Antigua and Barbuda completed its national formulation exercise to determine the project to be to be submitted for funding by the GEF in 2012-2014. Following national consultations, the final NPFE document was completed and presented to the GEF in 2011.

This project, conducted in two phases, was aimed at meeting the country's responsibilities under the Convention on Biological Diversity Program of Work on Protected Areas (PoWPA). Antigua and Barbuda was presented with a grant through the Global Environmental Facility(GEF)beginning in October 2007 to undertake four activities. Under the first phase, the country looked at the development of an action plan for the management of protected areas as well as a data gap analysis for protected areas management. Secondly, this phase targeted the development of national legislation aimed at ensuring effective management of protected areas. This was undertaken in an effort to ensure that a proper system of protected areas was established for Antigua and Barbuda. The second phase sought to further assists with the process of developing a systems plan by focusing on financial planning to support the PA system, as well as a capacity building needs assessment. Given the budget and time constraints of the PoWPA Action Grants Program, the main focus of the second phase of the project was on financial planning.

EcoZone Summer Camp 2011 is just around the corner! EcoZone Summer Camp will run from the 4th to 29th July. This year's activities include Home Economics, Drama and Singing, Arts and Craft, Gardening, and a lot of field trips. Some of the field trips that campers will go on include bird watching, beach picnics, Antigua Rainforest Canopy Tour, and so on.

The camp is geared towards ages 5-11. Activities begin at 7:30 daily and end at 4:30 p.m. The venue is still to be determined.

Registration closes on June 17th.

The following documents were discussed at the National Coordinating Mechanism (NCM)Meeting, held on 16 February 2011 at the Prime Minister's Office.

Kingston, 2nd February, 2011. Today, as World Wetlands Day raised awareness on the importance of wetlands as natural barriers protecting the ocean from sedimentation and pollution coming from the land, UNEP’s Caribbean Environment Programme (UNEP-CEP) launched the Wider Caribbean LBS Protocol Collage competition. This competition invites school children throughout the region to illustrate how to protect the Caribbean Sea from land-based sources of pollution, in keeping with the theme: “A Future that is Pollution Free – Join Hands to protect our Caribbean Sea”.

The Protocol concerning pollution from land-based sources and activities, known as the LBS Protocol, was adopted in 1999 by the governments of the Wider Caribbean Region (WCR) in response to the need to protect the fragile Caribbean Sea from human activities. Considered by many to be the most significant agreement of its kind, it establishes regional effluent limitations for domestic water discharges and requires national plans to address non-point sources of pollution such as agricultural runoff. The region had to wait for 11 years, however, to see the entry of the LBS Protocol into force, when the Government of the Bahamas became the ninth country to ratify the Protocol in 2010, thus establishing the basis for the Protocol to become international law.

Pollution and littering has become a more significant problem in Antigua and Barbuda over the past years. This problem has escalated as the government has expressed the inability to continue funding the cleaning of a number of the beaches. Beyond the issue of the litter being unsightly, it also causes problems within our coastal ecosystems. For years environmental enthusiasts have espoused the concern that plastic bags floating into the sea have confused turtles, causing them to believe that they are jellyfish. This already rare species then eat the plastic bags and inevitably perish.
The Environment Division, in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is therefore launching a collage competition within the schools, for children 12 to 18 years who are a part of a class, organisation or club, in order to bring awareness to this pressing issue. The theme “A Future that is Pollution Free – Join Hands to Protect our Caribbean Sea”, focuses on our beautiful Caribbean Sea, and how we can protect its fragile, vulnerable coastal and marine ecosystems from land-based sources of pollution.

SIRMM
Demonstrating the Development and Implementation of a Sustainable Island Resource Management Mechanism in a Small Island Developing State.

INVITATION FOR PROPOSALS
Preparation of a Sustainable Livelihood Plan for the Codrington Lagoon National Park

GOAL:
A Sustainable Livelihood Plan for the Codrington Lagoon National Park aimed at promoting the establishment of sustainable small industries as well as maintaining the current small independent business operations located within the boundaries of the National park.

This activity is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) full size project; Demonstrating the Development and Implementation of a Sustainable Island Resource Management Mechanism in a Small Island Developing State (SIRMM) Project.

Please visit the Environment Cadets page to view all updates!

Read about the exciting programmes that the Environment Division, along with many stakeholders, have devised for the 2009/2010 academic year.

Contact us if you would like to participate in any of our programmes at 460-7278. We look forward to hearing from you.

Environment Cadets, "working together for a better future"!

Seafood Fiesta Is Back On November 8th

When the second Seafood Fiesta opens on the afternoon of November 8th, Urlings Wharf, judging from the past event, the ministry of Agriculture is expecting a large turn-out.

Organizers of the festival, which is fast becoming Antigua’s biggest seafood Fiesta, have added new elements to the already action packed schedule.

Minister of Agriculture, Lands, Housing & the Environment Hilson Baptiste said his expectations are high and is anticipating a 100-percent increase with regards to patrons showing up to enjoy culinary delights from the sea, while being entertained.