Overview of the
LBS Protocol
Background
The Cartagena Convention is a legally binding, regional agreement for the protection and
development of the Wider Caribbean Region. It was developed by the countries of the Wider
Caribbean and is the only legally binding agreement for the protection of the Caribbean Sea.
The Convention was adopted in 1983 and entered into force in 1986. A total of 25 countries have
ratified the Convention.
The Convention focuses on land-based sources of pollution, dumping of wastes at sea, pollution
from ships, biodiversity protection, and airborne pollution among other things. To deal
comprehensively with these issues, three protocols have been developed: the Oil Spills; the
Specially Protected Areas & Wildlife (SPAW); and the Protocol Concerning Pollution from
Land-Based Sources and Activities (or LBS Protocol).
The LBS Protocol is a set of procedures developed to respond to the need to protect the marine
environment and human health from land-based point and non-point sources of marine
pollution.
After years of negotiations, the Contracting Parties adopted the LBS Protocol to the Cartagena
Convention in Oranjestad, Aruba, on 6 October 1999. 16 Contracting Parties to the Cartagena
Convention signed the Final Act of the LBS Protocol. The Protocol entered into force on 13
August 2010.
The Contracting Parties developed the Protocol through several technical meetings of experts
and negotiations beginning in 1992. The Protocol, as adopted, is perhaps the most significant
agreement of its kind with the inclusion of regional effluent limitations for domestic wastewater
(sewage) and requiring specific plans to address agricultural non-point sources of pollution.
Specific schedules for implementation have also been included in the Protocol. In addition, the
LBS Protocol sets the stage for the development and adoption of future annexes to address other
priority sources and activities of pollution.
The main text of the Protocol sets forward general obligations and a legal framework for
regional co-operation. It provides a list of priority source categories, activities and associated
pollutants of concern. These priority sources are further defined in a series of technical or
“operative” Annexes. These Annexes describe the work that each Contracting Party must comply
with, as well as to give direction to the development of regional actions. Annex I establishes a list
of land-based sources and activities and their associated contaminants of greatest concern to the
marine environment of the Wider Caribbean. Annex II outlines and establishes the process for
developing regional standards and practices for the prevention, reduction, and control of the
sources and activities identified in Annex I. Annex III establishes specific regional effluent
limitations for domestic sewage and Annex IV requires each Contracting Party to develop plans,
programmes and other measures for the prevention, reduction and control of agricultural nonpoint sources, respectively. The implementation of the Protocol and the development of future
source-specific annexes will be determined by the Contracting Parties with assistance from a
Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee.
Why Do We Need a Protocol?
The Caribbean Sea is an important natural resource for tourism, fisheries and general
recreation. The associated coastal and marine ecosystems are extremely fragile and vulnerable
to human activities, especially those that take place on land. Regional and national actions are
urgently needed to protect these vital marine resources and overall public health in the countries
of the Wider Caribbean region.
The main sources of point or direct sources of pollution to the Caribbean Sea are:
• Domestic Sewage
• Oil refineries
• Sugar factories and distilleries
• Food processing
• Beverage manufacturing
• Pulp and paper manufacturing
• Chemical industries
However the single largest point source category of pollution is domestic sewage and the main
non-point source of pollution is run-off from the land.
The LBS Protocol provides the framework for addressing pollution based on national and
regional needs and priorities. It focuses on addressing the sources of pollution and
includes the promotion of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), application of the most
appropriate technologies and best management practices. It promotes the establishment of
pollution standards and schedules for implementation.
