Caribbean WaterWays
Newsletter of the GEF IWCAM Project
Volume 4, Issue 1
March 2010
In this issue:
Managing the Sensitive Coastal
·
Managing the Sensi-
tive Coastal and
and Freshwater Resources of
Freshwater Re-
sources of `The Big
`The Big Yard'
Yard' (pgs. 1,2,3)
- GEF-IWCAM's Demonstration Project in
·
World Water Day
Andros, The Bahamas
2010: Fond D'Or
Waters Keep No
Bahamians affectionately call Andros "The Big
Secrets (pgs.1, 7)
Yard". This, the largest island in the Bahamian Archipel-
ago, and the fifth largest island in the wider Caribbean,
·
Background on the
GEF-IWCAM Project
is also home of the Bahamas' largest freshwater aqui-
(pg.2)
fers, vast tidal creek wetlands, and one of the world's
largest barrier reefs, a nursery that supports diverse sea
·
Bountiful Harvest--
life well beyond Bahamian territorial waters. Indeed, it is
Innovation in
not hard
Cuba's Demo Pro-
to argue
ject (pgs. 4--5)
Fond D'Or Waters Keep No
the
na-
tional
·
Secrets
St. Lucia's Water
and
re-
Resource Manage-
Jean Giraudoux, a French novelist,
gional
ment Agency bene-
once remarked that "Water is the one sub-
impor-
fits from TCC with
stance from which the earth can conceal
tance of
Jamaica (pg. 6)
nothing; it sucks out its innermost secrets
effec-
and brings them to our very lips". In St.
tively
·
Planning for Tomor-
row's Water Needs,
Lucia, the residents of the Fond D'Or Water-
manag-
Today (pg. 7)
shed have proved this to be true. Health clin-
ing
the
ics continue to record local cases of water-
sensitive
·
Sharing GEF-
related diseases such as gastroenteritis, ear,
coastal
IWCAM Climate and
eye and skin infections.
and
Water Experiences
fresh
in South America
This comes as no surprise as river
water
(pg. 7)
water quality testing, facilitated by the GEF-
re-
IWCAM Demonstration Project, reveals high
sources
·
Fifth Biennial Carib-
levels of Escherichia coli bacteria.
Es-
of
An-
bean Environmental
cherichia coli, more commonly referred to as
dros.
Forum and Exhibi-
E.coli bacteria are found in the guts of animals
tion, CEF 5 (pg. 8)
and, when found in water, are indicators of
fecal contamination.
·
World Water Day
2010: Clean Water
Pig farms appear to be culpable for
for a Healthy World
the deteriorating quality of the rivers as there
(pg. 8)
has been a proliferation of pig farms in the
watershed over the years. It does not take a
Satellite image of Andros
stretch of the imagination to realize the ripple
and surrounding waters
(Continued on page 2)
(Continued on page 7)
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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
(Continued from page 1)
In pursuit of this objective, The Bahamas Government,
through The Bahamas Environment, Science and Technology
(BEST) Commission of the Ministry of the Environment is imple-
menting the objectives of the GEF-IWCAM Project in the island of
Andros through a demonstration project.
This Project is titled:
"Land and Sea Use Planning for Water Recharge Protection
and Management in Andros, Bahamas" . The primary initiative to
protect these rich resources is the development of a novel Land
and Sea Use Plan (LSUP). The Nature Conservancy (TNC),
through its Bahamas office is supporting BEST in execution of the
following activities on Andros:
·
Preparing zoning of land and sea areas for future use,
development and conservation.
Community meeting held in Fresh Creek, Andros
·
Developing an Ecotourism Plan.
·
Conducting a Marine and Terrestrial Resource Survey.
·
Mapping of the islands biodiversity, including a process of
identifying threats and concerns for biodiversity conserva-
tion.
·
Coordinating an Economic Valuation of Resources and
Biodiversity of the island.
·
Developing a Water Conservation Strategy, and small-
scale demonstration of reducing water wastage.
·
Developing
a
Community
Management
and
Self-
Regulation Strategy.
·
Coordinating Community Awareness and Educational Pro-
grammes to sensitize the community to project benefits.
