Increased national and regional capacity to carry out cross-sectoral management of watersheds and marine ecosystems to promote sustainable development in the wider Caribbean region, including poverty reduction and enhanced food security.
Data from remote sensing platforms will be more widely available and used by technical experts, policymakers and the public in their decision-making regarding the development of watershed and marine ecosystems.
New partnerships will be forged between private, public and non-governmental organizations to ensure that the region?s natural resources are used in a sustainable manner.
Stakeholders will identify new research and training priorities that will support cross-sectoral watershed and marine ecosystem management.
Regional institutions will be stronger and working across sectors to promote sustainable development.
Specific targets:
Establish and implement programs in integrated coastal and ocean management in the countries of the wider Caribbean region by 2012.
Reverse the downward trend in Caribbean fisheries on an urgent basis.

An international steering committee guided the planning and execution of a Wider Caribbean â??Partnership Conferenceâ?? held March 21-26, 2004 in Miami, FL, USA. The Partnership Conference, co-sponsored by the Caribbean Community, CCAD, the U.N. Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean, the U.N. Environment Programme, and the United States Government, drew more than 700 participants representing governments, NGOs and academia from over 30 countries. More than 100 partnerships focused on integrated approaches to watershed management, marine ecosystem management, sustainable tourism, and shipping/maritime transportation in the Wider Caribbean Region were nurtured or formed during the event. An Executive Committee continues to work to facilitate and support new and existing partnerships in the region.

The Steering Committee consists of government representatives and experts from Caribbean countries and from around the world, including UNEP, CEP, UN Foundation, IMO, IOCARIBE. Subcommittees within the programme focus on a wide variety of issues, including: sustainable tourism, climate change adaption and hazard mitigation, green markets, education, training and capacity building

The initiative would develop a regional website database listing national, bilateral and multilateral cross-sectoral projects. The proceedings of the conference would form the initial basis for the website. Over the longer term, the website would provide a matching service between stakeholders and potential funders willing to expand capacity-building in ecosystem management, monitoring and policy development.
We will involve representatives of SIDS and SADC in the kick-off conference with the goal of facilitating the exchange of expertise and experience as well as demonstrating our interest in participating in similar initiatives in the South Pacific and Africa.
Monitoring arrangements are to be determined in cooperation with interested partners, especially in the Caribbean. An informal Oceans and Coasts steering group is being formed that includes representatives of many of the White Water to Blue Water Partners and may help serve a monitoring function if others agree.

An international Steering Committee is working to identify existing programs and develop new partnerships that enhance integrated approaches in areas such as wastewater, sanitation, sustainable agricultural practices, integrated coastal management,
sustainable tourism, environmentally sound marine transportation in the Caribbean.

Amount in US$: 1000000

Source(s): Government - Private sector - Foundations / charities - IGO - NGO
US government and partner organizations, NGO partners

Type(s): Computers - Staff

Source(s): Government - IGO - NGO
US Government staff and offices; individual involvement of partners.