ACP MEAs III NEWSLETTER VOLUME 4 ISSUE 1 JANUARY - APRIL 2024

Introduction

The ACP MEAs III programme is a partnership between the European Union and UNEP that began in March 2009, as an initiative of the European Commission to address challenging environmental issues through the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) in the African, Caribbean, and the Pacific (ACP) regions. The program is currently in its third phase of implementation, aiming to assist 79 ACP countries to enforce and comply with MEAs related to biodiversity and chemicals and waste, and to deal with issues of Ocean and Regional Seas governance.

ACP MEAs III Participation during UNEA- 6

The Sixth Session of the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA-6) took place from February 26 to March 1 in Nairobi, Kenya, under the theme ‘Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution’. UNEA-6 provided an excellent platform to showcase the achievements of the ACP MEAs III Programme, which was actively engaged throughout the week.

Over 80 attendees joined a side event on the ACP MEAs III Programme on March 1. The side event began with opening remarks by representatives from the European Commission and FAO, who highlighted the relevance of the programme as a model to foster synergies for addressing environmental issues. In addition, the representative from the European Commission announced the extension of the programme until December 2025.

These remarks were followed by a high-level discussion panel moderated by the Director of the Law Division at UNEP, Patricia Kameri-Mbote. Distinguished panelists included the Ministers of Environment of Samoa, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and Zimbabwe, who shared their experiences in the implementation of MEAs in their countries. These perspectives were complemented by those of the heads of SPREP and the Cartagena Convention, two of the implementing partners of the ACP MEAs III Programme.

During the discussions, panelists lauded the long-term vision and holistic approach of the programme, which promotes action for biodiversity conservation, waste management, ocean governance and agriculture. Governments further expressed their appreciation for the flexibility of the programme, which facilitates providing tailored solutions for each country.

Besides this side event, participants at UNEA-6 had the opportunity to get to know more about ACP MEAs III at the exhibition booth of the programme, which had inputs from all partners. The booth further attracted high level visits including that of the President of General Assembly, the UNEA-6 President, UNEP’s Executive Director, Ministers of Environment, Directors of Environmental NGOs and many other distinguished participants.

CARICOM and CITES Secretariats Workshops on Legislative Frameworks and Institutional guidelines in Dominica and Grenada

Through the ACP MEAs III Programme, national capacity building and awareness workshops were held in Dominica and Grenada to support the requirements and benefits of developing adequate national legislation for the implementation of the CITES Convention.

The workshops were facilitated through CARICOM and the CITES Secretariats. The delegation from the CARICOM Secretariat was led by Teshia Jn Baptiste, Project Coordinator, and Shunae Samuels, Project Assistant for the ACP-MEAs Project; the CITES Secretariat was represented by Thomas Deleuil, Legal Officer, and Haruko Okusu, Chief of the Outreach and Projects Unit. The workshop focused on legislative affairs based on the Convention’s provisions, resolutions and relevant guidance materials.

Stakeholders from key sectors were represented, including customs, trade, national security, forestry, fisheries, legal affairs, ports authority, private sector, indigenous communities, foreign affairs and public utilities, amongst others.

Effective implementation and enforcement of CITES requires appropriate national legislation, transparent processes for permitting, capacity-building to make non-detriment findings, training of staff to identify listed species at ports of entry, development of guides and enhanced public awareness. Ultimately, cooperation among the agencies is crucial.

The major outcomes of the workshops included sharing of experiences on CITES national legislation development by representatives of Antigua and Barbuda and St Kitts and Nevis. An open forum was created for discussions and understanding of the successes, challenges and best practices to incorporate CITES into the national legal system, taking into account existing legislations.

Mr. Deleuil noted that the workshops delivered with the CARICOM Secretariat have been a success bringing together all relevant stakeholders, clarifying key obligations of the Convention, identifying challenges, building technical capacity and share best practices, and raising awareness on the Convention, its purpose and functioning. They have also highlighted the necessity to build bridges between national authorities and stakeholders in order to ensure that each party understands the role it plays in the overall implementation of the Convention. The CITES and CARICOM Secretariats look forward to continuing engaging with Dominica, Grenada and other countries of the region to support the full implementation of the Convention.

