Links to other information resources CAREC, a public health information, service and consulting organisation, dedicated to being the best at providing information that people need to improve health and prevent disease in the Caribbean. The Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLA) -the Spanish acronym is CEPAL- was established by Economic and Social Council resolution 106(VI) of 25 February 1948 and began to function that same year. The scope of the Commission's work was later broadened to include the countries of the Caribbean, and by resolution 1984/67 of 27 July 1984, the Economic Council decided to change its name to the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC); the Spanish acronym, CEPAL, remains unchanged. The Caribbean Office of the ILO was established on the 20th of October 1969 in Port of Spain Trinidad. The Office serves 21 countries which includes the English- and Dutch-speaking territories. There are presently 13 Caribbean Member States, the most recent members being St. Kitts and Nevis and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. he Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) is an international public health agency with more than 100 years of experience in working to improve health and living standards of the countries of the Americas. It serves as the specialized organization for health of the Inter-American System. It also serves as the Regional Office for the Americas of the World Health Organization and enjoys international recognition as part of the United Nations system. PANCAP was established at the February 2001 Meeting of the CARICOM Heads of State and endorsed by the Nassau Declaration on Health 2001. The Partnership aims to scale up the response to HIV/AIDS in the Region. Ministries of the Environment of the Caribbean The BEST Comission manages the implementation of multilateral environment agreements and review environmental impact assessments and environmental management plans for development projects within The Bahamas. The Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU), which was established in 1996, was developed out of the original Coastal Conservation Project Unit created in 1983. Since 1983 we have sought to create one of the preeminent coastal zone management institutions in the Caribbean about the vital environmental issues which affect every Antiguan and Barbudan, issues which every citizen of this twin island country has the right to be aware of. Discover our projects and plans for the nation and learn how the Antiguan and Barbudan community, international donors along with private agencies, have supported us in our cause. Located in the central uplands of Barbados, the Environmental Special Projects Unit of the Ministry of Housing, Lands and Environment lies within an idyllic setting teeming with animal and plant life, and one that boasts scenic vistas, a harmony of residential communities and natural tourism attractions. The mission of the Coastal Zone Management Authority & Institute (CZMAI) is to support the allocation, sustainable use and planned development of Belize's coastal resources through increased knowledge and the building of alliances for the benefit of all Belizeans and the global community. Ministry of Environment Ministry of Environment and Energy To promote, facilitate and coordinate effective environmental management and protection; and the sustainable use of Guyana's natural resources. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was established under the Environmental Protection (EP) Act of 1996. Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment NEPA represents a merger between the Natural Resources Conservation Authority (NRCA), the Town Planning Department (TPD) and the Land Development and Utilization Commission (LDUC). The Agency results from the work of the Government of Jamaica Public Sector Modernization Programme (PSMP) The Water Resources Authority (WRA) is responsible for the management, protection, and controlled allocation anduse of Jamaica's water resources. The WRA maintains a hydrological database and provides data, information, and technical assistance to government and non-government institutions. Secretariat for Environment and Natural Resources National Institute of Ecology Mexican Institute of Water Technology National Commission of Water National Commission for the Knowledge and Use of Biodiversity n/a Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources National Authority of Environment n/a n/a The Department of Environment (DoE), under the Ministry for Tourism, Environment, Investment and Commerce (TEIC), is the main Government agency responsible for the management and conservation of the environment and natural resources. Ministry of Environment MINA’s tasks then, are to bring an Antillean perspective to international fora, set general guidelines for the islands, and see to it that the islands correctly implement them and indeed protect their biodiversity and environment. To this end MINA works with the islands to support, facilitate and stimulate the islands’ implementation of the internationally agreed standards for biodiversity conservation and environmental care, and their sustainable development. n/a The Department of Environment and Coastal Resources (DECR) is the government agency charged with the conservation, protection and management of the Natural Resources of the Turks and Caicos Islands. The Department is divided into two divisions: the Protected Areas Division oversees the management of our National Parks, Nature Reserves, Sanctuaries and Historic Areas. The Fisheries Division, is directly responsible for the management and conservation of our fish populations and habitats. The Ministry is a key agency in the public administration structure of Belize, and is responsible for the management of the country's most vital natural resources. This is achieved through activities in areas such as protected areas, wildlife, land distribution, mineral and non-mineral resources, etc.. Through the departments and their interdepartmental committees, the Ministry provides services to both private and public sectors and articulates its activities with NGOs and local communities. The Ministry's headquarters is located in Belmopan and supported by district offices (Lands and Forestry) countrywide. The Geology and Petroleum Department and the Department of the Environment are both located in Belmopan as well. Si embargo el Gobierno de El Salvador considera importante contar con un ente que se encargue de manera integral de la gestión ambiental y para ello crea la Secretaría Ejecutiva del Medio Ambiente (SEMA), como una institución adscrita al Ministerio de Planificación y Coordinación del Desarrollo Económico y Social (MIPLAN), por Decreto Ejecutivo No. 19 del 15 de julio de 1994, publicado en Diario Oficial No.152, Tomo No. 324 de fecha 19 de