Report LBS-ISTAC3

Summary report of the Third Meeting of the Interim Scientific, Technical and Advisory Committee (ISTAC) to the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land Based Sources and Activities (LBS) in the Wider Caribbean Region

Mexico City, 22 – 26 August 2005
Frank van Slobbe, DROB, MNB, Bonaire


Introduction


The third ISTAC meeting was held in Mexico from 22 to 26 August 2005. Mr. P. Hoetjes was invited as the representative of the Netherlands Antilles and as the National Focal Point of the Caribbean Environment Programme (CEP). Additionally, Mr. F. van Slobbe was invited as the representative of Bonaire. Mr. P. Hoetjes is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Ministry of Public Health and Social Development of the Netherlands Antilles, Directorate of Public Health, Department of Environment and Nature Conservation. Mr. F. van Slobbe is a Policy Advisor at the Department of Environment and Natural Resources Government of the Island Territory of Bonaire.

 

Background


The Conference to Adopt the Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region was held in Oranjestad, Aruba, between 27 September and 6 October 1999.
The Ninth Intergovernmental Meeting on the Action Plan for the CEP and the Sixth Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region (Kingston, Jamaica, 14-18 February 2000) agreed to bring into existence an Ad Hoc Group of Government-designated Experts to begin to function as an Interim Scientific and Technical Advisory Committee (ISTAC) on Land-based Sources and Activities (LBS) and Assessment and Management of Environmental Pollution (AMEP) activities as they relate to the Protocol, until the Protocol enters into force.
“Land-based sources and activities" means those sources and activities causing pollution of the Convention area from coastal disposal or from discharges that emanate from rivers, estuaries, coastal establishments, outfall structures, or other sources on the territory of a Contracting Party, including atmospheric deposition originating from sources located on its territory.”

 

Objectives Third ISTAC Meeting


The third ISTAC meeting held in Mexico in August 2005 focussed on the protocol concerning pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (LBS) in the Wider Caribbean. The objectives of the coordination of the AMEP/LBS programme are to:
• promote ratification of, and accession to, the LBS Protocol by the Contracting Parties to the Cartagena Convention and gain support for the programme in collaboration with the LBS RACs
• ensure that the formulation and implementation of the programme activities satisfy the requirements and needs of the LBS Protocol
• enhance coordination, collaboration and communication with organizations relevant to the AMEP/LBS Protocol objectives
• oversee the day-to-day activities and general coordination of the various AMEP projects, and
• coordinate with the Directors of the two LBS RACs to ensure a cohesive and coordinated workplan in support of the LBS Protocol.

The Third Meeting of the LBS/ISTAC had the following objectives:
• review the current status and activities of the LBS Protocol;
• review relevant activities of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (GPA) and in particular the development and implementation of National Programmes of Action (NPAs);
• review the activities of the LBS Regional Activity Centres (RACs) including an assessment of the development of the Regional Activity Network (RAN) and the Operating Procedures for the RACs and RAN; and
• identify new activities and projects for further development as part of the AMEP work programme.

 

Current LBS Status


To date, 21 States had either ratified or acceded to the Cartagena Convention. However, only six Caribbean states had signed and two, Panama and Trinidad and Tobago, had acceded to the LBS Protocol. For The Netherlands Antilles the legislation necessary for ratification is in the last phase of being passed by parliament. A delay in the process was caused by the need to address capacity issues in relation to enforcement of the legislation. Meanwhile sewage treatment plants are in place in Curacao and St. Maarten, while Bonaire is in the last phase of realizing a sewage treatment plant.
The Coordinator of the CEP pointed out that a ten-year period for achieving the goal of entry into force of the Protocol was not unreasonable. He noted however that governments needed to follow the process carefully in order to comply with all the stages. He also reminded participants that ratification had no financial implications. It was merely a benchmark for the activities undertaken and a simpler way of achieving objectives. He pointed out that efforts such as access to loans would be enhanced once the Protocol has been signed.

Recommendations Third ISTAC Meeting

The meeting resulted in the following recommendations:
  1. The Secretariat develop a programme with activities aimed at sensitizing parties, and in particular, address Ministries and other national entities that formulate policies, on the importance of the LBS Protocol and the need for its ratification;
  2. Projects be developed to promote and disseminate the LBS Protocol, sharing the necessary experiences and the lessons learnt;
  3. A project be designed and coordinated together with the competent national education authorities to promotes the incorporation of environment-related studies into study programmes, particularly in reference to the objective of the Cartagena Convention, and especially the LBS Protocol;
  4. The scope and coordination of a regional monitoring network and recommendations be given to the Twelfth Intergovernmental Meeting on the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme and Ninth Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region;
  5. Recommendation should be made on aspects of harmonization, technologies and other related aspects of water quality analysis;
  6. A list be compiled of relevant laboratories in the region and their specific capabilities in the field of water analysis;
  7. The RAC-IMA and RAC-CIMAB develop guidelines for classifying class I and class II waters using a decision-tree format;
  8. The Secretariat identify additional financial resources in coordination with the Global Programme of Action (GPA), the focal points of the LBS Protocol, the WW2BW Initiative Regional Steering Committee, and other relevant regional organizations to organize a regional donors forum, focusing on implementation and financing mechanisms for NPAs and similar action plans and strategies. To such end, the forum should comply with the following goals: Inform the donors about the development process of the NPAs and how these tools may enhance governance capacities within the region and help reduce land-based sources of pollution in the Wider Caribbean Region; and Discuss mechanisms for the implementation and sustainable financing of these NPAs and related strategies;
  9. PAHO initiate a survey of recreational water quality standards in the region.
  10. The Secretariat seeks financial support to develop a recreational waters programme among the States of the Wider Caribbean Region, which will include the compilation and assessment of water quality data, human resources and monitoring and analysis infrastructure existing in the Wider Caribbean Region, in co-operation with PAHO;
  11. The Secretariat, jointly with the LBS/RACs, promote the use of existing information and technology systems in the Wider Caribbean Region developed by regional research centres like the SERVIR system presented by CATHALAC. Furthermore, accomplish adequate articulation among such centres to avoid duplicating human and financial efforts, and thus prevent an economic impact on the Member States;
  12. A database be prepared of all the projects approved and underway concerning the LBS, to be used by the Member States to guide the development of programmes, projects and studies in order to minimize waste of financial and technical resources and to avoid duplication of efforts;
  13. The Secretariat will continue cooperation with the GPA to assist countries in the development of the NPAs;
  14. The GPA will evaluate NPAs in process and present recommendations to member countries;
  15. The Secretariat and the GPA will cooperate in preparation of the Second Intergovernmental Revision of the GPA (2006);
  16. The Secretariat will identify additional financial resources to organize national Workshops for the Member States;
  17. As far as possible, the guidelines provided in the summary of the Working group on Marine Debris be used for the preparation of the MoU with the Regional Seas Programme in order to draw up a pilot project of $35,000 dollars in the Wider Caribbean Region;
  18. As far as possible, the guidelines provided in the summary of the Working group on Marine Debris be used for the preparation of the Wider Caribbean Region component for the GEF project on marine debris; and.
  19. After the reviews based on the discussions of the ISTAC and the Working group on the Work Plan, and those presented in the body of this report, the Workplan and Budget combined for the biennium 2006-2007 will be sent to the Twelfth Intergovernmental Meeting on the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment Programme and Ninth Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region for approval.


