GEF Antigua and Barbuda

Demonstrating the development and implementation of a sustainable island resource management mechanism in a small island developing state.

The project will play a catalytic role in developing and implementing a comprehensive cross-sectoral ecosystem approach, a strategy for Sustainable Island Resource Management (SIRM), that provides for ecosystem functionality and biodiversity conservation within a landscape that enhances sustainable livelihood options and opportunities for sustained economic development. The initiative will strengthen capacities at the systemic, institutional and individual level to enable the implementation of innovative approaches to sustainable land management and resource use among key stakeholder groups. Enhanced partnerships between the private and public sectors will optimize integrated land and water management practices in the country and especially in four demonstration projects, covering an area of 11.274 ha, with the aim of enhancing and generating global benefits for biodiversity. Given that an island represents a single landscape unit, cross-focal synergies will be capitalized. The GEF incremental contribution to this Project will assist Antigua and Barbuda to i) Set up an Environmental Information Management and Advisory System that directly addresses cross-sectoral integration, planning, decision-making and awareness; ii) Develop a Strategic SIRM Implementation Plan; iii) Realign and strengthen policy, legislation and institutional capacity to support the SIRM Strategy; and, iv) Implement the SIRM approach through operational application and by the use of selected on-the-ground demonstrations at targeted hotspot areas. This a four year Project requiring approximately $3 million of incremental assistance from GEF.