agosto de 1994. El MARN es la institución pública encargada de formular y ejecutar las políticas relativas a su ramo: cumplir y hacer que se cumpla el régimen concerniente a la conservación, protección, sostenibilidad y mejoramiento del ambiente y los recursos naturales en el país y el derecho humano a un ambiente saludable y ecológicamente equilibrado, debiendo prevenir la contaminación del ambiente, disminuir el deterioro ambiental y la pérdida del patrimonio natural. n/a Regional Offices of UN Bodies in the Caribbean The mandate of FAO in all three countries is to support national efforts to promote food security and sustainable development. Recently FAO has begun to focus on semi-urban and urban populations as the rural-urban drift continues to be a major challenge. The Organization discharges its many functions through the offering of technical assistance in the form of project requests made by or through the Governments. UNDP Barbados is a subregional, multi-country office. It serves a total of 10 territories that include both independent countries and British Overseas Territories in the Eastern Caribbean In Guyana, UNDP has been providing technical assistance since 1952 and continues to collaborate with the Government in pursuit of UNDP's corporate practice areas. UNDP Jamaica promotes the advancement of peoples in the islands we serve by supporting good governance, poverty reduction, and sound environmental management; providing quality advisory and support services and building strategic partnerships. UNDP's programme in Trinidad and Tobago is articulated in the Country Programme Document 2007-2011. The Country Programme Document identifies Democratic Governance and Poverty Reduction as the overarching themes for UNDP support to Trinidad and Tobago. UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, is an international development agency that promotes the right of every woman, man and child to enjoy a life of health and equal opportunity. UNFPA supports countries in using population data for policies and programmes to reduce poverty and to ensure that every pregnancy is wanted, every birth is safe, every young person is free of HIV/AIDS, and every girl and woman is treated with dignity and respect. The UNICEF Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean is located at the UN House in Barbados. The Office is responsible for Programmes of Co-operation with the governments of Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines and the Turks and Caicos Islands. UNIFEM is the women's fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies that promote women's human rights, political participation and economic security. We work in partnership with UN organizations, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and networks to achieve social justice and gender equality. REGIONAL OFFICE FOR LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN To provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations. The Latin America and the Caribbean Office was established in Bogota in 1997 in order to conduct UNCRD's activities in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries, in continuation of the Latin America Special Programme initiated in Nagoya in 1991. The LAC Office is jointly supported by UNCRD and the City Government of Bogota, under a technical cooperation trust fund agreement signed in 1997 to promote regional development in LAC countries. Founded in October 1945 by 44 member nations, FAO was meant to be a concrete response to global efforts focused at diminishing hunger, malnutrition and poverty and give technical assistance, especially to developing countries, with the ultimate purpose of improving agricultural productivity and raising levels of nutrition and standards of living of the countries. UNESCO Office Guatemala UNESCO Office Havana and Regional Bureau for Culture in Latin America and the Caribbean UNESCO Office Montevideo and Regional Bureau for Science in Latin America and the Caribbean Regional Bureau for Education in Latin America and the Caribbean Santiago de Chile UNESCO Office Kingston, UNESCO Office Lima, UNESCO Office Mexico, UNESCO Office Port-au-Prince, UNESCO Office San José. El PNUD - Cuba, en cumplimiento de su mandato de cooperación para el desarrollo, ha logrado establecer alianzas importantes y movilizar recursos de diversos sectores, congregándolos alrededor de programas multi-sectoriales y resultados comunes. El énfasis en el aumento de capacidades en el nivel local es una fortaleza identificada en el programa. Se cuenta con una alta proporción de recursos de contrapartida, que contribuyen a la apropiación y la sostenibilidad de las acciones. Cuba mantiene cordiales relaciones de cooperación con los programas, fondos y agencias del Sistema de las Naciones Unidas, las cuales son acogidas favorablemente. En este contexto, se promueven esquemas de cooperación descentralizada, con otros socios bilaterales y Sur-Sur. El Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo (PNUD) inició sus actividades como agente de desarrollo en Honduras en 1971 y desde entonces ha apoyado al país en la ejecución de numerosos proyectos que apuntan a lograr y consolidar el desarrollo humano en el país. El PNUD es la red mundial de las Naciones Unidas para el desarrollo que promueve el cambio y conecta a los paises con los conocimientos, la experiencia y los recursos necesarios para ayudar a los pueblos a forjar una vida mejor. Estamos presentes en 166 paises, trabajando con ellos para ayudarlos a encontrar sus propias soluciones a los retos mundiales y nacionales del desarrollo. Mientras que fortalecen su capacidad local, los paises aprovechan los conocimientos de personal del PNUD y de nuestro amplio círculo de asociados. PNUD Costa Rica se ha comprometido en alcanzar su misión: Integrar un equipo comprometido, eficiente y capaz que conjuntamente con sus socios (actores del desarrollo) impacte en las prioridades nacionales del desarrollo humano a nivel individual, local y nacional. El PNUD es la red mundial de las Naciones Unidas para el desarrollo cuya meta es ayudar a los países a elaborar y compartir soluciones a los retos mundiales y nacionales del desarrollo. Estamos presentes en 166 países en todo el mundo conectándolos con los conocimientos, la experiencia y los recursos necesarios para tener una vida mejor. Naciones Unidas en República Dominicana ORGANIZACIÓN DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS PARA LA AGRICULTURA Y LA ALIMENTACION Pan American Health Organization Pan American Sanitary Bureu Regional Office of the World Health Organization Desde su fundación la OIT y sus estructuras tripartitas que relacionan a los Estados Miembros con sus organizaciones de empleadores y trabajadores, han erigido un sistema de normas internacionales en todas las materias relacionadas con el trabajo. El Departamento de Seguridad