By Admin. Updated 1:29 p.m., Thursday, April 3, 2025, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
The Sustainable Development Unit in the Ministry of Tourism, Civil Aviation, Sustainable Development, and Culture has collaborated with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to create a series of biodiversity-focused activities under the Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support Project (GBF EAS Project).
Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), the initiative, which took place from March 18-20, aimed to help nations update their biodiversity strategies following the landmark 2022 GBF agreement in Montreal, which set ambitious targets to halt nature loss by 2030.
For St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), the project will support the revision of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP) to meet these global goals.
Expected outcomes include new national biodiversity targets, along with action plans for enhanced monitoring systems, stronger policy alignment, and innovative financing mechanisms to sustain biodiversity efforts. The work comes as small island states like SVG increasingly highlight their role in global conservation, balancing ecological preservation with economic needs.
Project consultants and some members of the project steering committee toured critical biodiversity hotspots and held consultations with stakeholders from government, civil society, and local communities.
The field visits highlighted pressing challenges such as habitat degradation and resource overuse while showcasing the resilience of SVG’s ecosystems. These visits provided participants with opportunities to engage with local stewards and resource users, offering firsthand insights into the real-world stakes of biodiversity loss.
The mission also included a consultation workshop in Kingstown, where technical experts, sectoral representatives, and civil society members identified priorities for safeguarding nature and fostering sustainable development. The session focused on implementation, from setting measurable goals to securing funds in keeping with the GBFās call for actionable, well-financed plans.
Over the next few months, the project will open more avenues for public input, allowing Vincentians to shape how the country protects its natural wealth. With the GBFās 2030 deadline looming, this project could serve as a blueprint for how small island developing states can leverage global frameworks to protect nature while sustaining local livelihoods.
SVGās efforts reflect a growing trend among GBF signatories to localize global commitments. The UNDP Multi-Country Office for Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean is supporting six other countries in the region in undertaking similar activities.
The information was sourced from a press release sent to us by the United Nations Environment Programme.
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