloupe CM Cédric Millon JMG JM Garg SW Sam Williams DM Dany Moussa LJ Laurent Juhel TB Tadzio Bervoets