Some of the environmental concerns being assessed are:
Conducting an Ecological Habitat Survey of a tidal creek wetland
·
Over-extraction and wastage of freshwater from groundwater
extraction wells.
·
Destruction and deterioration of important ecosystems includ-
ing mangroves, wetlands and shorelines, as a result of poor devel-
BACKGROUND ON THE GEF-IWCAM
opment practices.
PROJECT:
·
Inadequate disposal of solid and liquid waste.
·
Vegetation and habitat loss due to indiscriminate land clearing,
The Global Environment Facility-funded Integrating Watershed and
rock and sand mining.
Coastal Areas Management in Caribbean Small Island Developing States
(GEF-IWCAM) Project was approved by the Global Environment Facility
·
Lack of resources to manage and monitor existing protected
areas.
(GEF) in May 2004. Implementing agencies are the United Nations Envi-
ronment Programme (UNEP) and the United Nations Development Pro-
The Government appreciates that addressing these con-
gramme (UNDP). Executing agencies are the Secretariat of the
cerns, over such a wide area requires solutions built through part-
Cartagena Convention (UNEP-CAR/RCU), the Caribbean Environmental
nership. This is why the people of Andros, although sparsely settled
Health Institute (CEHI) and the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS).
throughout the island, are centre-stage in the GEF-IWCAM Andros
The thirteen participating SIDS are: Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas,
Demonstration Project.
Barbados, Cuba, Grenada, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Jamaica,
To facilitate public participation, the Bahamas Government
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and
has been convening community awareness and project strategy
Trinidad and Tobago. The length of the Project is 5 years and commenced
meetings in the major settlements of Andros. Community leaders
in the second quarter of 2005. It is expected to end in July 2011. The
demonstrate their support for the project by assisting technical ex-
Project Coordinating Unit is located at the CEHI, as agreed by the Imple-
perts with survey activities, facilitating project meetings, taking ad-
menting and Executing Agencies and the participating countries.
vantage of available resources from local government and non-
government organizations (NGO's) to execute project objectives,
(Continued on page 3)
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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
(Continued from page 2)
·
Hawksbill, green and loggerhead turtles
·
Spawning Aggregations (Grouper and bonefish)
·
Andros Rock Iguana
·
Pinelands
·
Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formations (Coppice)
·
Mangroves/ Wetlands (Saline and freshwater)
·
Tidal Creeks
·
Unconsolidated seafloor (Sea grass, sand, mud)
·
Blue holes (Marine and terrestrial)
·
Beach and Coastal Strands
·
Marine Mammals
·
Coral Reef (Star coral, Elkhorn coral, reef patch, platform
margin, & coral walls)
Tidal creek wetland near a pine forest
·
Seabirds
Additionally, RapidEye Imagery for the entire project
and making announcements on radio and during religious meetings.
boundary was procured and is available to the Bahamas National GIS
Schools are invaluable centres for sharing information about the
Centre. A map will also be accessible by project closure, allowing non-
GEF-IWCAM Project. Teachers lead their students in the creation of
GIS specialists to access imagery without GIS software. The Bahamas
informative project posters, and some students have been invited to
project partners are also mobilizing their remote sensing capabilities to
participate in research activities and surveys.
develop detailed land use and marine habitat maps. This is an un-
precedented effort for The Bahamas, and provides the most compre-
Geographical Information Systems (GIS) stakeholder meet-
hensive compilation of mapped data on Androsian habitats ever at-
ings also have been held with experts from government and NGO's
tempted. Extensive collaborations with scientists, experts, and other
to inform and encourage participation in the formation of a data col-
stakeholders with local knowledge are underway, and have been sig-
lection, sharing and management mechanism. A GIS training work-
nificant investments of project time.
shop is also being made available to all GIS stakeholders to ensure
that the end-users of the multi-sector GIS system understand how to
A California based think tank, will conduct an economic
manage and use data made available through this project.
evaluation of the islands resources; the results are expected to provide
During these meetings, various sources of existing Andros
useful insight to both local government, and policy makers in directing
data were collected and evaluated, and are now being used in the
development on Andros.
development of the Project. TNC, the primary NGO project partner,
has also completed a Rapid Ecological Assessment of the west
The GEF-IWCAM Andros Demonstration Project represents a
coast of Andros and developed a Conservation Area Plan which is
novel and invaluable approach to protecting freshwater, coastal, and
included as a component of the Project master plan.
marine resources throughout The Bahamas and the wider Caribbean.
