Regional Cooperation in the Caribbean
30 July 2010. Of the 28 Overseas Entities under European Union jurisdiction, 14 are found in the Caribbean. They are dependencies of the UK, France and the Netherlands.
The IUCN Caribbean Initiative commenced activities in 2009. The initiative is an important first step for establishing a coherent region-wide footprint and program offering.
Many institutions, environmental professionals and scientists from the region’s OEs have a long history of cooperation with their counterparts in the independent Caribbean countries: they are invited to participate frequently in regional scientific and professional meetings and cooperative agreements. Pre-existing relationships are essential for nourishing the exchange and sharing of information, knowledge and expertise. The Caribbean Initiative will draw upon these pre-existing relationships by networking with institutions and professionals in the OEs.
There is a lot to learn from the OEs which are considered more developed than many of the independent Caribbean states. They are less indebted, enjoy a relatively higher standard of living and have made appreciable progress in the management of their natural resource base.
With its mix of island communities sharing the living and non-living resources of the Caribbean Sea, the OEs are essential to the long term management of the entire region.
Photo: The Guadeloupe woodpecker Melanerpes herminieri is strictly restricted to the forests from Basse Terre and Grande Terre in Guadeloupe © Philippe Feldmann
