Workshop Objectives

Exchange of information and experiences between Amazonian and Caribbean experts related to: (i) ongoing GEF- and other projects in the region, (ii) representatives of UN Environment and other regional and international organizations about the impacts of sediment/nutrient transport from the Amazon Basin to the Caribbean Region, and the impacts of CC (sea level rise) on the coastlines of the region. 

Design the draft of an Amazon - Caribbean joint (twinning) project proposal for implementing an integrated planning and management approach for coastal and marine areas of Amazon-Guyana-Caribbean region influenced by sediment and nutrient output from the Amazon Basin and rising sea levels as a result of climate change.

Workshop Outcomes/ Outputs

Outcomes

Mutual learning and enhanced common understanding of the production, transport, deposition and impacts of sediments and nutrients from the Amazon basin in the Caribbean region.

The partner organizations and projects will benefit through the development and implementation of a common Amazon-Caribbean collaborative/joint program based on a priority list of projects to bridge knowledge gaps and to adapt to the impacts of sedimentation and nutrient flows into the Caribbean and North Brazilian Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem regions. Although, the WS will have a supportive effect on the implementation of the Caribbean SAP and other similar projects.

The outputs of the workshop are:

The draft of a Project proposal focused on COASTAL ENVIRONMENT, SEDIMENTATION AND CLIMATE CHANGE – planning and management of coastal areas and marine ecosystems of the Amazon-Guyana’s-Caribbean region

Implementation of a coordination committee to develop and submit the project proposal to international donors.

The proposed Workshop and the future project proposal outputs are building up on activities developed and/or implemented by:

The GEF-Amazonas project[1], such as: Sedimentation rates of the Madera and Solimões Rivers; Sea level rise in the Amazon Delta; Coastal protection using soft technology (Suriname)

The GEF funded CLME project[2], which related the impacts of amazon sediments and nutrients on Caribbean coral reefs and fish stock,

And projects such as: GEF-IWCAM, GEF-IWEco, GEF-CReW. The Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities (GPA), activities supported by the GIZ and others dealing with integrated watershed and coastal zone management, marine spatial planning and pollution prevention, reduction and control..

[1] The Project GEF-Amazonas “Integrated and Sustainable Management of Transboundary Water Resources in the Amazon River Basin Considering Climate Change and Variability” which is financed by GEF, implemented by UNEP and executed by the Permanent Secretariat of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (PS/ACTO)

[2] The actually submitted CLME+ Project “Catalyzing Implementation of the Strategic Action Program for the Sustainable Management of shared Living Marine Resources in the Caribbean and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem” which covers the Caribbean Large Marine Ecosystem (CLME) and North Brazil Shelf Large Marine Ecosystem (NBSLME) is building on the achievements of the GEF funded CLME project.