However in order to work consistently and uniformly in such
This article was contributed by the Bahamas Environ-
a large territory, technical experts must be able to spatially define the
ment , Science and Technology (BEST) Commission.
project boundaries and the biological targets requiring assessment.
In fulfillment of this need, the general project boundary to be man-
aged by the LSUP was defined using topographic maps, and satellite
imagery. Geographic and political boundaries were established, in-
corporating the terrestrial and marine environments of Andros.
Preliminary findings of the Rapid Ecological Assessment
also assisted in defining spatial distribution characteristics of several
biological target species, including bonefish, sea turtles, and the
West Indian flamingo, which was documented for the first time along
the western coastline of Andros.
This aggregation of imagery and data allowed for the estab-
lishment of the following natural resource targets as the baseline
inventory of land and sea biodiversity:
·
Freshwater Reserves
·
Land Crab
Enjoying one of the largest blue holes in Andros
·
Conch
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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
Bountiful Harvest --
Innovation in Cuba's Demo Project
The GEF-IWCAM Demonstration
Project in Cuba, "Application of IWCAM
Concepts at Cienfuegos Bay and Water-
shed", has been varied in its approach,
ranging from support for establishment of a
1
comprehensive monitoring programme to
education of primary school students on the
IWCAM approach.
Among notable achievements have
been their agricultural activities, in both soil
conservation and agro-forestry. Last year,
we featured photos from the Sarduy Farm
(see the March 2009 newsletter). This year,
we are pleased to share photos from the La
Sabanita, La Sierrita, and San Juan Farms
in Cienfuegos Province.
3
2
4
1. View from the Upper Cienfuegos Water-
shed.
2. Bananas are grown at La Sabanita, for con-
sumption and sale.
3. Decorative plants are also grown at La Sa-
banita, perhaps for sale in the future.
5
4. Citrus is grown among the native trees.
5. Shade-grown coffee is being dried--both for
consumption and sale (a high-value crop).
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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
6
8
7
6. 7. 8. The San Juan farm cultivates micro-
La Sabanita and La Sierrita are agro-forestry farms which fo-
organisms to assist in the process of composting
cus upon maintaining forest cover and/or reforestation, while produc-
and fertilization. This technology, while simple,
ing significant agricultural yields. Cuban counterparts have provided
these farmers with technical guidance and material support while test-
is innovative and proving to be highly effective.
ing out new and innovative techniques.
9. 10. Livestock on the San Juan Farm are
The San Juan farm is a well-established farm that, with the
raised in a very sustainable manner. Great care
support of the GEF-IWCAM Project, is focusing its efforts on soil con-
is given to their grazing and their waste is effec-
servation, through the cultivation of specific organisms for composting
tively re-used. Animal products from the farm
and fertilizing, irrigation techniques, and other practices.
are then sold to government for use as part of
the children's feeding programmes.
More information on these and other activities can be obtained
from the Demonstration Project Manager, Alain Munoz Caravaca at:
alain@gestion.ceac.cu
10
9
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IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
St. Lucia's Water Resource Manage-
Mr. Faustinus Monero, Acting Director, and Mr. Jun-
ment Agency benefits from TCC with
ior Mathurin, Field Technician, participated in the training. In
order to maximize the two weeks allotted to the exercise, Mr.
Jamaica
Monero focused on the institutional and management as-
pects of the WRA, while Mr. Mathurin focused on the field
work and other practical and technical aspects of the WRA.
Mr. Monero was engaged in a series of meetings
and discussions with management, including all Head of
Units within the WRA, to assess their vision, role, structure,
operations, past challenges and constraints, and strategies
to overcome these challenges.
