By Robert Andre Emmanuel
Antigua and Barbuda is taking steps to align its national biodiversity strategy with new global frameworks, amidst growing concerns about rapid development and its impact on local ecosystems.
The Global Biodiversity Framework Early Action Support (GBF EAS) Project, implemented by the UNDP in partnership with the government of Antigua and Barbuda, spearheaded this effort through a series of stakeholder meetings last week.
According to the UNDP website, the GBF-EAS project provides financial and technical support to help countries align their National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
Helena Jeffrey Brown, Technical Coordinator at the Department of the Environment, emphasized the urgency of the project. “If we continue business as usual, we stand to lose [several] species,” Brown stated, highlighting the particular vulnerability of small island developing states to biodiversity loss.
The meetings, which took place at various locations including the Barbuda Fisheries Complex, the primary schools in Bolans and Parham, and the Department of the Environment, brought together a diverse group of stakeholders.
Participants included NGOs such as BarbudanGO, GoodHumans268, and the Antigua and Barbuda Association of Persons with Disabilities, as well as local environmentalists and community members.
Observer media sat through two meetings, one in Barbuda and the other at the Department of the Environment to hear some of the concerns raised.
Key concerns during the meetings included the rapid pace of development, particularly its impact on coastal and wetland areas, the disconnect between existing conservation plans and their implementation by government agencies, and the need to integrate traditional knowledge with modern scientific approaches, particularly engaging the younger generation in the importance of biodiversity conservation.
Brown also highlighted the participatory nature of the process by sharing, “Throughout the whole process, we tried to engage as many active stakeholders as possible.”
Ambar Espaillat, Environmental and Sustainability Consultant with UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, engaged participants about their perspective of the nation’s sustainability action plans.
Participants also stressed the need for long-term thinking in conservation efforts and the importance of improved data collection and monitoring, as well as education and awareness-raising about the value of biodiversity.
The impact of climate change on local ecosystems was another significant concern, with participants noting record-breaking temperatures in recent years.
The project aims to submit an updated national biodiversity document by November, with a draft to be published for public feedback in December.
Capacity-building workshops are planned for February 2025, followed by completion of the action plan in March 2025.
