GEF-IWCAM AND IABIN INDICATORS MECHANISM WORKSHOP
10 - 12 March 2008
Ocho Rios, Jamaica

Caribbean Decision-Support System
3 years (2003-2006) $2.2 million
24 Terrestrial / 9 Marine ecoregions
Realm Integration: Terrestrial,
Freshwater, Marine
PRODUCTS
•Seamless database of conservation habitats, protected areas, and human activities
• Methods and tools for assessing goals, threats, gaps, and sustainability
• Identification of most persistent and viable areas of biodiversity (portfolio)
• Partnerships at regional and local levels
Scope: 28 countries/12 TNC Operating Units

BASIN-WIDE
Multi-Scale Analysis
ECOREGIONAL
NATIONAL SITE-LOCAL

Geodatabases
Bathymetry
Climate
(with FGDC metadata)
Freshwater features
• Caribbean Region
• Lesser Antilles
• Puerto Rico
• Dominican Republic
• Bahamas
• Jamaica
• St. Vincent & the
Grenadines
• Grenada
• Haiti
Geology
Imagery
Infrastructure
Land cover
Marine Features
Models
Political
Protected Areas
Socioeconomic
Soils
Targets (Terrestrial, Freshwater, Marine)
Terrestrial Features
Topography
Topo Maps

CDSS Tools: Environmental Risk Surface (ERS) Module
Risk Elements
Urbanization
Agriculture
Roads
Measured by
Impervious surfaces and population density
% of coverage/cultivation practices
Type, density, length
Industrial areas
Tourism
Landfills/Dumps
Type and density
Intensity
Type and Volume
Anchorage/Ports Type and intensity
Fishing Practices Type and intensity
Dams Dam type: flood control, water supply, hydropower

• Bahamas
• Jamaica
• Lesser Antilles: BVI, USVI, Grenada and
SVG
• Dominican Republic

TNC Northern Caribbean Programme has been working with partners to accomplish the following:
• Expand the current west side of Andros Island marine protected area (MPA).
• Establish a network of no-take marine reserves in
Abaco, South Eleuthera, Exuma, Bimini and the
Berry Islands.

West side of Andros MPA
Activities completed include:
• Conservation Area
Assessment,
• Rapid Ecological
Assessment (REA) and,
• Stakeholder’s Assessment
NB: Outlined in green are the proposed areas to be included in the west side protected area system

Establishment of Marine Reserves
Activities currently being done include:
• Conducting surveys to determine the health status of the proposed marine reserve areas
• Conducting stakeholder consultations and,
• Defining the boundaries for each marine reserve area.
NB: The 5 marine reserves are highlighted in dark blue

• Marine ERA and national gap analysis identifying major gaps for marine biodiversity conservation
• Demonstration site– Pedro Bank,
Jamaica’s largest fishing ground and important offshore area for marine biodiversity

Project activities completed and underway….
1.
Field research and monitoring (biodiversity, fisheries) for
Management Plan.
2.
Partnership development and active engagement of Pedro Bank fishing community and other key stakeholders
3.
Public awareness and outreach – project website and newsletter http://conserveonline.org/workspaces/pedro.bank.workspace
4. Construction of a base-of-operations and research station on-site to support field research and conservation management

Designing for the Future
Ambitious Goals – The BVI
Approach to Networks

To protect 30% of 6 important nearshore biological habitats in no take areas across the BVI
.

• Mapping out occurrences of Acropora Palmata
• Supporting the Management of the East End
Marine Park in St. Croix

TNC Marine Work: Dominican Republic

Assessing Effective Conservation in MPAs
Mitigate Threats
Implement Mngmt Plan
Implement Mngmt Plan
Improve Biodiversity
Implement Mngmt Plan Threats
Status
Biodiversity
Status
Mngmt
Status
Mitigate Threats
Improve Biodiversity
Mitigate Threats
Improve Biodiversity

• On-going verification of coarse-filter habitat maps and collection of fine-filter species data
• Improve threat models based on scientific review (fishing models, tourism footprint, climate change, etc)
• Expansion of regional delivery and stewardship of CDSS data and tools (database needs updating, fill gaps, revisions)
• Build staff and partner capacity through training and dissemination of knowledge
• Questions? Email sschill@tnc.org