Context
For the small island and coastal states of the Caribbean, conserving their natural resources and adapting their economies to the impacts of climate change are vital for sustainable socio-economic development. The frequency and intensity of extreme climate-related events are on the rise. Farmland and forests in the region are already suffering from the impacts of climate change. In addition, use of land unsuitable for farming and forests is exacerbating the effects of climate change, placing the region’s ecological balance and economic potential at risk.
As a result, the mostly poor population has fewer and fewer possibilities to generate income, particularly in rural regions. Economic growth of the entire region is negatively impacted.
Objective
The adaptation of farmland and forest management to the impacts of climate change is improved in eight member states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).
Caribbean. Overflowing Roseau Reservoir on St. Lucia. © GIZ
Approach
Climate change is a dynamic, complex process with sudden and erratic effects. Promising adaptation measures thus have to be flexible and resilient.
The project is active in eight of the 15 CARICOM member states. Target groups include the local communities and the various civil society organisations, e.g. for farmers, fishermen, employees in the tourism industry and small and medium-sized business owners.
The project’s lead executing agency is the CARICOM Secretariat with its Council of Ministers for agriculture, rural development and climate change. Support includes advisory services, training, procurement of material goods as well as financing and assistance agreements, local subsidies and the establishment of dialogue platforms to implement the measures for adaptation to climate change impacts.
In 2013 the project received unexpected, substantial start-up funding. These funds were primarily used to lay the groundwork for infrastructure measures: for adaptation of the drinking water supply to climate change impacts and for wastewater disposal in coastal zones to safeguard protected upstream marine areas. The financing and assistance agreements for implementation were supplemented by a feasibility study on sustainable sediment management of drinking water reservoirs. This study assesses improved measures to maintain reservoirs when adapting to climate change impacts (increase in the variability of rainfall).
After the water and wastewater infrastructure is improved, the farming and forest management measures will be systematically defined and developed in 2014.
Results achieved so far
In 2013, several bankable infrastructure projects were quickly identified through successful collaboration with selected partners in three of the eight member states. A total of five financing and assistance agreements were signed for these projects. The project focuses on improving the supply of drinking water and environmentally-friendly sanitary solutions.
In addition to increasing climate resilience by improving water supply (increase in water retention), the measures introduced for wastewater disposal in coastal zones establish the necessary link to safeguard protected coastal marine areas and coral reefs.