Activities to highlight the formal launching of the UNEP/UNDP GEF Funded “Integrating Watershed and Coastal Areas Management” (IWCAM) project were held in Trinidad and Tobago on November 14^th and 15^th 2006. This was followed by a series of other national launches in the islands of Saint Lucia, Bahamas, Jamaica and Saint Kitts-Nevis during the months of November and December 2006.  Technical experts in each country provided an overview of planned activities for their individual demonstration projects, while officials of the agencies responsible for project implementation and execution – United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme Regional Coordinating Unit (UNEP CAR/RCU) and the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute (CEHI) presented a summary of their roles, the regional components of the project and upcoming activities.  National launches are expected continue throughout the month of January 2006 in the Dominican Republic, Antigua and Cuba.   The Project Management Unit will be established shortly at the Caribbean Environmental Health Institute in Saint Lucia and the first Regional Steering Project Committee Meeting will be held by June 2006.  IWCAM is expected to strengthen the capacity of Caribbean island states to implement an integrated approach to management of coastal areas and watersheds.