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Status of Protected Area Systems in the Wider Caribbean Region | |
| CEP Technical Report No. 36 1996 | All CEP Technical Reports |
4. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The Caracas Action Plan (IUCN 1992) identifies 4 major objectives for protected area development over the next 10 years. With minor adjustments, these objectives are equally valid for the Wider Caribbean Region. These objectives, and the proposed actions are listed below.
OBJECTIVE 1: Integrate Protected Areas into larger Planning Frameworks
- Develop and implement national protected area system plans
- Integrate Protected Area System Plans into economic development plans
- Plan protected areas as part of their surrounding landscapes
- Develop techniques for assessing and quantifying benefits of protected areas
OBJECTIVE 2: Expand Support for Protected Areas
- Identify the key interests of affected parties
- Recognise priority concerns for local communities
- Stimulate informed advocacy
OBJECTIVE 3: Strengthen the capacity to manage protected areas
- Expand training opportunities at all levels
- Improve management of protected areas
- Develop means of increasing financing and generating revenues
- Improve the application of science to management
- Give attention to the special requirements for managing marine protected areas
Special recommendations for the Insular Caribbean included:
- Development of a training programme to provide for regular and comprehensive training in English, French and Spanish.
- The training programme should be recognised and approved by national institutions and included in personnel evaluations.
- Courses should be designed to respond to the special institutional and biophysical characteristics of insular areas.
- Courses should be practical and focus on the analysis of case studies within the region.
OBJECTIVE 4: Expand the international co-operation in the financing, development and management of protected areas
- Clarify the roles and functions of institutions at all levels
- Develop international and regional action plans to support implementation of the priorities established in national protected area systems plans
- Reinvigorate existing frameworks for international co-operation
The successful execution of the action plan will require an unprecedented degree of co-operation between local communities, conservation and development NGOs, resource users, universities and government institutions. Internationally, the need for financial and technical support is obvious, not through the direct transfer of management techniques and organisational schemes but rather through institutional development aimed at increasing local capacity to develop viable protected area systems and broaden the participation of all sectors.
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