está encargado de proveer el liderazgo, apoyo operacional y la dirección del sistema de seguridad para hacer posible de manera eficiente y segura el desarrollo de los programas y las actividades de Naciones Unidas. El PNUD es la red mundial de las Naciones Unidas para el desarrollo que promueve el cambio y conecta a los países con los conocimientos, la experiencia y los recursos necesarios para ayudar a los pueblos a forjar una vida mejor. En Honduras, diez agencias especializadas constituyen el Sistema de las Naciones Unidas, y trabajan en armonía para acompañar al país en sus esfuerzos para lograr un desarrollo integral que asegure un mejor futuro para los hondureños y las hondureñas: FAO, OIM, ONUSIDA, OPS-OMS, PMA, UIT, PNUD, UNFPA, UNICEF y VNU. El PROGRAMA MUNDIAL DE ALIMENTOS (PMA) es la agencia de ayuda alimentaria de las Naciones Unidas que combate el hambre que aflige a una de cada siete personas en el mundo. La FAO se estableció en San Salvador en 1978. Desde entonces y de acuerdo con su mandato y especialización ha apoyado técnica y financieramente a más de 100 proyectos nacionales y regionales, que buscan contribuir directamente con la erradicación de la pobreza extrema y el hambre, garantizar la sostenibilidad del medio ambiente y alcanzar los objetivos de Desarrollo del Milenio. Cuba es firmante del Acta de Constitución de la FAO en 1945 y la asistencia de la Organización al país data de esos años. Sin embargo, a partir de 1959 la colaboración ha sido más vigorosa y efectiva. La FAO se estableció en Guatemala el 28 de enero de 1964 a través del decreto ley número 238. Además del PESA, la institución lleva a cabo 12 programas y proyectos. Hay 5 propuestas de proyectos pendientes de ser aprobados previo a su realización. The objectives of the Community, identified in Article 6 of the Revised Treaty, are: to improve standards of living and work; the full employment of labour and other factors of production; accelerated, coordinated and sustained economic development and convergence; expansion of trade and economic relations with third States; enhanced levels of international competitiveness; organisation for increased production and productivity; achievement of a greater measure of economic leverage and effectiveness of Member States in dealing with third States, groups of States and entities of any description and the enhanced co-ordination of Member States’ foreign and foreign economic policies and enhanced functional co-operation. PROCICARIBE is the Caribbean Agricultural Science and Technology Networking System. It is designed to provide an institutional framework by which the region can design and implement strategies for the integration and coordination of agricultural research at the national and regional levels with linkages to international organisations. he long-term ICSU vision is for a world where science is used for the benefit of all, excellence in science is valued and scientific knowledge is effectively linked to policy-making. In such a world, universal and equitable access to high quality scientific data and information is a reality and all countries have the scientific capacity to use these and to contribute to generating the new knowledge that is necessary to establish their own development pathways in a sustainable manner. The Weather Center uses the latest technologies and the Internet to provide weather forecasts covering the Caribbean and SW N Atlantic for the cruising community, regattas, charter companies, event organisers, film companies and the media. The Caribbean Amblyomma Eradication Programme is a CARICOM/FAO/IICA programme, that started in 1994. Its goal is to eradicate the Tropical Bont Tick (TBT), Amblyomma variegatum, from the region. The strategy of the programme is based on direct animal owner and community participation. Government teams are mandated to ensure that farmers comply with the treatment schedules, supported by training and legislation. This is reinforced by intensive public information and sensitization campaigns directed to livestock owners and the general public. The National Biodiversity Institute (INBio) of Costa Rica is a private research and biodiversity management center, established in 1989 to support efforts to gather knowledge on the country’s biological diversity and promote its sustainable use. The institute works under the premise that the best way to conserve biodiversity is to study it, value it, and utilize the opportunities it offers to improve the quality of life of human beings. The CRFM is the core of a complex interactive network of a wide variety of stakeholders in fisheries. Three bodies together make up the Caribbean Regional Fisheries Mechanism (CRFM). These are: 1) the Ministerial Body; 2) the Caribbean Fisheries Forum; and 3) the CRFM Secretariat. DevNet is a Guyana-based not-for-profit NGO working to integrate the use of Information and Communication Technologies in Development The Guyana Development Gateway (GyDG) is a self-sustainable portal for information exchange and knowledge sharing about best practices related to Guyana's development. The GyDG will be a virtual gathering place and a source of high-quality information on development, focusing on the themes related to social cohesion, health, education and the promotion of economic activity through agriculture, tourism and small business development. St. Lucia’s biological resources are part of its capital for development, and the health of the country’s economy, especially in agriculture, tourism, and fisheries, is intimately tied to the health of its environment. These resources also form an intimate part of the country’s natural and cultural heritage. St. Lucia, as all countries of the world, must therefore fashion its own strategy -- reflecting its unique social, economic, and environmental conditions to use sustainably and conserve its biological wealth. UNIFEM is the women's fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies that promote women's human rights, political participation and economic security. We work in partnership with UN organizations, governments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and networks to achieve social justice and gender equality. Projects in the wider caribbean The Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) is one of the UNEP administered Regional Seas Programmes. The CEP is managed by and for the countries of the Wider Caribbean Region through the Caribbean Action Plan (1981) outlining regional environmental challenges. This project was developed under the Project Development Facility (PDF) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF). UNEP is the lead GEF Implementing Agency in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme and UNEP-CAR/RCU is co-executing this project with the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI), on behalf of the 13 small island