Several projects that aim at preserving the nation’s marine environment have secured funding from the Global Environment Fund (GEF) under its ProCaribe+ initiative.
Under the theme, “A healthy marine environment for better lives’, the project launch took place last Thursday at the Antigua and Barbuda Hospitality Training Institute.
Antigua and Barbuda’s Focal Point for the ProCaribe+ Initiative, Acting Chief Fisheries Officer, Dr. Linda Lovell described the ProCaribe Project as an ambitious GEF funded project which aims to improve governance of the marine ecosystems of the wider Caribbean.
“In the wider Caribbean region, through projects like ProCaribe+ and the ocean coordination mechanism which forms a major component of the project output, regional governments are playing a leading role in achieving resilience, sustainability and conservation of the marine environment. Also through Pro-Caribe+ project, the roles of local communities and non- government partners are being recognized and empowered,” she observed.
Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and the Blue Economy, Denise Matthias-Thomas, noted that as a government, Antigua and Barbuda is proud to continue its active engagement in this critical regional initiative.
“Antigua and Barbuda was honoured to be among the first to sign the Memorandum of Understanding that laid the foundation for the development of the Ocean Coordination Mechanism – one of the cornerstone achievements of the ProCaribe+ Project. This innovative mechanism reflects our collective commitment to improving ocean governance through joint action and shared responsibility,” she explained.
Chairman of the Barbuda Council, John Mussington, drew references to the common maxim; ‘think globally, act locally’, noting that today, more than ever, the importance of this popular saying comes to the fore. He noted that while Barbuda is a small vulnerable island, within its shores are many bio-systems that support livelihoods as well as supporting the chance of surviving and thriving in the current global environment.
Senior Programme Manager/National Coordinator for GEF SGP UNDP, S. Natalya Lawrence said the project seeks to restore and harness the natural coastal and marine capital of the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystems to catalyze investments in a climate-resilient, sustainable Blue Economy, through strengthened regional coordination and collaboration, and wide-ranging partnerships.
The beneficiary projects are; Antigua and Barbuda Ocean Trust Dive Clean Up Project, Seagrass Health and Blue Carbon Potential: Assessing and Protecting Coastal Ecosystems in the Nelson’s Dockyard National Park, Improved Marine Stewardship Targeted Training, Education and Involvement of the Barbudan People, and a complementary project, a comprehensive research on megafauna movements and important habitat grounds in Antigua and Barbuda.
Each project receives approximately US$50,000.00.
