GEF Antigua and Barbuda

PRESS RELEASE
18th January 2008

The Environment Division would like to announce the commencement of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) funded project. This project is the Development and Implementation of a Sustainable Island Resource Management Mechanism in a Small Island Developing State (SIRMM) and the Environment Division is the National Executing Agency. The GEF contribution to the project will be USD 3 million over a period of 4 years.

Antigua and Barbuda supports a range of globally and regionally significant terrestrial marine habitats and species. Several problems including inadequate conservation, planning and management of these important, yet limited, resources has resulted in both a loss of species diversity and degradation of the functionality of the island ecosystems. This project is designed to address such issues on a national level with the full participation and involvement of key stakeholders. The project will also address international issues related to the country’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

The project will provide the catalyst for Antigua and Barbuda to evolve and implement a Sustainable Island Resource Management approach to stabilize and maintain ecosystem functions. The overall goal of the project is to ensure the sustainability and maintenance of island ecosystem integrity, health, and function through integrated planning and management of island resources, thereby providing a basis for continued sustainable economic development.

The project will aim to achieve its goal and objective through four main outcomes.
? Easy and reliable access to information for environmental management by all stakeholders through an Environment Information Management Advisory System
? A Sustainable Island Resource Management Plan
? Realignment of policy, legislation, and institutional capacity to support the SIRM plan
? Implementation of the SIRM Strategic Plan, including four on-the-ground demonstration projects

Stakeholders who are interested in learning more about this project, please contact the Environment Division for more information via email, phone or fax at:
Email: sirmmab@gmail.com
Tel: (268) 562 2568
Fax: (268) 462 6265