Presentation


During the workshop regarding NPAs, Mr. F. van Slobbe (representative of Bonaire) held a presentation on the Sewerage and Sanitation System Project on Bonaire. This was a very general review of the design, scope and objectives of the project.

 

Relevant Information Netherlands Antilles

One of the relevant projects for the Netherlands Antilles is the Caribbean Aqua Net (CAN). This is a project to establish a long-term Water Quality Monitoring Programme for the Wider Carribbean Region to help in the implementation of NPAs regarding coastal environmental quality and ecosystem health.

Realizing this was the driving force that united the Southeast Environmental research Centre (SERC) of Florida International University (FIU), under the umbrella of the Association of Marine Laboratories of the Caribbean (AMLC) and the encouragement of the Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) to embark in the Caribbean Water Assessment Snap Shot (CarWASSH) by developing links with interested institution and individuals in 21 Caribbean countries or territories and successfully performing the First Snap Shot in
February – March 2005.

A total of 121 sites in thee designated ecosystem (coral reefs, seagrass beds and fringe mangrove forests) were sampled in 23 Caribbean countries or territories. Preliminary results were presented in Curacao in June 2005 and also during the ISTAC meeting in Mexico in August 2005.

One of the proposed activities is to develop Environmental Quality Indexes for Caribbean coastal waters beginning with a nutrient based Water Quality Index, followed by those for anthropogenic stressors such as trace metals and organics (pesticides, herbicides, etc). Once the programme is well established, additional indexes may be developed for sediment, benthos, fish tissue, etc., Hence a holistic picture of each site may be drawn and incorporated to a GIS.

Another proposed activity is to collect and analyze coastal water samples in the Wider Caribbean region periodically and supply the results of the investigations to regional governments and decision-making instances for the timely ratification of the LBS Protocol.

The Dutch Antilles has expressed their high interest in the programme (particularly in the collection of nutrient data along littoral zones) through discussions with Mr. Rudolf Jaffe (Director at the Southeast Environmental Research Centre). Mr. Rudolf has confirmed that it would be possible for them to assist with the programme by limited sampling kids. The limited samples collected can be analyzed free of charge at their laboratory.

The CAN projects could be relevant for all Islands of the Netherlands Antilles in general. The contact details are:
H. Jaffe (Ph.D.)
Southeast Environmental Research Centre
Department of Earth Sciences
University Park, OE 148
Miami, FL33199
Tel:305-348-3095
Fax:305-348-096
bricenoh@fiu.edu

 

Conclusion


It appears that the programme has been successful in making progress for ratification objectives of the LBS protocol in the Wider Caribbean. However, much work remains towards a 21 nation ratification/ accession. Presentations of a variety of counties represented at the meeting were highly educational and indicated numerous similar environmental problems experienced throughout the Dutch Antilles. The presentations also provided more insight to the stages involved when working towards ratification of the LBS protocol. It was evident that certain nations are well in progress towards ratification where others still require much elaborate effort and resources into achieving an environmental platform though which LBS protocol requirements are met.

For the Dutch Antilles the meeting has also provided an update on the course of action to be undertaken in order to ratify and eventually accede the LBS protocol. As the Dutch Antilles are in the final phase of passing legislation through parliament it is crucial that the LBS protocol targets and guidelines are not disregarded. The latter is essential when commencing new projects, particularly those projects which directly or indirectly produce or influence land based sources of pollution. As a whole, the passing through parliament will and should affect all Island Territories of the Dutch Antilles. Therefore it is recommended for the relevant departments (predominantly the environmental departments but also NGO’s and the private sector) to further prepare and assess implementation of aspects to the LBS protocol, including the assessment of potential NPAs as these are recognized as mechanisms for strengthening and facilitating the LBS Protocol.

For further information regarding the Caribbean Environmental Programme, United Nations Environmental Programme, the LBS protocol and NPAs please visit the following website: www.cep.unep.org. You can also contact Mr. P. Hoetjes (paul@mina.vomil.an) or Mr. F. van Slobbe (drob.mnb@bonairelive.com).