|
|
|
|
Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
Minister Ken Dorsett addressing the participants of the Sustainable Finance Workshop (BIS Photo / Raymond Bethel).
|
Nassau, The
Bahamas -- Minister of the Environment and Housing, the Hon. Kendred
Dorsett, addressed a Finance Workshop, September 19, aimed at developing
sustainable finance mechanisms for protected areas in The Bahamas. Held
at the Nature Conservancy on Thompson Boulevard, the effort is a
collaboration of the United Nations Environment Programme, Caribbean
office (UNEP/CAR), the Italian Government, the MacArthur Foundation, and
the Nature Conservancy.
"The
Bahamas Government was pleased to have been responsible for officially
launching the Caribbean Challenge Initiative at a High Level Event
during the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 9
th
Conference of the Parties in Bonn, Germany in 2008.
We are further pleased to note that since its launch, the Caribbean
Challenge Initiative has grown to include nine other Caribbean countries
and territories.
The Bahamas Government intends to continue to provide strong leadership
support for the Caribbean Challenge Initiative and is fully committed
to its success," said Minister Dorsett.
"The
Government, through the Caribbean Challenge, has committed to
protecting 20 percent of the near shore marine environment of The
Bahamas by 2020.
The Government is also committed to other components of The Challenge,
which include development and implementation of ecosystem based projects
aimed at adaptation to climate change and development of sustainable
finance mechanisms to provide sustainable funding to protected areas."
Minister
Dorsett said the government is working to achieve its “20 by 20” goal,
which means they aim to have 20 percent Marine Protected Environments in
The Bahamas by the year 2020.
The plan includes declaring new parks and expanding some existing parks.
However, he said that effective protection of natural resources
requires putting measures in place to properly manage them, as well as
be certain they are properly resourced financially and with manpower.
“The
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) has identified that
globally protected areas financing needs to be improved, at both site
and system level, and that developing long-term financing systems is a
key element for protected areas’ sustainability.
Sustainable finance refers to a steady and appropriate flow of
financial resources that will ensure that the full costs of a protected
area system are met, both now and into the future,” said Minister
Dorsett.
“I
am advised that a recently completed Convention on Biological Diversity
(CBD) study demonstrated that the Caribbean is leading the world in
sustainable finance planning and implementation for national systems of
protected areas.
The establishment of the Caribbean Biodiversity Fund (CBF), an
eight-country regional endowment fund, a few weeks ago is a testament to
this.
I want to publicly thank the Nature Conservancy, KFW – The German
Development Bank, the Global Environment Facility, UNEP, and partners
who have worked diligently over the past years to make the Caribbean
Diversity Fund a reality.”
Minister
Dorsett mentioned the creation of the Bahamas Protected Area Fund by
both governmental and non-governmental partners and its draft
legislation, which would be a discussion during the workshop.
“Although
the BPAF is designed to be the centrepiece of our local pool of
sustainable finance options for our national protected area systems, the
BPAF has to be supported by other financing options.
For example, the Sustainable Finance Plan for the Bahamas Protected
Area System identified an immediate shortfall of at least $7 million per
year to adequately finance our existing Protected Area system.
Furthermore, as the CBF is being established as an incentive fund, we
are aware that The Bahamas must create a sustainable finance mechanism
that generates match to CBF proceeds by the third year of receiving
funds from the CBF,” said Minister Dorsett.
“Sustainability
of our protected areas is not only dependent on a steady and reliable
cash flow but also depends on collaboration and cooperation among the
various organisations that have protected area management as a part of
their portfolio.
Partnerships and good communication among you will develop new
synergies, improve financial planning and hopefully lead to more
effective management of our national protected area system.”
Minister
Dorsett reminded the audience of their commitment to conservation
through solid partnerships and pooling resources to advance protected
area systems and in demonstrating effective management at all layers
within the system.
© Copyright 2012 by thebahamasweekly.com
Top of Page
|
|
|
|
