Coastal Community Environmental Education Program (White Water to Blue Water)

General Information

Partnership website(s)

Expected Timeframe

September 2004 -

Partners

Governments: Government of Haiti - Ministry of Environment	Major Groups: EnviroSynergy (United States of America) Environmental Defense (United States of America)
UN System: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO): Environment and Development in Coastal Regions and in Small Islands (CSI) (France)	Other intergovernmental organizations: World Conservation Union (IUCN) (United States of America)
Other: Fondation pour la Protection de la Biodiversité (FoProBiM) (United States of America) APEKA (Haiti)

Thematic Focus

Primary Themes:

Marine resources
Water
Oceans and seas
Education
Changing unsustainable patterns of consumption and production
Protecting and managing the natural resource base of economic and social development

Secondary Themes:

Forests
Mountains
Sustainable development in a globalizing world
Waste management
Agriculture
Sustainable development of SIDS
Biodiversity

Geographic Coverage

Geographic Scope: National
Country(ies) where the partnership is being implemented:
Haiti

National Focal Points

This partnership has not made any contact with the national focal points for sustainable development in the countries involved

Goals and Objectives

Summary of the partnership's goals and objectives

This project will strengthen sorely needed environmental programs in the poorest and most environmentally degraded country in the Western Hemisphere and will empower previously voiceless and resigned community groups and individuals with the needed education and training in order to begin to defend their environmental and economic interests. Through cross-sectoral educational classes (basic marine sciences and conflict resolution), visits between stakeholder groups to strengthening the bonds between various stakeholder partners so they may begin to understand their commonality of interest in protecting and sustainably using area resources, and field activities it will link coastal community stakeholder groups (womenżs groups, farmers, fishers, hoteliers), scientists, and concerned public sector institutions in joint educational and stewardship activities in order to promote the improved management and protection of local watersheds and coastal and marine resources.

Targets and Progress

Partnership targets

Those who will be helped by this project include fishers (fishermen and fisherwomen), farmers, womenżs groups, merchants, tourism industry operators, concerned public and private sector institutions, and those making use of coastal and marine resources through a wide variety of activities. All have shown great interest and continue to request increases in the type of activity proposed by this project. FoProBiM has never had difficulty attracting area stakeholders to these important activities and many groups have begun, or tried to begin, local conservation efforts in part due to the FoProBiMżs efforts dealing directly with these groups, but there continues to be insufficient and sporadic assistance which causes a loss of momentum leading to disillusionment and a return to damaging activities.
Communication with these groups and individuals and the maintenance of their interest will be achieved by not only encouraging their direct participation in the classes and activities, but also by engaging them directly and on a personal level to express their concerns and provide suggestions for the remedy of the environmental resource issues in their region.

Progress against targets

None

Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

Arrangements for Capacity-Building and Technology Transfer

Human resources development/training
Education/building awareness
Institutional strengthening, including local participation

Educational and stewardship activities for local community groups including cross-sectoral educational classes (basic marine sciences and conflict resolution)

Relationship to International Agreements on Sustainable Development

How the partnership contributes to the implementation of Agenda 21, the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21, and the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation

* Strengthening of NGOżs as well as local community groups.
* Encouraging the sustainable management of resources.

Coordination and Implementation

Coordination Mechanism of the Partnership

Coordinated through FoProBiM. FoProBiM has always used local media whenever possible such as radio and newspaper in order to publicize and gain momentum for activities. Reports of the activities are also disseminated to the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, and Tourism, as well as to the major international agencies (i.e. the UN, USAID, IDB), coastal community groups and other local stakeholders. Educational materials developed will also be widely distributed.

Implementation Mechanism of the Partnership

FoProBiM will increase its capacity to provide environmental education and stewardship programs in Haiti related to the protection of the coastal environment and will continue to propose viable alternatives to damaging environmental activities.

Resources

Funding Currently Available Amount in US$: 23,000 Source(s): Private sector - Foundations / charities - IGO - NGO IUCN, EnviroSynergy, Environmental Defense and UNESCO/CSI	Non-financial resources available Type(s): Computers - Office space - Staff Source(s): Private sector - IGO - NGO
Funding Sought Required Amount in US$: 368000 Source(s) already approached: Inter-American Foundation	Non-financial resources sought Requirement(s): Staff Technical Staff Source(s) approached and details:

Additional Information

Additional Relevant Information

No additional information at present.