UNITED


NATIONS


Third Meeting of the Interim Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee (ISTAC) to the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities in the Wider Caribbean Region (LBS)

Mexico City, Mexico, 22 - 26 August, 2005

STATUS OF ACTIVITIES

SUB-PROGRAMME ON THE

ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION

IN SUPPORT OF

THE PROTOCOL CONCERNING LAND-BASED SOURCES

OF MARINE POLLUTION

FOR

2004-2005

TABLE OF CONTENTS

STATUS OF ACTIVITIES ………………………………………………………….1

Introduction and Background …………………………………………...……………1

Programme Coordination …………………………………………….……………..1

(a)Status of the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and
Activities (LBS) Protocol ………………………………………………………5

(b)Reducing Pesticide Run-off to the Caribbean Sea ………………………………...5

(c)Planning for Rehabilitation, Environmental Management and Coastal
Development in Nicaragua, Honduras and Guatemala in the Wake of
Hurricane Mitch …………….……………………………………………….7

(d)Integrating Management of Watersheds and Coastal Areas in Small Island
Developing States …………………………………………………………….9

(e)Training for Rehabilitation of Contaminated Bays ………………………………..11

(f)Second Regional Overview of Land-based Sources and Activities in the Wider
Caribbean Region ……………………………………………………………13

(g)Evaluate Needs Assessment Guidance to Develop National Plans for Domestic
Waste Water Pollution Reduction through Implementation of Sewerage Needs
Assessment Pilot Projects in the Wider Caribbean and Effective Dissemination
of the Guidance Document ……………………………………………………14

(h)Pilot Projects to Implement Annex IV – Small Grants for Best Management
Practices for Agriculture ………………………………………………………16

(i)Development of National Programmes of Action (NPAs) Demonstration Projects ……17

(j)Integrated Watershed Management Plan for the Rio Manzanares, Sucre Estate,
Venezuela …………………………………………………………………..18

(k)Clearinghouse Node for Pollution from Land-based Activities (CEPNET Project) ……19

(l)Joint Regional Project to Assist Governments of the Wider Caribbean Region
in Classifying their Waters so as to Facilitate the Implementation of the LBS
Protocol (IMA) ………………………………………………………………20

(m)Joint Regional Project for the Development of Safe Recreational Water
Environments in the Wider Caribbean Region (IMA) …………………………….22

UNEP(DEC)/CAR WG.28/INF.3

Page 1

STATUS OF ACTIVITIES

Introduction and Background

  1. This report has been prepared by the Secretariat of the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) UNEP's Regional Co-ordinating Unit for the Caribbean (UNEP-CAR/RCU) to present the status of activities for the regional sub-programme on the Assessment and Management of Environmental Pollution (AMEP) in support of the Protocol Concerning Land-Based Sources of Marine Pollution (LBS Protocol) for the biennium 2004-2005.
  2. This document is presented to the Third Meeting of the Interim Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee (ISTAC) to the LBS Protocol. Countries participating in the projects and activities contained herein are invited to expand on this report and comment on their implementation of CEP activities to clarify any points made by the Secretariat. The status of the projects and activities presented include relevant activities initiated since the Second Meeting of the ISTAC in 2003.
  3. The AMEP sub-programme is responsible for co-ordinating CEP activities in support of the LBS Protocol to the Cartagena Convention. This sub-programme also assists with the regionalisation of global agreements and initiatives such as Agenda 21, Barbados SIDS POA, Millennium Development Goals (MDG), Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (JPOI), and the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (GPA).

