GEF Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda supports a range of globally and regionally significant terrestrial marine habitats and species. Several problems including inadequate conservation, planning and management of these important, yet limited, resources has resulted in both a loss of species diversity and degradation of the functionality of the island ecosystems. This project is designed to address such issues on a national level with the full participation and involvement of key stakeholders. The project will also address international issues related to the country’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.

During the colonial era watersheds in Antigua and Barbuda were denuded of their native forest and scrubland vegetation. The current unsustainable agro-pastoral practices (overgrazing, and uncontrolled fires to name a couple), the introduction of invasive species, unregulated fishing, sand mining, and ad hoc coastal and urban construction for residential and tourism developments have exacerbated the already existing environmental problems faced in Antigua and Barbuda. The resulting land degradation and loss of ecosystem functionality has already reduced the islands’ capacity to sustain and provide basic needs (water resources, food security, etc) and increased its vulnerability to changes in climatic conditions.

With the looming issue of global climate change and the consequential impacts, the importance of the comprehensive cross-sectoral sustainable management of Antigua and Barbuda’s natural resources is of the highest importance. The islands are subject to highly variable climatic conditions and hurricanes which damage both key habitats, ecosystems and infrastructure. Ensuring the long term stability and sustainability of resources and ecosystem function, integrity, and health to secure their continued contribution to the economic development of these islands is essential.

There is a need to prioritize ecosystem functions and sustainable resource management to meet international commitments as well as emerging national legal requirements. This is creating further conflict with the existing traditional use of land for agriculture, recreation, tourism, building of private residences and sand-mining for construction. Furthermore, the future potential use of land for further economic development (e.g. recreation industry, tourism and more intensive agriculture) is also a source of conflict with the same shift in priorities in favour of environmental issues and sustainable island ecosystem management (e.g. mandatory EIAs, stricter building controls and environmental regulations). Likewise, this is true in relation to coastal and marine related livelihoods and potential future economic development related to marine resources. There is clearly a need to identify a state-of-balance between potential competing needs and to recognise and highlight the actual complementary nature of both aims.

This Project will aim to develop a Sustainable Island Resource Management (SIRM) approach for Antigua and Barbuda. Such an approach considers the whole island ecosystem and it’s marine and terrestrial resources as a capital asset which, if properly managed and protected, will continue to yield a flow of vital goods and services (water, productivity, physical shelter, adaptive capacity and resilience, and aesthetics) necessary for sustainable economic development.

Adopting such an approach requires a cohesive streamlined institutional framework supported by appropriate legislation that promotes inter-sectoral stakeholder participation in the decision making process, thereby facilitating adaptive co-management and maximizing efficient use of the limited human resources. This Project intends to demonstrate how the longer term benefits accrued by the shifts in priority toward maintenance of ecosystem functions, sustainability of natural resources, properly planned economic growth and the protection and diversification of livelihoods will ultimately result in positive trade-offs in comparison to a business-as-usual scenario.