developing states of the Wider Caribbean Region. Many living marine resources in the Caribbean Region are in crisis. Most of the fishery resources are coastal and are intensively exploited by large numbers of small-scale fishers. The majority of the human population in the Caribbean region lives in coastal communities and there is high dependence on living marine resources for employment and food. There is also high demand for seafood in the tourism industry, a mainstay of the economy in many of the region?s countries. Some species, such as lobster and conch are in high demand for export. These pressures have led to widespread depletion of these resources, a situation that must be reversed in accordance with the targets identified at the WSSD. The Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System (MBRS) extends from the southern half of the Yucatan Peninsula to the Bay Islands of Honduras and includes the second longest barrier reef in the world. It is unique in the Western hemisphere due to its length, composition of reef types, and diverse assemblage of corals and related species. The MBRS contributes to the stabilization and protection of coastal landscapes, maintenance of coastal water quality, and serves as breeding and feeding grounds for marine mammals, reptiles, fish and invertebrates, many of which are of commercial importance. The MBRS is also of immense socio-economic significance providing employment and a source of income to an estimated one million people living in adjacent coastal areas. The EcoMap Costa Rica website documents an ecological study of the reforestation sites by the University of Dallas Biology Department. The field work is being performed by University of Dallas students as a part of their Field Ecology class. Field sites are on the Leaves and Lizards Arenal Volcano Cabin Retreat in Costa Rica. CEHI currently hosts websites on Worker's Health and Safety, Fresh Water Resources, and Biomedical Hazardous Waste Management. These websites give detailed information on Caribbean specific issues, describe related events, activities and projects and provide links to relevant resources. Eco Aruba was born out of the fledgling environmental movement in Aruba and intended to reconcile two factions traditionally battling each other, being private enterprise and the green movement. IWRN National Focal Points are organizations or government agencies that have been designated by their national government to represent their country on the IWRN. The IWRN has a National Focal Point in each of the 34 participating member countries of the Organization of American States (OAS). The Bahamas Biocomplexity Project (BBP) is a five-year, interdisciplinary research effort that combines the study of marine biodiversity, oceanography, and humans in order to improve the design of networks of marine protected areas (MPAs) for biodiversity conservation, fisheries sustainability, and other human uses. To support the implementation of a network of Marine Reserves. To protect Fish Spawning Aggregations. To ensure a continued supply of fish and conch for Bahamians. Established by an Act of Parliament in 1959, the Bahamas National Trust is mandated with the conservation of natural and historic resources of The Bahamas. This responsibility is achieved primarily through in-situ protection. The Trust is the only known non- governmental organization in the world with the mandate to manage a country's entire national park system. The Barbados Marine Trust is a non-governmental organisation dedicated to promoting environmentally and socially-sustainable use of the marine areas of Barbados. Its membership includes individuals from many different user groups: fishers, dive-operators, hoteliers, water-sports operators, business people, school children, and the community in general. The Barbados National Trust is a charitable, non-profit body founded in 1961 to preserve the unique heritage of our island home, be it historic buildings and sites, or places of natural beauty or environmental importance. The vision of the Barbados Sea Turtle Project at the University of the West Indies is to restore local marine turtle populations to levels at which they can once again fulfill their ecological roles and provide opportunities for sustainable use, and to act as a catalyst for similar efforts in other countries in the Caribbean. Underwater or on land, Bonaire boasts unique nature experiences. Located in the Dutch Caribbean The mission of the Bonaire National Marine Park (BNMP) is to protect and manage the island’s natural, cultural and historical resources, while allowing ecologically sustainable use, for the benefit of future generations. The NGO Platform of Bonaire is an Association of more than 60 local non-governmental organizations working for the improved welfare of the entire island. The Platform is made up eight sector representatives plus three officers (President, Secretary and Treasurer). The officers serve as a daily board and are responsible for the operation of the NGO office and staff. All other issues are the responsibility of the full Platform. Through its participation in environmental workshops and conferences, ARK has developed liaisons with marine environment organizations around the world, and also proudly participates in Reef Check, a worldwide effort to raise awareness about the state of coral reefs. The BVI Government has recognized ARK as a responsible NGO, inviting ARK to participate in workshops such as NIDS (National Integrated Development Strategy), the Collection of Capture Fishery Data Workshop, and partnering in several Erosion and Sedimentation workshops. Island Resources Foundation was founded in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1972, dedicated to the premise that islands are special places, with particularly fragile environments and exceptionally vulnerable development options. Our primary geographic focus for over three decades has been the insular Caribbean , and our central mission has been to assist small islands to meet the challenges of social, economic and institutional growth while protecting and enhancing their environments. The Foundation has contributed to a considerable body of island-specific information and programs that recognize the uniqueness of island conditions, the vulnerabilities of island environments, and the special qualities of island life. To preserve and manage designated natural and cultural areas in order to improve the quality of life in the British Virgin Islands The British Virgin Islands National GIS (BVINGIS) is a cooperative developmental effort amongst government departments and statutory bodies who are working together to create a comprehensive centralized GIS for the territory. Currently, the National GIS is working to promote the concept and applications of GIS for planning, monitoring, and evaluation activities within