Since the last update in the last issue
of CEPNEWS, the following activities have been advanced within the SPAW Sub-programme by
UNEP-CAR/RCU:
- Efforts continue for the reactivation of the network of marine protected area
(MPA) managers in the Wider Caribbean - CaMPAM: Discussions have been initiated among
interested MPA managers and partner organizations to identify the best approaches to
better serve the network and its members. A steering committee of active and interested
members may be established to assist in the process. Please give us your ideas and
contributions to this effort!.
- The Small Grants Fund for CaMPAM is operational since June 2000 and very few proposals
have been received. Visit our web site
http://www.cep.unep.org/programmes/spaw/MPA/mpa.htm#CaMPAM
Activities if you need
additional information and would like to apply for assistance for your MPA.
- The Secretariat is setting up a moderated e-group for the Parties of SPAW with
the purpose of efficient dissemination of information regarding the work in progress on
the Protocol. Non-parties and relevant partner organizations might be included in the
e-group as observers to receive the benefit of being updated on a continuous basis on SPAW
matters.
- In keeping with the existing memorandum of Co-operation with the Convention to
the Ramsar Secretariat, a joint SPAW/Ramsar training workshop
was organized by the Rmasar Bureau and held in Trinidad, 11-15 December 2000 in
which UNEP-CAR/RCU made a presentation on the Cartagena Convention, the Protocol
concerning Pollution from Land-based Sources and Activities (LBS) and SPAW Protocols and
their relationship to Ramsar. Additionally participants were briefed on the obligations
and benefits to the Parties of the SPAW Protocol (see News Briefs below for further
information).
- With the entry into force of the SPAW Protocol in June 2000, Parties and the
Secretariat are discussing the possibility of having the First Meeting of SPAW’s
Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (STAC), as well as the First Meeting of
Parties to SPAW in the second half of 2001, in Havana, Cuba following the offer of this
government to serve as host. Parties are currently being consulted before a final decision
is made.
- The SPAW Programme supported the first National Caribbean Sea Turtle and
Beachfront Lighting Workshop, held the 13th of October, 2000 in Barbados. The
Workshop was a success; well attended and with stimulating information given to the
participants, and also passed a useful resolution concerning beachfront lighting (see News
Brief below).
- In order to start the work toward the preparation of the national and
sub-regional coral reef status reports for 2002, additional sub-regional monitoring nodes
under the framework of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network (GCRMN) are being planned,
and monitoring efforts increased. In this context, discussion have been started with
relevant initiatives such as those of Reef Check and the Caribbean Planning Adaptation for
Climate Change (CPACC) project which includes a coral reef monitoring component.
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