Mr. Mathurin was in the
meantime assigned to the Resource Monitoring Unit (RMU)
to understudy its activities. Exposing Mr. Mathurin to hydro-
metry, stream gauging, and data processing was a high pri-
ority, because of the need of WRMA to obtain hydrological
data and to reestablish the national hydrological network that
was destroyed by Tropical Storm Debbie. The reestablish-
F.Monero and J. Mathurin meet with B.Fernandez, Man-
ment of the network is long overdue and is now an urgent
aging Director, and H.Thomas, Deputy Managing Director,
WRA
priority. When fully established, the hydrological network will
generate data that would be critical for climate change stud-
ies, drought monitoring, and water allocation purposes.
Among its goals, the GEF-IWCAM project seeks to
improve the capacity of Participating Countries in areas re-
Following the secondment, Mr. Monero reported that
lated to watershed and coastal areas management. The pro-
this technical cooperation was a perfect and timely opportu-
ject has identified Technical Cooperation among Countries
nity to expose the officers of the WRMA to the operations
(TCC) as an effective means of achieving this goal. In this
and management of a leading water resource management
regard, in October 2009, the Project provided financial sup-
agency. The two weeks were well utilized to build capacity
port for two staff members of St. Lucia's newly established
in field work, practical, technical, and managerial issues. The
Water Resource Management Agency (WRMA) to undergo a
activities and experiences were enriching and well designed
two-week secondment (from October 26 to November 7,
to achieve the intended objectives. The WRMA has recently
2009) in various aspects of water management at Jamaica's
resumed stream flow measurement, that is, spot measure-
Water Resource Authority (WRA).
ment, and will be sourcing funding to reestablish the hydro-
logical network island-wide.
The WRA was considered to be most suitable for
training, because of its highly qualified, professional and
TCC is a valuable facility which countries should
technical staff, its experience working with varied water re-
consider as they seek to develop their human resources as
sources (both ground and surface water) and its leading role
well as technical programmes.
In this way countries with
in water management in the Caribbean.
limited financial, human and other resources can benefit
from those with more expertise and experience in specific
The overall objective of the secondment was to pro-
areas.
vide an opportunity for the WRMA to understudy the opera-
tions and management of a functional entity responsible for
managing water resources. This exposure would contribute
to building the capacity required within the WRMA to carry
out its mandate, that is, to manage the water resources of
Saint Lucia in a sustainable manner through principles of
integrated water resources management. With its increased
capacity in areas such as water resources monitoring, plan-
J. Mathurin:
ning and assessment, integrated watershed and water re-
Bore hole level
sources management, and water resources conservation,
measurement
the WRMA will be better positioned to enhance and facilitate
in the field
the exit strategy of the GEF-IWCAM project and to replicate
the good practices and lessons learnt under the local and
regional GEF-IWCAM demo projects.
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7
IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
Water Sector Policy and Master Plan. In the Sharing GEF-IWCAM Climate and
Planning for Tomorrow's
end, it was hoped that the feedback from par-
Water Experiences in South
ticipants would inform the preparation of a new
Water Needs, Today
Water Sector Policy and assist in future plan-
America
ning.
Four GEF-IWCAM participating
GEF-IWCAM Technical Coordinator,
countries, Antigua & Barbuda, the Bahamas, Sasha Beth Gottlieb, once again found her-
self in the southern part of the Americas, at-
St. Lucia and St. Kitts participated. The major- tending a workshop aimed at training journal-
ity of participants were from Jamaica, and ists and communicators on water issues with
included representatives from across the is- a focus on the challenge of climate change.
land, from agencies such as NEPA, WRA, The workshop which took place in Montevi-
NWC, Rural Water Supply Ltd, National Irriga- deo, Uruguay, 10-12 December 2009 was
tion Commission Ltd, and the private sector. jointly sponsored by UN Water and UN Habi-
More than fifty persons actively participated in tat was targeted to journalists and communi-
the event, over two days.