the government. Ongoing activities include the establishment of policy guidelines for data sharing, cataloguing, access, and dissemination. The National GIS epitomizes the success that can be achieved through inter-governmental agency collaboration and partnership. The purpose of Cayman Wildlife Connection is to protect our rare native Caymanian plants, wildlife, butterflies and all of the interconnected habitats and ecosystems that support them through education and cooperation with other interested groups, businesses, the C.I. Government, visiting scientists and individuals. The National Trust for the Cayman Islands is a non-profit, statutory body with a mission: "To preserve natural environments and places of historic significance in the Cayman Islands for present and future generations." The Little Cayman Research Centre is a project of the Central Caribbean Marine Institute (CCMI), an international non-profit organization established to sustain the biodiversity of coral reefs through research, education, and community outreach. The research centre is equipped for scientific research and education programs. The tropical field station is minutes from the world-renowned coral reefs of Bloody Bay Marine Park and has a mega-fauna unsurpassed in the Caribbean. El portal del medio ambiente en Cuba Fundado en 1986, por la fusión de los Institutos de Botánica, Zoología y Química y Biología Experimental de la Academia de Ciencias de Cuba, el Instituto de Ecología y Sistemática tiene la MISION de: Ampliar los conocimientos sobre la biodiversidad mediante estudios sistemáticos y ecológicos integrales, propiciando su conservación y uso sustentable en los ecosistemas naturales y de reemplazo, incrementando la contribución al desarrollo científico y socio económico en nuestro país y el área del Caribe. Realizar investigaciones, servicios científico-técnicos y sistemas de observación dirigidos a desarrollar las bases científicas para el uso sostenible y protección de la zona marino-costera y sus recursos. Contribuir a la formación de técnicos y especialistas. The Institute for Tropical Marine Ecology (ITME) is a not-for-profit organization providing tertiary education and research training in marine biology and environmental studies at its field station in Dominica, Lesser Antilles. ITME further serves a resource center (environmental data, training, consultancies) for Dominica's general public, as well as for national and international organizations. The Institute's year-round field station is an ideal base of operations for visiting researchers and university groups, and unique meeting point in the Eastern Caribbean. Center for Conservation and Eco-Development Samaná and its Environs Global Foundation Democracy and Development The term "clearing-house" originally referred to a financial establishment where checks and bills are exchanged among member banks so that only the net balances need to be settled in cash. Today, its meaning has been extended to include any agency that brings together seekers and providers of goods, services or information, thus matching demand with supply. n/a Welcome to KIDO Ecological Research Station (KERS) and the YWF-KIDO Foundation, a non-profit, non governmental organization. Our primary mission: To preserve the natural ecosystems, arts, heritage, and encourage sustainable development of the Southern Grenadines through environmental education, social development, scientific research and eco tourism. REDLAC mission is to set up an effective system of learning, strengthening, training, and cooperation through a Network of National Environmental Funds aimed at contributing to the conservation and sustainable use of nature in Latin America and the Caribbean. Established in 1993 by formal agreement between the governments of Jamaica and the United States of America The Environmental Foundation of Jamaica is an independent Foundation which uses the proceeds from a creative debt-swap arrangement to promote sustainable development in Jamaica. This is done mainly through support to projects which address issues of the Environment and Child Survival and Development. Organizations of civil society with mandates in the targeted areas of environment and children are eligible for support. The CHM in accordance with Article 18 (3), has been set up to promote and facilitate technical and scientific cooperation in support of the CBD and its three objectives: 1). the conservation of biological diversity, 2). the sustainable use of its components, and 3). the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources. The Jamaica Conservation and Development Trust (JCDT) promotes environmental conservation and sustainable development, with particular emphasis on the Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, for the benefit of Jamaica and our people. The Jamaica Environment Trust is a non-profit, non-governmental membership organization operating in the island of Jamaica. We were formed in 1991 and our main focus is environmental education and advocacy. he Jamaica Sustainable Development Network Ltd, is a not for profit, non governmental organization which had it beginnings as an initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It is part of a global programme developed in response to Agenda 21, which articulated the need for improved information dissemination to support sustainable development. After five years as a UNDP programme (1998-2002), the Network was registered under The Companies Act of Jamaica. The programme is geared towards facilitating communication between users and suppliers of sustainable development information in developing countries. n collaboration with three other Caribbean organisations, the Strengthening of the Caribbean ICT stakeholders Virtual Community - CIVIC- is a regional mechanism to promote and support the use of ICT for development in the Caribbean. The project involves moderated online discussions on topics of relevance to ICTs for development in the region, the extension of membership to more French and Spanish speaking countries and the establishment of a database of ICT initiatives, resources, skills and funding available in the region. This Clearinghouse provides content related to the use of Information and Communication Technologies for Development (ICT4D) and ICT related policies, initiatives, skills, resources and opportunities which exist within the Caribbean. The term 'Caribbean' refers to the following countries :- Antigua, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Guyana, Jamaica, Montserrat, Trinidad & Tobago, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Lucia, St Kitts Nevis, Suriname, Grenada, Bahamas, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, USVI, Netherlands Antilles, Martinique, Guadeloupe, French Guyana, Puerto Rico, Montserrat. The mission of NEST is to assist NGOs to devise and implement