Antigua makes push for UN funds
Friday January 27 2006
by Nikisha Smith
The Environment Division is making a concerted effort to secure United Nations funding to pursue sustainable development activities in Antigua & Barbuda.
Yesterday, the Environment Division held the final project stakeholder and steering committee meeting to review and discuss the draft Project Brief submission, which will be made to the UNDP for between US$3 and $4 million.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the development arm of the United Nations, was designated by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as one of its three implementing agencies
The GEF, established in 1991, helps developing countries fund projects and programmes that protect the global environment.
Melesha Banham, environment officer, said one of their projects goes to the core of ensuring the security of the livelihoods of Antiguans and Barbudans.
“The project that we were discussing today was the sustainable island resource management mechanism.
“It is a project aimed at looking at resources that are vulnerable and managing those resources in such a way that they become sustainable,” she said.
“They are usually resources that people use as a livelihood, and if these resources are overused, then you stand a chance of them not being able to replenish themselves or a situation where these people will actually lose their livelihoods,” Banham explained.
There are four demonstration projects at the moment, one in Barbuda and three in Antigua.
They were presented by David Vausten, consultant to the Environment Division, who is drafting the proposal.
The first demonstration project is aimed at achieving sustainable land use practices for the conservation of soil and water resources and rehabilitation of the Body Pond watershed on Antigua.
The second project is the development of an integrated “ridges to reefs” co-management approach for the conservation of resources in the South West region of Antigua.
This involves getting the Cades Bay reef declared a marine reserve, along with the Wallings Forest and Fig Tree Drive because of their biodiversity and threatened species of flora and fauna.
The project also looks at Boggy Peak being managed because of the potential impact it may have on those lower ecosystems.
The third project is the integrated planning and management for the sustainable use of Codrington Lagoon in Barbuda, which will also include proper waste disposal.
This will be a continuation of the Caribbean Regional Environmental Programme, which is aimed at maintaining the lagoon as a national park and a means of livelihood for Barbudans.
The last project involves promoting best practices in water conservation and waste water disposal and grey water re-use in the North West tourism zone of Antigua.
The projects will be co-sponsored by the government so that they will play their part to make sure that they succeed.
Banham said the money from the GEF has been earmarked for these projects, but the proposal will have to be submitted by March or else the opportunity will be lost, probably forever, because of other causes.
She said that they were sure, however, that the proposal would be submitted in time.
© SUN Printing & Publishing LTD 2003-2004. All Rights Reserved.
Friday January 27 2006
by Nikisha Smith
The Environment Division is making a concerted effort to secure United Nations funding to pursue sustainable development activities in Antigua & Barbuda.
Yesterday, the Environment Division held the final project stakeholder and steering committee meeting to review and discuss the draft Project Brief submission, which will be made to the UNDP for between US$3 and $4 million.
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the development arm of the United Nations, was designated by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) as one of its three implementing agencies
The GEF, established in 1991, helps developing countries fund projects and programmes that protect the global environment.
Melesha Banham, environment officer, said one of their projects goes to the core of ensuring the security of the livelihoods of Antiguans and Barbudans.
“The project that we were discussing today was the sustainable island resource management mechanism.
“It is a project aimed at looking at resources that are vulnerable and managing those resources in such a way that they become sustainable,” she said.
“They are usually resources that people use as a livelihood, and if these resources are overused, then you stand a chance of them not being able to replenish themselves or a situation where these people will actually lose their livelihoods,” Banham explained.
There are four demonstration projects at the moment, one in Barbuda and three in Antigua.
They were presented by David Vausten, consultant to the Environment Division, who is drafting the proposal.
The first demonstration project is aimed at achieving sustainable land use practices for the conservation of soil and water resources and rehabilitation of the Body Pond watershed on Antigua.
The second project is the development of an integrated “ridges to reefs” co-management approach for the conservation of resources in the South West region of Antigua.
This involves getting the Cades Bay reef declared a marine reserve, along with the Wallings Forest and Fig Tree Drive because of their biodiversity and threatened species of flora and fauna.
The project also looks at Boggy Peak being managed because of the potential impact it may have on those lower ecosystems.
The third project is the integrated planning and management for the sustainable use of Codrington Lagoon in Barbuda, which will also include proper waste disposal.
This will be a continuation of the Caribbean Regional Environmental Programme, which is aimed at maintaining the lagoon as a national park and a means of livelihood for Barbudans.
The last project involves promoting best practices in water conservation and waste water disposal and grey water re-use in the North West tourism zone of Antigua.
The projects will be co-sponsored by the government so that they will play their part to make sure that they succeed.
Banham said the money from the GEF has been earmarked for these projects, but the proposal will have to be submitted by March or else the opportunity will be lost, probably forever, because of other causes.
She said that they were sure, however, that the proposal would be submitted in time.
© SUN Printing & Publishing LTD 2003-2004. All Rights Reserved.
