Wider Caribbean Region Contents 1 About .........................................................................................4 1.1 Overview ......................................................................................................................4 1.2 Key Dates ....................................................................................................................5 1.3 Geographic and General Information ..................................................................6 1.3.1 Oceanographic Information............................................................................6 1.3.2 Coastal Geography and Geology..................................................................6 1.3.3 Ecosystem Diversity.........................................................................................7 1.3.3.1 Coral..............................................................................................................7 1.3.3.2 Mangrove Forests .....................................................................................7 1.3.3.3 Seagrass Beds ...........................................................................................8 1.3.4 Species Diversity...............................................................................................8 1.3.4.1 Invertebrates...............................................................................................8 1.3.4.2 Fish................................................................................................................8 1.3.4.3 Reptiles ........................................................................................................9 1.3.4.4 Birds..............................................................................................................9 1.3.4.5 Mammals......................................................................................................9 1.3.5 Information on Participating States .............................................................9 1.3.5.1 Antigua and Barbuda ...............................................................................9 1.3.5.2 Bahamas ....................................................................................................10 1.3.5.3 Barbados ...................................................................................................10 1.3.5.4 Belize ..........................................................................................................10 1.3.5.5 Colombia....................................................................................................11 1.3.5.6 Costa Rica .................................................................................................11 1.3.5.7 Cuba............................................................................................................11 1.3.5.8 Dominica....................................................................................................12 1.3.5.9 Dominican Republic ...............................................................................12 1.3.5.10 Grenada......................................................................................................13 1.3.5.11 Guatemala .................................................................................................13 1.3.5.12 Guyana .......................................................................................................13 1.3.5.13 Haiti .............................................................................................................13 1.3.5.14 Honduras ...................................................................................................14 1.3.5.15 Jamaica ......................................................................................................14 1.3.5.16 Mexico ........................................................................................................14 1.3.5.17 Netherlands Antilles ...............................................................................15 1.3.5.18 Nicaragua ..................................................................................................15 1.3.5.19 Panama ......................................................................................................15 1.3.5.20 St Kitts & Nevis ........................................................................................15 1.3.5.21 Saint Lucia ................................................................................................16 1.3.5.22 St Vincent & the Grenadines ................................................................16 1.3.5.23 Suriname....................................................................................................16 1.3.5.24 Trinidad and Tobago ..............................................................................16 1.3.5.25 Venezuala ..................................................................................................17 1.3.5.26 United States of America ......................................................................17 1.4 Organization .............................................................................................................18 1.4.1 Institutional Structure ....................................................................................18 1.4.2 Contracting Parties Meetings ......................................................................18 1.4.3 Bureau of Contracting Parties .....................................................................19 1.4.4 The Coordinating Unit....................................................................................20 1.4.5 Caribbean Environment Programme .........................................................21 1.4.6 Regional Activity Centres .............................................................................22 1.4.6.1 Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife .............................................22 1.4.6.2 Oil Spills.....................................................................................................22 1.4.6.3 Land-Base Sources of Marine Pollution ...........................................22 1.4.7 National Focal points .....................................................................................23 1.5 Financial Arrangements ........................................................................................27 1.5.1 Caribbean Trust Fund ....................................................................................27 1.5.2 Other Funding Agencies ...............................................................................29 1.6 Partners......................................................................................................................29 1.6.1 Caribbean Environmental NGOs.................................................................29 1.6.2 Governmental Organizations .......................................................................30 2 Our Work .................................................................................30 2.1 Programme Strategy ..............................................................................................30 2.2 Action Plan ................................................................................................................30 2.3 Convention ................................................................................................................31 2.3.1 Protocols ...........................................................................................................33 2.3.1.1 Oil Spills.....................................................................................................33 2.3.1.2 Specially Protected Area and Wildlife ...............................................34 2.3.1.3 Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities.......................35 2.4 Issues and Threats..................................................................................................36 2.4.1 Climate Change and Sea Level Rise ..........................................................36 2.4.2 Habitat Loss......................................................................................................36 2.4.3 Endangered Species ......................................................................................37 2.4.4 Increasing Tourism .........................................................................................37 2.4.5 Over-exploitation of Resources ..................................................................37 2.4.6 Land Based Sources of Marine Pollution.................................................38 2.4.7 Unsustainable Agricultural and Forestry Practices...............................38 2.4.8 Small Island Developing States...................................................................38 2.5 Current Activities ....................................................................................................38 3 Publications ............................................................................39 3.1 Regional Seas Reports and Studies ..................................................................39 3.2 Technical Reports ...................................................................................................39 3.3 Meeting Reports ......................................................................................................39 3.4 Website Links ...........................................................................................................39 3.5 Newsletter..................................................................................................................40