solutions to environmental problems, through the provision of technical and organizational services Sustainable Ecosystems Institute (SEI) is an organization of dedicated and ethical scientists committed to using their technical expertise to help solve ecological issues. SEI is out on the front lines in environmental conflicts and crises, acting as a catalyst to mobilize scientific and educational talents and apply them to real world issues. Coral reefs are found off all five main islands in the Netherlands Antilles. In fact, all five islands boast marine parks that encompass a significant fraction of those coral reefs. But recent events, including major groundings by a rice freighter and cruise ships in the last three years, coastal development and dredging, wastewater pollution, and increasing incidence of disease, highlight the need for nationwide government coordination and protection of these coral reefs. As the global deterioration of coral reefs is brought closer to home by recent news of the death of some of the reefs off Belize and elsewhere, due to bleaching, the need for a national initiative in line with international efforts is ever more apparent. On the six islands of the Dutch Caribbean, Aruba, Bonaire, Curaçao, Saba, St Eustatius and St Maarten, dedicated conservationists from many organisations are working hard to safeguard varied wildlife and habitats, both on the land and at sea. The Environmental Committee aspires to strengthen environmental protection in Nicaragua by working in solidarity with Nicaraguan non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and popular organizations The Institute for Tropical Ecology and Conservation (ITEC) is a non-profit 501c3), education, research and conservation corporation, and operates the Bocas del Toro Biological Station in Panama The Trust is not only the longest serving environmental and heritage membership organisation on the island, but also the only membership organisation with a legal mandate to conserve both the natural and cultural heritage of Saint Lucia. The Nature Foundation of Sint Maarten was established in January 1997. Its primary concern is to protect nature, while in the process strengthening its economical and educational value, and potential of its natural resources. This will be done through proper management, education, awareness and protection. The Nature Foundation of Sint Maarten would like to acquire a long-term management agreement to protect the environment in Sint Maarten in a durable manner. This site will give you information about the possibilities for tropical marine science studies at CARMABI in Curacao, about the possibilities for conducting research at the CARMABI biological research station and the various areas in which foundation is active. Protecting the Caribbean environment through research and community-based action The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago ratified its membership to the Convention on Biological Diversity on August 1, 1996, which was signed during the “Earth Summit” in Rio de Janeiro in June 1992. The Convention on Biological Diversity is the framework within which countries, signatory to this agreement, can develop mechanisms to combat the crisis posed by the increasing rate of extinction of the world’s plant and animal species, as well as the loss of ecosystems. To conduct fundamental and applied research in marine affairs to ensure the sustainable use of the natural resources of Trinidad and Tobago; to make the results of such research available to the Government for the formulation of coherent and consistent policies in the conservation and management of the country’s marine and related resources; and to respond to general needs for information and collaboration with all sectors of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. The UK Overseas Territories Conservation Forum (UKOTCF) exists to promote the coordinated conservation of the diverse and increasingly threatened plant and animal species and natural habitats of the UK Territories Overseas. It aims to do this by providing assistance in the form of expertise, information and liaison between non-governmental organisations and governments, both in the UK and in the Territories themselves Global Water Partnership - Caribbean (GWP-C) is a working partnership among all stakeholders in water management within the Caribbean that was formally launched in June 2004 in Tobago. In conjunction with GWP, the GWP-C aims to achieve an integrated approach to water resource management at community, national and regional levels by supporting sustainable partnerships of stakeholders, strategic alliances and the implementation of appropriate action at relevant levels. The Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA) is a specialized agency of the Inter-American System, and its purposes are to encourage and support the efforts of its Member States to achieve agricultural development and well-being for rural populations. A long-standing initiative of the Latin American countries, the Inter-American Development Bank was established in 1959 as a multilateral finance institution for the development of the region. Its loans and grants help finance sustainable economic and social development projects and support strategies to reduce poverty, expand growth, increase trade, investment and regional integration, and promote private sector development and modernization of the State. CDB intends to be the leading catalyst for development resources into the Region, working in an efficient, responsive and collaborative manner with our BMCs and other development partners, towards the systematic reduction of poverty in their countries through social and economic development he Caribbean Water and Wastewater Association (CWWA) is an off-shoot from the Annual Caribbean Water Engineers Conference first held in the sixties at the University of West Indies (St Augustine Campus) and later on a biennial basis with rotational hosting. The Convention Establishing the Association of Caribbean States (ACS) was signed on 24 July 1994 in Cartagena de Indias, Colombia, with the aim of promoting consultation, cooperation and concerted action among all the countries of the Caribbean, comprising 25 Member States and three Associate Members. Eight other non-independent Caribbean countries are eligible for associate membership. This interdisciplinary group draws together research on Latin America at ODI and is a first point of call for anyone interested in ODI's Latin America oriented work. We hope that it will also amplify lessons from other regions that could be useful in Latin America (and vice versa). LACG organises or supports private and public events on development issues both in the UK as well as in Latin America with the main the objective to share knowledge and experiences. The Latin American Network Information Center (LANIC) is