The Caribbean community and Australia are working together to share valuable expertise and knowledge that will make a real difference to the marine environment and the people who depend on it.
The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (5Cs), the Caribbean Community Secretariat (CARICOM), AusAID and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) have teamed up to focus on some of the regional key coral reef management challenges.
'I am particularly delighted this is happening because, as you will know, coral reef management and sustainability is an area of deep interest to so many CARICOM countries,' said Phillip Kentwell, Australia's High Commissioner to the Caribbean.
'I have very high regard for the manner in which the 5Cs so actively pursues objectives and outcomes that–at the end of the day–will bring better quality of life to so many communities across the Caribbean,' he added.
Through this two-year project, the team will contribute to implementing Climate Change and the Caribbean: A regional framework for achieving development resilient to climate change (2009–2015).The team will also develop a toolkit to support the Caribbean coral reef managers to deal with climate change issues.
A regional framework is under development and will guide policies on adapting to climate change and underpin strategic initiatives to improve the outlook for Caribbean coral reefs. It will involve identifying strategies and opportunities for reducing the vulnerability of coral reefs to climate change and building the resilience of reef-dependent communities and industries.
By coordinating efforts to support the resilience of coral reefs and reef-dependent people, the framework will contribute to efforts to 'climate-proof' regional development.