The Caribbean, a Region Rich in Biodiversity

More broadly, biodiversity in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region is abundant. It includes Belize which lies within the Mesoamerica hotspot for biodiversity; Guyana and Suriname, countries with globally significant tropical forest biodiversity; and many of the island nations that constitute the Caribbean Island hotspot for biodiversity. Endemism, meaning plants and animals that are found nowhere else in the world, is particularly high for the Caribbean islands.

Although the insular Caribbean makes up only 0.15% of the Earth’s land surface area, it contains 3% (180 species) of amphibians and over 6% (520 species) of reptiles. There are also an estimated 7,800 endemic plants, and more than 170 endemic birds. Some species exist at extremely small population sizes. Since endemic species are found nowhere else, they are often in demand by collectors, making them in particular need of protection from illegal international trade. Wildlife trade is valuable to the economies of the Caribbean region. Much of the trade in listed species originating in the Caribbean is destined for international markets.

Some of the Caribbean species affected by trade include:

• Many coral species which are under pressure from coastal development, fishing and tourism. Exploitation of corals for the aquarium, ornament and jewelry trade is an additional burden on the region’s reefs.
• Queen conch (Strombus gigas) which is harvested primarily for its meat, but shells and pearls are also traded internationally, the latter being rare and carrying very high prices.
• Rare endemic birds such as the endemic Amazona parrots of the region have benefited from protection. Some Caribbean countries have export quotas for large numbers of wild-caught birds.
• Sea turtle species are formerly heavily traded on international markets for their meat, skins and/or shell.
• Plants such as Caribbean mahogany and Lignum vitae have been exploited heavily throughout the region for timber. Trade in plants can also be difficult to regulate because they can easily be stowed in luggage or transported as seeds or cuttings.
• Legal and sustainable trade can be beneficial for conservation of wild species, livelihoods, economies. On the contrary, illegal and/or unsustainable trade can pose a serious risk to the species, people and business.

Grey to Blue Waters: Enhancing Marine Water Quality in Zanzibar

The Nairobi Convention, through the ACP MEAs 3 programme, is working with the Zanzibar Fisheries Research and Marine Resources Institute (ZAFIRI) to assess the marine water quality in Zanzibar and establish a monitoring program. This monitoring programme is essential for the successful implementation of Zanzibar’s Blue Economy Policy.

Marine water pollution is a global issue that threatens the health of oceans and ecosystems, including Zanzibar. The growing number of tourism hotels, coastal developments, and other human activities have led to significant pollution and degradation of the coastal waters of Zanzibar. This pollution, caused by various pollutants such as organic toxins, metals, microorganisms, and plastics, not only harms marine life but also affects human activities like recreation, fishing, and aquaculture. As Zanzibar embraces the blue economy, it is crucial to control and monitor marine water pollution.

The project involves examining the physio-chemical and biological parameters of coastal water, assessing the level of marine litter, and mapping potential land-based sources of pollution. By establishing a monitoring system, Zanzibar can effectively control pollution and ensure the success of its coastal economic options, such as tourism, fisheries, and mariculture. The outcomes of this project will also support the improvement of fisheries and aquaculture sectors, tourism, and ocean governance through marine conservation. Additionally, it will contribute to the development of regional standards for marine water quality in the Western Indian Ocean region.

Protecting the Marine Environment from Land-Based Pollution in Tanzania

Delegates from the Pacific are Being Supported to Have Their Voices Heard in Plastics Treaty Negotiations

In preparation for the fourth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-4) to develop an international legally binding instrument on plastic pollution, which took place in Ottawa, Canada, in the end of April, a preparatory workshop was held from February 12 to 15 in Auckland, New Zealand. This workshop was facilitated by SPREP in partnership with the Office of the Pacific Ocean Commissioner (OPOC), with support from the Governments of Australia and New Zealand, and the ACP MEAs III programme.

The workshop began with a training session entitled Empowering our Pacific Voice as Negotiators, which was attended by representatives from the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.

Participants gave positive impressions on these sessions, which are important given the specific needs and special context of Pacific States in the Plastics Treaty negotiations. The workshop also provided an opportunity for youth representatives to learn about the negotiation process, have their voices heard and grow their networks.

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