cators on water issues. See the presentation
at:
http://www.iwcam.org/resources/project-coordination-
unit-presentations/gef-iwcam-presentation-about-water-
The symposium covered Energy & and-climate-change-communication-and-outreach-
Water, Tourism, Agriculture/Irrigation and the spanish-presentacion-de-gef-iwcam-sobre-comunicacion-
y-concientizacion-relacionadas-con-agua-y-clima-espanol/
The IWCAM Regional Project Coordi- Environment. The GEF-IWCAM Demo Project view
nator (RPC) participated, along with UNEP CAR/ Manager for Jamaica presented on the Model
RCU and CEHI, in a National IWRM Symposium, for Sustainable Watershed Management:
convened from February 24-25, 2010 in King- Case of the Drivers River Project. Priorities for
ston, Jamaica. This symposium, under the consideration in revising the water sector pol-
theme: Planning for Tomorrow's Water Needs, icy, as identified by the breakout groups in-
Today", was organized, based on a meeting held cluded: Alternative sources; efficient use and/
last year between GEF-IWCAM, CEHI and the or reuse of water; role of private sector; hous-
Government of Jamaica (GoJ).
ing settlement patterns; public awareness and
education; and household on-site sewerage
The symposium sought to bring to- systems and public health risks.
gether all relevant stakeholders within Jamaica
Pocitos Beach, Montevideo
to review and assist in the revision of the existing
(Continued from page 1) ...Fond D'or Waters on WWD 2010
The pig farm, in the later phases of the project, is
expected to employ additional treatment methods. Biologi-
effect! Farmers rely on water abstraction for the purpose of
cal treatment through Effective Micro-organism (EM) tech-
irrigation. If they can help it, no one wants to water crops
nology is expected to positively influence the break down of
with dirty water, especially water which is laden with fecal
organic matter and result in additional reductions in E.coli
matter and bacteria.
counts. EM technology has been used successfully in Latin
American countries and in other parts of the world.
This has prompted the Caribbean Agricultural Re-
search and Development Institute (CARDI) to enter a col-
This means that as compensation for improved wa-
laborative partnership with a family owned and operated pig
ter quality CARDI will provide the Mathurins with technical
farm (the Mathurin pig farm), to implement a pilot and dem-
assistance. Technical assistance will take the form of: train-
onstration Payment for Environmental Services (PES) pro-
ing to enable the Mathurins to manage the modified pig
gramme.
This PES programme is a watershed manage-
farm; transferring of EM technology; and, educating the
ment incentive. It encourages pig farmers to adopt sustain-
Mathurins on the preparation of the EM solution.
able environmental practices which result in major benefits
Monitoring through systematic testing will determine
to the society.
the effectiveness of these initiatives in improving water
As part of the agreement, the pilot pig farm is cur-
quality. After all, water keeps no secrets!
rently undergoing renovations and construction to include: a
separator (for the separation of liquid and solid components
of the waste); a two-chambered septic tank (for the capture
This article was provided by the GEF-IWCAM St. Lucia
of the liquid waste); a soakaway (for filtering by the soil);
Demonstration Project
and a composting shed (for dry treatment of the solid com-
ponent of waste in order for it to be used as manure).
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8
IWCAM Caribbean WaterWays Newsletter
For more information check the CEF-5 website at http://www.cehi.org.lc/cef5/index.htm
or contact the CEF secretariat at cef5@cehi.org.lc.
World Water Day 2010: Clean Water for a Healthy World
International World Water Day is held annually on 22 March as a means of focusing attention
on the importance of freshwater and advocating for the sustainable management of freshwater re-
sources.
An international day to celebrate freshwater was recommended at the 1992 United Nations
Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The United Nations General Assembly re-
sponded by designating 22 March 1993 as the first World Water Day.
Each year, World Water Day highlights a specific aspect of freshwater. This year the theme
is: "Clean Water for a Healthy World".
Check the website out for additional information and resources:
http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/flashindex.html
Participating Country Focal Points, Demonstration Projects and others are invited to submit articles. Please contact
Donna Spencer at dspencer@cehi.org.lc
Contact Information:
GEF-IWCAM Project Coordination Unit
P.O. Box 1111, The Morne, Castries, Saint Lucia
Tel: (758)-452-2501/1412; Fax: (758)-453-2721
E-mail: dspencer@cehi.org.lc
www.iwcam.org