affiliated with the Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies (LLILAS) at the University of Texas at Austin. LANIC has received funding from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, the Ford Foundation, and UT Austin's College of Liberal Arts. LANIC is a key component of the International Information Systems, also based at UT Austin. LANIC's mission is to facilitate access to Internet-based information to, from, or on Latin America. Our target audience includes people living in Latin America, as well as those around the world who have an interest in this region. While many of our resources are designed to facilitate research and academic endeavors, our site has also become an important gateway to Latin America for primary and secondary school teachers and students, private and public sector professionals, and just about anyone looking for information about this important region. The Caribbean Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) was established in 1975 to serve the agricultural research and development needs of the member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). The Caribbean is a high priority for BirdLife. It is home to over 500 species of bird, more than 25% of which are endemic to the region, and 56 are globally threatened. BirdLife's work in the Caribbean focuses on the development of an integrated bird conservation program based firmly on conserving Important Bird Areas and saving globally threatened birds. Grupo Jaragua is a non-govermental, non-profit organization founded in 1987. Its mission is to achieve the effective management of the Dominican Republic's Biodiversity Resources through research and implementation of specific projects to solve local conservation problems. Grupo Jaragua places especial attention to regional development of Protected Areas through participatory processes at the community level, in particular in Jaragua National Park and its surrounding communities. To achieve its mission, Grupo Jaragua works in collaboration with government and non government institutions, as well as grass-roots organizations. Signed by 150 government leaders at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the Convention on Biological Diversity is dedicated to promoting sustainable development. Conceived as a practical tool for translating the principles of Agenda 21 into reality, the Convention recognizes that biological diversity is about more than plants, animals and micro organisms and their ecosystems – it is about people and our need for food security, medicines, fresh air and water, shelter, and a clean and healthy environment in which to live. Haiti Innovation is a 501(c) 3, volunteer organization that helps development organizations in Haiti obtain funding for projects by linking them to our network of aid donors through the world wide web. Haiti Innovation is unique in that it posts projects individually and encourages contributors to donate directly to them, fostering interest and promoting continued involvement. Operation Green Leaves is committed to working at the grass-root level with the Haitian people to help them create a sustainable environment and promote economic development in affected areas of Haiti. The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) came into being on June 18th 1981, when seven Eastern Caribbean countries signed a treaty agreeing to cooperate with each other and promote unity and solidarity among the Members. The Treaty became known as the Treaty of Basseterre, so named in honour of the capital city of St. Kitts and Nevis where it was signed. The OECS is a nine member grouping comprising Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia and St Vincent and the Grenadines. Anguilla and the British Virgin Islands are associate members of the OECS. IWRN Caribbean Node collects information relative to the water resources in Caribbean islands: Antigua & Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica, St Kitts, St Lucia, St Vicent, Trinidad & Tobago It serves to provide up to date information on climate change and other related issues in Saint Lucia as well as at the Regional and Global levels. St. Lucia’s biological resources are part of its capital for development, and the health of the country’s economy, especially in agriculture, tourism, and fisheries, is intimately tied to the health of its environment. These resources also form an intimate part of the country’s natural and cultural heritage. St. Lucia, as all countries of the world, must therefore fashion its own strategy -- reflecting its unique social, economic, and environmental conditions to use sustainably and conserve its biological wealth. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre coordinates the Caribbean region’s response to climate change. Officially opened in August 2005, the Centre is the key node for information on climate change issues and on the region’s response to managing and adapting to climate change in the Caribbean. It is the official repository and clearing house for regional climate change data, providing climate change-related policy advice and guidelines to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Member States through the CARICOM Secretariat. In this role, the Centre is recognised by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and other international agencies as the focal point for climate change issues in the Caribbean. CANARI seeks to create avenues for the equitable participation and effective collaboration of Caribbean communities and institutions in managing the use of natural resources critical to development Island Resources Foundation was founded in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 1972, dedicated to the premise that islands are special places, with particularly fragile environments and exceptionally vulnerable development options. Our primary geographic focus for over three decades has been the insular Caribbean , and our central mission has been to assist small islands to meet the challenges of social, economic and institutional growth while protecting and enhancing their environments. The Foundation has contributed to a considerable body of island-specific information and programs that recognize the uniqueness of island conditions, the vulnerabilities of island environments, and the special qualities of island life. The United Nations Information Centre for the Caribbean Area (UNIC) was established in UNIC's raison d'etre is to promote an increased understanding of the work and purposes of the United Nations System to fourteen English and Dutch speaking countries and territories: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Netherlands Antilles, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and The Grenadines, Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago. A regional search engine for Central America