Programme Coordination

  1. Since the adoption of the LBS Protocol, CEP has maintained consistent co-ordination of the AMEP Sub-programme. This consistent co-ordination has allowed the continuity of projects and activities to move ahead from the 2003-2004 biennium into 2004-2005. The Programme Officer (PO) for the AMEP programme was reassigned in May 2003, and a new programme officer was recruited in September 2004. In the interim, a consultant for the AMEP Programme was recruited for a period of six months (July - December 2003) while the recruitment procedure for the new AMEP PO was initiated.
  2. The Associate Programme Officer for AMEP and SPAW completed her assignment in September 2003. A Junior Professional Officer (JPO) recruited in January 2004 was assigned to the LBS/RAC Cimab, following a proposal from the Secretariat to Sida during the biennium. This JPO ended her attachment in June 2005, and Sida have agreed to support another JPO attached to RAC CIMAB for a further two-year period.
  3. The decisions of the Eleventh IGM relevant to the LBS Protocol and the Recommendations of the Second ISTAC are addressed in this section.
  4. Decision I of the Eleventh IGM, endorsed the 2004-2005 workplan and adopted the budget for the same period. As contained in the 2004-2005 workplan, the present meeting is convened as the Third Meeting of the Interim Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee (ISTAC) for the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities.
  5. Decision II of the Eleventh IGM endorsed the framework and the approach proposed by the Secretariat in the Outline of Strategy for the Enhancing of the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP) within the Framework of the Regional Seas Programmes and Sustainable Development for 2005-2009 (UNEP(DEC)/CAR IG.24/3). This framework is being used to guide the future development of the AMEP sub-programme.
  6. Decision IV of the Eleventh IGM endorsed the report of the Second Meeting of the Interim Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee (ISTAC) to the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS) in the Wider Caribbean Region, Managua, Nicaragua, 12-16 May 2003 (UNEP(DEC)/CAR WG.24/6).
  7. Decision VII of the Eleventh IGM extended the mandate of the Open Working Group established at the 11th IGM on the Guidelines for the Operations of the Regional Activity Centres (RACs) and the Regional Activities Networks (RANs) of the Caribbean Environment Programme created at the Eleventh IGM and further urged the host governments and the Secretariat, to finalize the Memorandum of Understanding for the establishment and operations of the Regional Activity Centres. The review of the Guidelines document (UNEP(DEC)/CAR IG.24/INF.7) has been completed.
  8. Following Decision VIII of the Eleventh IGM on the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme, regarding the regional preparations for the Mauritius SIDS Conference held in January 2005, UNEP-CAR/RCU was actively involved in two side events which showcased the Integrated Watershed and Coastal Area Management Project (IWCAM) for Caribbean SIDS and the “White Water to Blue Water” partnership initiative.
  9. Since the adoption of the Protocol, and in accordance with Decision IX of the Eleventh IGM,the Secretariat has continued to strengthen its communications with national and technical Focal Points, and has been encouraging governments to maintain regular communication with the Secretariat, in order to develop an active and open exchange of information. The Secretariat has also continued its efforts to encourage greater involvement and participation in the development of the work programme and the implementation of the CEP. Efforts are ongoing to strengthen collaborative relationships with regional agencies and other convention secretariats to enable more effective implementation of the CEP. In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding with the Environment and Sustainable Development Unit of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS/ESDU) was developed and is under consideration.
  10. Recommendation III of the Second ISTAC supported the work of the Secretariat with WW2BW to develop new partnership opportunities, and these new initiatives are reflected in the proposed 2006/2007 work programme. UNEP CAR/RCU was also part of a side event featuringWW2BW at the Mauritius conference and showcased the development of the WW2BW web site.
  11. Decision X of the Eleventh IGM, requested that the Secretariat further explore, in collaboration with the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the RAC/REMPEITC-Carib and other relevant agencies, the development of project proposals and activities to address the problem of Ballast Water Management and the associated threats of invasive species in the Region. Funding has been identified to convene an initial workshop in Venezuela on this issue which is reflected in the 2006/2007 workplan.
  12. Decision XII of the Eleventh IGM requested that the level of cooperation between the Secretariat and the Basel Convention Secretariat be strengthened through the promotion of the signed Memorandum of Understanding and encouraged the Secretariat to continue to cooperate with, as appropriate, ongoing activities by the Basel Convention in the areas of used oil, used lead acid batteries, and in the development of a Regional approach for the integrated management of hazardous wastes and solid wastes in the Caribbean, in support of the Action Plan, the Cartagena Convention and its Protocols, the Basel Convention, and the MARPOL 73/78 Convention. In response to this, a draft project proposal was developed and funding identified to support initial activities. The recommendations from Group C of IMO/UNEP which were endorsed by Recommendation VII of the Second ISTAC Meeting were used to guide the selection of the proposed activities.
  13. Recommendation II of the Second ISTAC Meeting called for closer relationships with the Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) in the development of guidelines on recreational water quality and that the RACs include this in their workplan, building on existing regional initiatives such as the Blue Flag Initiative. This is reflected in the involvement of PAHO in the various workshops convened by the RACs and the Secretariat during the last biennium.
  14. Programme co-ordination in support of the LBS Protocol has included activities to promote ratification of the LBS Protocol as well as to develop and obtain funding for projects to support implementation. In addition, the Secretariat, under direction of the CAR/RCU Coordinator, has continued to encourage governments to ratify the Cartagena Convention and its protocols, including the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities to ensure its entry into force as a matter of urgency. The Second ISTAC Meeting recommended (Recommendation I) that the promotion of the LBS Protocol be developed in the work programme of the CEP, taking advantage of the resources of the two RACs. Several ongoing and proposed activities reflect this particular focus. This included the hosting of a Promotional Workshop for Spanish Speaking Countries in Costa Rica from December 6th to 10th, organized by RAC/CIMAB, and the production of educational LBS brochures by the Secretariat and RAC/CIMAB. The status of the Protocol itself is presented in the following section.
  15. Recommendation V of the Second ISTAC Meeting called for the development of demonstration projects for mapping environmentally sensitive areas and hotspots. This is reflected in the ongoing work towards updating Technical Report (TR) 33 and also in the development of a new partnership initiative between IOCARIBE, UNEP-CAR/RCU, LBS/RACs, and INVEMAR with financial support from Sida.
  16. In addition to the projects and activities presented in this document, the Secretariat has developed an AMEP/LBS workplan and budget for the 2006-2007 biennium, which is presented to this meeting in UNEP(DEC)/CAR WG.28/3.