Compliance with the Protocol
Facilities and communities in each country must comply with the provisions of the Protocol on a
phased basis after the Protocol enters into force for a country. The following will apply:
Years after
entry into
force
0
10
20
Effluent Sources required to comply with standards
All new domestic wastewater systems – public and private
Existing domestic wastewater systems other than community
wastewater systems
All communities except those relying exclusively on household (e.g.
septic tanks) systems
Some Actions Recommended Under the LBS Protocol
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Classify recreational water bodies at the national level to ensure that the most important
areas are protected from the negative impacts of pollution1
Establish legally binding standards for sewage effluent and discharges2
Develop a National Programme of Action for Integrated Watershed and Coastal Area
Management and/or prevention of pollution from land based sources and activities3
Conduct training in wastewater treatment4
Identify and assess major sources and activities contributing to pollution of the marine
environment5; and
Develop management plans and demonstration projects to reduce pollution of the
marine environment6
What will implementing the LBS Protocol achieve for individual countries?
The importance of recreational water quality to the region’s continued economic/tourism
development and human health protection and the concern of declining coastal water quality
from the impacts of pollution are well recognized. In this context, implementing the LBS
Protocol will lead to:
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Achievement of sustainable development of the marine and coastal resources of the
Wider Caribbean Region;
More integrated and effective management of natural resources that allows for increased
economic development, especially in the areas of tourism and fisheries;
Strengthened legal and regulatory capacities of national agencies; and
A more integrated approach to national development planning
National-level benefits
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1
Improved access to funding
Strengthened national and regional partnerships
Increased technical support
Improved coastal management
Expanded environmental monitoring programmes
Sustainable Agriculture
Sewage Treatment
Restoration of Contaminated Areas/Bays
Effluent limitations are based on the various Classes of waters; Class 1 and Class 2 waters will be designated by
each country depending on individual local circumstances, including the risk of discharges to human health and
sensitive marine ecosystems in those waters; Class 1 is considered the more sensitive.
2
Standards have been proposed in the LBS Protocol
3
Support to develop such programmes can be provided through UNEP, CEHI, and the GEF-IWCAM project;
4
Training has been offered and implemented by CEHI, UNEP and PAHO
5
A Hot Spot Diagnostic Assessment has identified sensitive areas and previous assessments conducted for the GEFIWCAM Project (ref. www.iwcam.org) have identified sources and activities contributing to pollution of the marine
environment in Caribbean SIDS
6
Support to develop such programmes can be provided through UNEP, CEHI, and the GEF-IWCAM project
Regional-level benefits
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Improved access to financing
Greater environmental awareness and cooperation
Exchange of information
Sharing of technical expertise
Facilitation of monitoring
Management of transboundary pollutants
Main constraints to LBS Protocol Implementation in the Wider Caribbean Region;
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Lack of government coordination;
Lack of policies, legislation and regulations on pollution prevention, reduction and
control;
Overwhelming responsibilities of government environmental departments and agencies;
Financing of sewerage infrastructural work;
The fact that the Protocol is inter-sectoral and as a result the responsibility for
implementation lies with a number of agencies, governmental and non-governmental;
Inadequate water quality data and lack of adequate recreational monitoring
programmes;
Recommended Next Steps towards signing the LBS Protocol
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Establish National Inter-sectoral Committee to advise on the process for accession;
Sensitize Cabinet to pollution-related issues at the national level;
Prepare formal Cabinet proposal on accession to the Protocol;
Appoint, through Cabinet, an Inter-Ministerial Committee to review the proposal;
Prepare TORs for this Committee;
Prepare assessment of country’s capability to meet the Protocol’s requirements;
Identify a local “champion” to personally push the process onwards;
Embark on an awareness-raising campaign in support of the accession to the Protocol;
Undertake an assessment on the status of implementation of the LBS Protocol;
UNEP CAR/RCU as Secretariat for the LBS Protocol will be able to provide technical and
financial assistance in the convening of national promotional workshops on the LBS Protocol
and in the provision of awareness material for dissemination to stakeholders.
The LBS Protocol formally entered into force on 13 August 2010 with the following countries
now being Parties – USA, France, Panama, Trinidad and Tobago, Saint Lucia, Belize, Guyana,
Bahamas and Antigua and Barbuda.