Connections 16 February 2007

An electronic bulletin about interdisciplinary research, teaching and outreach at the
Centre for Resource Management and Environmental Studies (CERMES)
Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of the West Indies Cave Hill Campus

Already two months into 2007 and CERMES is quite the
IDRC interest in marine resource
`hive of activity'. We have welcomed two visiting
governance in the Caribbean
academics and we await the arrival of a new additional
teaching staff member. Our students have taken three
Dr Brian Davy, Senior Programme Specialist at the
exams so far with good results and have settled down
International Development Research Centre (IDRC), in
in earnest to completing their second semester.
Ottawa visited CERMES from 4-11 February to discuss
CERMES-Carolina connection
opportunities for collaboration between CERMES and

the expanding group of IDRC projects elsewhere in the
In January 2007, CERMES welcomed
Caribbean, Latin America and Asia.
Dr. Peter Schuhmann to the department. Dr.

Schuhmann is visiting CERMES until late June 2007
while on research sabbatical from the University of

North Carolina (UNC), Wilmington. Dr. Schuhmann is a

natural resource economist and while here he will be
working on an economic valuation project in

collaboration with CERMES. The objectives of this

project are to estimate the economic value of natural
resources related to recreation and tourism in

Barbados, to contribute to the understanding of the
natural resource valuation process, and to extend

collaborative research between UWI Cave Hill and UNC

Wilmington. The project will also augment existing
Dr. Brian Davy presenting reading material
information on characteristics of Barbados' recreational

relevant to the Rural Poverty and Environment
Program to Dr. Patrick McConney
tourist sites, including perceptions of beach and reef

quality, the importance of substitute destinations, and
the quality and availability of tourist facilities and
Discussions focused on plans for implementing the
recreation opportunities.
CERMES project on Marine Resource Governance in
the Eastern Caribbean (MarGov project) recently
CABI-GEF, CERMES and invasive
approved for funding by IDRC. Dr Patrick McConney,
alien species
the project leader, will provide more information on this
project in future editions of the CERMES Connections.
CERMES is a collaborator on marine aspects of the
Discussions also examined linkages with IDRC project
Centre for Applied Biosciences International (CABI)-
partners through its Rural Poverty and Environment
Global Environment Facility (GEF) project on Mitigating
program (http://www.idrc.ca/en/ev-58566-201-1-
the Threats of Invasive Alien Species in the Insular
DO_TOPIC.html ) which is seeking to promote shared
Caribbean. This project will contribute to the goal of the
learning approaches across a variety of contexts. Books
conservation of globally significant biodiversity water
and background material summarising some of the
bodies. CERMES' contribution to this project will be via
IDRC-funded work were presented to Dr. McConney
attendance at various fora and orientation of students
and his MarGov team.
towards the project. Neetha Selliah (Programme
Coordinator) recently represented CERMES at the
Caribbean Sea Assessment
Project Development Facility-A (PDF-A) international
stakeholder planning workshop, 22-24 January 2007 in
The Caribbean Sea Assessment (CARSEA), a sub-
Trinidad, and gave a presentation on CERMES and its
assessment of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment,
contribution to the project. The purpose of the workshop
has been completed and the Executive Summary is
was to bring countries/territories and other stakeholders
now available. The full report will be available shortly.
together to exchange information and formulate project
This assessment has been pivotal in pursuing the
plans and management structures.
declaration of the Caribbean Sea as a special area by
the UN General Assembly. It will also provide

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a sound base for the
management effectiveness of the Tobago Cays Marine
development and
Park (TCMP) along with other marine protected areas in
implementation of the
Jamaica and Belize. Patrick McConney provided an
Caribbean Large Marine
overview of the regional project and led a discussion on
Ecosystem Project. CERMES is
the other project sites, adaptive management and
pleased to have been
lessons learned. Maria Pena presented the results of
associated with CARSEA and
the TCMP management evaluation.
compliments the Cropper
Foundation on this important
contribution to the sustainable
use of our shared marine
heritage.

Long Pond conservation area
CERMES is exploring options for establishing a
conservation area at Long Pond St. Andrew. CERMES
Patrick McConney leading the discussion on lessons
student, Rosalind Charlemagne, recently completed a
learned and adaptive management at the TCMP
MSc research project to put all the spatial information
about the proposed conservation area into a GIS. The
The decision to hold three MPA site meetings to share
report entitled, "A geographical information system
information was taken at the Belize joint workshop in
for the proposed conservation area at Long Pond,
November 2006 where participants suggested that MPA
St. Andrew, Barbados" will soon be available for
stakeholders would benefit from direct communication
download from the CERMES website. Please have a
with members of the CERMES research team in
look.
addition to the three MPA representatives who attended
the Belize workshop.
Ocean security in the Caribbean
Participants were informed that the project end date is
The Ocean Security Institute, a Washington-based
31 March 2007 but a no-cost extension to 31 July 2007
NGO, recently held its International Conference on
may be requested to facilitate the production of training
Ocean Security in the Wider Caribbean, Corpus Christi,
materials and allow enough time to see results from
Texas, 10-12 February, 2007. The conference thematic
adaptive management.
areas were:
The completed TCMP evaluation report and associated
· Natural Hazards - Monitoring and Ocean Early
results sharing meeting report will be available for
Warning Systems
download from the CERMES website later this month.
· Environmental security ­ GEF projects in the Wider
Caribbean
`Green boat' practices for water taxis
· Maritime and Port Security- role of the defense
A booklet guiding sustainable "green boat" practices for
community
water taxi operators in the Grenadines has just been
· Economic Security - Trade, Energy and
produced by Dominique Lizama (recent CERMES MSc
Development of Sustainable Tourism in the Wider
graduate) and Susan Mahon (Counterpart Caribbean).
Caribbean
This booklet was produced with
Following technical sessions, recommendations were
substantial input from the water
taken forward to ministerial sessions involving several
taxi operators themselves. The
members of congress and ministers from Wider
information in this booklet is
Caribbean countries. Professor Robin Mahon took part
therefore both from and for the
in the round table on environmental security where he
water taxi operators. It details
spoke on the role of the Caribbean Large Marine
some of the "best practices"
Ecosystem Project in promoting good governance for
that operators can follow to
transboundary living marine resources.
become better stewards of the
Tobago Cays Marine Park evaluation
marine environment through
improved boating operations.
Patrick McConney and Maria Pena organised and
This booklet is also useful for
participated in project results sharing meetings in Union
other boat owners; operators of boatsheds, slipways
Island (31 January 2007) and Kingstown (1 February
and marinas; local environmental officers and the public
2007). The purpose was to share information on the
in general.
results of the CERMES project on evaluating the

CERMES Phone (246)-417-4316; Fax (246)-424-4204; cermes@uwichill.edu.bb; www.cavehill.uwi.edu/cermes
Mailing address: CERMES, University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, St. Michael, Barbados

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