Inter-institutional co-ordination and Meetings

  1. Recommendation 6 of the Second ISTAC suggested the need for greater clarity of objectives for various regional initiatives and the promotion of greater synergies and partnerships. This increased collaboration and cooperation has been evidenced by the closer involvement of the Secretariat in a range of initiatives including those organized by other UNEP agencies. Some of the meetings which the Secretariat and the AMEP Programme Officer in particular were involved in are reflected in this section.
  2. The Secretariat continued the cooperation with ICRI, and the AMEP Programme Officer represented UNEP-CAR/RCU at their 3rd Annual General Meeting from 23rd – 29th April 2005.
  3. A Memorandum of Cooperation with the Basel Convention on Lead Acid Batteries and other hazardous wastes was negotiated during the biennium which led to its signature on 1 July 2004.
  4. A Memorandum of Understanding was also developed with OECS/ESDU and is awaiting signature.
  5. The RCU hosts the White Water to Blue Water (WW2BW) partnership website and promotes synergies, partnerships and cooperation in the Wider Caribbean Region.
  6. The CEP was also represented by the Secretariat at meetings of other regional or sub-regional bodies of the Wider Caribbean Region such as the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the UN Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS).
  7. The Secretariat also actively represented UNEP in coordination with UNEP-ROLAC in the regional preparatory meetings leading to the review of the Barbados Plan of Action for SIDS which started with the October 2003 Meeting in Trinidad and Tobago, followed by the Bahamas Meeting of January 2004, and culminating with the Mauritius International Meeting (BPOA + 10) from 10th to 14th January 2005. The UNEP-GPA Secretariat is coordinating the SIDS Dossier at UNEP as well as the Regional Seas Programme. As such, this allows for a close coordination between the global efforts of UNEP and their regional implementation in the Caribbean.
  8. Coordination meetings were held with a wide range of agencies working in the region or who are involved in the implementation of projects under the AMEP Work programme. These included the LBS/RACs, RAC/REMPEITC, NOAA, UNEP/GPA, UNEP/ROLAC, CEHI, OECS/ESDU, BASEL Caribbean Centre, Earth University, CATIE, CATHALAC and UNDP.
  9. The development and implementation of activities under the AMEP sub-programme continues to be informed by the priorities articulated at the national and regional levels. There continues to be a need for increased involvement and feedback from focal points especially during intersessional periods. It is particularly important for focal points to identify any constraints that may be affecting their participation in national or regional project activities.
  10. The Secretariat continues to work with our head office, donor countries and agencies to streamline administrative procedures for more effective and timely project implementation. However, many such procedures are often quite complex, especially for projects funded through the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and this often results in longer than expected delays between the project approval phase and implementation. It is important that constant communication is maintained between the Secretariat and member Governments to ensure that the required human and financial counterpart resources are in place at the national level to facilitate project implementation.

