The CARICOM Secretariat has begun a series of national consultations aimed at advancing endorsement of the draft CARICOM Biodiversity Strategy and its accompanying Resource Mobilisation and Implementation Strategy (RMIS). The consultations bring together a broad cross-section of national stakeholders, including representatives from environment, finance, economic development, tourism, agriculture, fisheries and marine sectors, as well as biodiversity focal points and other key partners.
The engagements are designed to review the updated draft strategy, validate its priorities, and identify practical approaches for biodiversity implementation, financing, monitoring, reporting, and strengthened regional collaboration. Consultations held to date have highlighted the importance of aligning regional initiatives with national priorities while building synergies with ongoing programmes across the Caribbean Community.
In opening remarks at a recent consultation in Grenada, Peron Johnson, permanent secretary in the Ministry of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy, underscored the central role of biodiversity to the country's sustainable development agenda. “Climate resilience cannot be separated from biodiversity conservation, and biodiversity conservation cannot be separated from sustainable development. Our task is therefore to ensure that the policies, investments and actions we pursue reinforce one another,” Johnson said.
Teshia JnBaptiste, senior project officer for sustainable development at the CARICOM Secretariat, emphasised the importance of stakeholder engagement in shaping the final outcome. “The draft CARICOM Biodiversity Strategy is intended to complement, not replace, national biodiversity strategies and action plans. It seeks to provide a regional framework through which member states can address common challenges, leverage partnerships, mobilise resources and advance biodiversity objectives that are often best addressed through collective regional action,” JnBaptiste said.
The accompanying Resource Mobilisation and Implementation Strategy is being developed to support implementation of the Biodiversity Strategy by identifying financing opportunities, strengthening regional coordination, and enhancing technical cooperation. It is expected to guide regional biodiversity investments through 2030 and beyond, providing a clear pathway for member states to secure the resources needed to meet their environmental commitments.
The consultations are being conducted with support from the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Germany's main development agency, through the Promotion of Regionally Harmonised Approaches to the Protection and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity in CARICOM member states (CARIBIO) project. The initiative reflects a broader regional push to address common environmental challenges collectively, recognising that many biodiversity threats and solutions transcend national borders.
For Dominica, the Nature Isle, the outcome of these consultations carries particular significance. The island's economy and identity are deeply tied to its natural environment, from its rainforests and rivers to its marine ecosystems. A regional strategy that complements national action plans could help unlock financing and technical support for conservation efforts that protect the island's unique biodiversity while supporting sustainable development goals.
As the consultation series continues across member states, the CARICOM Secretariat has indicated that feedback from national stakeholders will be incorporated into the final documents before they are presented for endorsement. The process is expected to strengthen regional collaboration on biodiversity and ensure that the strategy reflects the realities and priorities of individual member states while advancing shared regional objectives.