and the Caribbean. Motor de búsqueda de Centroamérica. Buscador de Centroamérica. El Centro Regional de Información sobre Desastres (CRID) es una iniciativa patrocinada por seis organizaciones que decidieron mancomunar esfuerzos para asegurar la recopilación y diseminación de información disponible sobre el tema de desastres en América Latina y el Caribe. La Red CANDHI es una iniciativa de la región Centroamericana que intenta reducir la ocurrencia e impacto de desastres mediante la libre diseminación de información sobre como prevenir y responder a situaciones de emergencias y desastres, salud pública, temas de desarrollo sostenible y otras áreas del saber que juegan un papel en los procesos de gestión de desastres y emergencias. Nuestra Red es un esfuerzo colaborativo de centros de información que recopilan, organizan y diseminan información sobre desastres y salud. The Biodiversity & Environmental Resource Data System of Belize (BERDS) is a community-driven biodiversity and environmental data warehouse and research tool set. Este es un Proyecto de la Organización de Naciones Unidas para la Agricultura y la Alimentación (FAO), que cuenta con financiación del Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agraria y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA) de España y que está siendo implementado en Honduras por el Servicio de Fomento de la Investigación y la Tecnología de FAO (SDRR) en apoyo del Programa Especial de Seguridad Alimentaria (PESA) y en colaboración con la Secretaría de Agricultura y Ganadería (SAG) EL PROGRAMA CONJUNTO DE LAS NACIONES UNIDAS SOBRE EL VIH/SIDA (ONUSIDA) es el principal impulsor de una acción mundial acelerada, integral y coordinada contra la epidemia. Actualmente reúne los esfuerzos y recursos de 10 organizaciones del sistema: UNICEF, PMA, PNUD, UNFPA, ONUDD, OIT, UNESCO, OPS, UNHCR y Banco Mundial. Uno de los componentes más importantes del SIDALC es el documental, el cual se incorpora mediante el desarrollo de una metabase de datos agrícola denominada Agri2000, bajo la responsabilidad de la Biblioteca Conmemorativa Orton (IICA/CATIE); además de esto, el sistema considera otros recursos no documentales que se integren producto de los diferentes servicios y sistemas de información agropecuarios en los ámbitos nacional, regional y hemisférico. Estos serán la base fundamental del Localizador de Información Agrícola que sumado a Agri2000 conformarán la Biblioteca Virtual Agropecuaria. Trinidad and Tobago has a high abundance and variety of biological resources due to its location, size and geological relationship with the South American continent. Historically the people of Trinidad and Tobago have strong linkages to the biological resources of the country, mainly through agriculture, fishing, recreation, tourism and culture. The successful implementation of the objectives of the Convention therefore requires the active involvement of all stakeholders. he 'Action Plan' is a blueprint for conservation and is the result of a three year initiative in which people from a wide range of backgrounds have come together to exchange conservation ideas with the common goal of protecting our natural heritage. This 5-year plan provides a framework for focussing resources and addresses the most pressing conservation issues facing Bermuda's biodiversity, by setting out clearly defined, realistic targets, as well as a series of prioritised and practical approaches for achieving these. Revista mensual de análisis de Nicaragua y Centroamérica La Comisión Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarrollo (CCAD) es el órgano del Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA), responsable de la agenda ambiental regional. Su objetivo principal consiste en "contribuir al desarrollo sostenible de la región centroamericana, fortaleciendo el régimen de cooperación e integración para la gestión ambiental". Enfocada en siete países, la representación regional ofrece visión y sólida proyección. Los temas actuales de conservación son complejos y requieren una amplia variedad de enfoques y de soluciones integrales. En nuestro programa enfrentamos una variedad de temas sobre la riqueza de ecosistemas del país proponiendo acciones en diversos frentes y escalas e incorporando a todos los sectores de la sociedad para enfrentar las causas subyacentes de la pérdida de biodiversidad. WWF Colombia es una organización conservacionista de carácter internacional que inició sus labores en Colombia desde 1964 a través de acciones de conservación en proyectos puntuales en algunas regiones del país. La Comisión Centroamericana de Transporte Marítimo (COCATRAM) es un organismo que forma parte del Sistema de la Integración Centroamericana (SICA), de carácter permanente, cuya función es la de promover el desarrollo del subsector marítimo y portuario de Centroamérica, con la finalidad de fortalecer, facilitar e impulsar el comercio exterior de la región. Este programa de monitoreo oceánico interinstitucional (CICESE, UABC, CICIMAR, CRIP-INP, CIBNOR, INE, UNAM, ITMAR y CETMAR) desarrolla investigación oceanográfica en el sector Sur de la Corriente de California, que incluye un plan de colectas oceánicas frente a Baja California y el monitoreo contínuo de estaciones costeras. Belize Tropical Forest Studies (BTFS) has conducted considerable research in this area. Research has taken the form of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), Rapid Environmental Assessments (REA) or similar (see Projects). Clients include developers, conservation organizations, government, funding agencies and others. Our research covers numerous areas associated with terrestrial biodiversity and the results provide an overall view of our activities in Belize. EARTH, located in Guácimo, Limón, Costa Rica is a private, international, non-profit university dedicated to education in the agricultural sciences and natural resources in order to contribute to sustainable development in the tropics by seeking a balance between agricultural production and environmental preservation. Water Center for the Humid Tropics of Latin America and the Caribbean (CATHALAC) The state of our planet's environment at any given instant is defined by a global system made up of many interacting components that are constantly changing. Some changes take place over days, months or years, others on time scales of centuries and eons. Some occur over small areas of the earth's surface, while others affect large regions or the whole planet. The Cropper Foundation is a not-for-profit philanthropic organisation committed to Caribbean development across a range of disciplines and sectors. A family foundation of modest resources, the Foundation seeks to catalyse activities in its various programmes by bringing together other like-minded individuals and organisations to work towards common objectives that contribute to the public good.