(a)Status of the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities (LBS Protocol)

  1. During the biennium, AMEP facilitated the discussions between the governments of the United States of America and France to reach agreement on the legal text of the LBS Protocol in English and French. Differences that have impaired the ratification for different countries have been solved and communicated to the Depositary of the Convention in September 2003. Since the adoption of the Protocol in 1999 and before the closure of the signature period on 6 October 2000, two additional countries signed the Protocol. The Secretariat urges all Governments to ratify or accede to the Protocol. According to the latest information received by the Depositary, the following Parties have signed or are a Contracting Party to the Protocol:

Contracting Party / Date of Signature / Date of Accession
Republic of Colombia / 2 October 2000
Republic of Costa Rica / 6 October 1999
Dominican Republic / 3 August 2000
French Republic / 6 October 1999
Kingdom of the Netherlands / 6 October 1999
United States of America / 6 October 1999
Panama / 9. July 2003
Trinidad and Tobago / 28 March 2003

Programme Coordination Costs

Source of Funding / US$
Caribbean Trust Fund / 135,000
Total / 135,000

(b)Reducing Pesticide Run-off to the Caribbean Sea

Background

  1. Annex IV to the LBS Protocol addresses the regionally accepted hypothesis that non-point source pollution from agriculture is a significant contributor to marine pollution in the Wider Caribbean Region. In May 1999, CEP received a GEF/Project Development Fund (PDF) Block B grant to develop a project that would improve pesticide management in four countries to ultimately reduce pesticide run-off to the Caribbean Sea. The original four participating countries were Colombia, Costa Rica, Nicaragua and Panama.
  2. The PDF was concluded in 2001 with the submission of the Project Brief to the GEF Secretariat for approval, including Colombia, Costa Rica and Nicaragua. Panama opted not to continue with the project. The May 2002 meeting of the GEF Council approved the project for funding.

Objective(s)

  1. The main objective of the Project is:

To protect the Caribbean marine environment by reducing the use of, and reliance on, pesticides in agricultural activities through the development of national plans.

Expected Outputs

  1. The Expected Outputs of the full GEF Project are:

Monitoring and Assessment of Impacts of Pesticide Use;

Demonstration of Technology Alternatives to intensive pesticide use and management practices to reduce runoff and runoff impact;

Development and Implementation of Education and Awareness Programmes;

Development of incentives for improved agricultural practices;

Institutional Strengthening; and

Information Management and Dissemination.

Project Costs

Source of Funding / US$
GEF Trust Fund (includes PDF B) / 4,585,000
Counterpart Contributions / 5,682,000
UNEP (in kind) / 70,000
Total / 10,337,000

Project Status

  1. Confirmation of project co-funding was received by UNEP from Colombia and Costa Rica who submitted letters of commitment. Missions to participating countries were conduced by the Coordinator to raise the political profile for the project. Funding has been released and a vacancy announcement for the project manager made. The convening of the first Steering Committee will take place in the final quarter of 2005.
  2. Implementation of the full GEF project is reflected in the 2006/2007 work programme as provided in the document UNEP(DEC)/CAR WG.28/3

Project Evaluation