Biodiversity Urban & Rural Development Barbados Study A Civil Society Perspective by Fay A. Best

1. Civil Society Forum BiodiversityUrban & Rural Development Barbados StudyA Civil Society Perspectiveby Fay A. Best Barbados Association of Non-Governmental Organisations In Association with

2. The ACP Civil Society Forum • The ACP Civil Society held its 3rd Forum in December 2009. • It brings together national networks, umbrella bodies and coalitions of Civil Society Organisations from the African, Pacific and Caribbean regions. • It was established within the scope of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement as a mechanism for Civil Society participation, within the ACP Secretariat under the Committee for Political, Social and Cultural Affairs.

3. ACP Civil Society Network THE EXECUTIVE TEAM The Chairperson of the ACP Civil Socety Forum Mr. Lawman L. Lynch, Jamaica Advisor - Legal Affairs Joyce van Genderen-Naar, Suriname (Based in Brussels) Advisor – Network & Political Affairs Roosevelt O. King, Barbados

4. ACP Civil Society Network • 6 Regional Chairpersons (4 African regions, Caribbean and Pacific) • 78 National Focal Points • Interactive Internet Network links all the Focal Points • Network Penetration: 70%+

5. BANGO was established in 1997 to offer technical support and critical services for Civil Society Organisations in Barbados; and is an advocate for CSO involvement in the development and governance of Barbadian society. BANGO is a National NGO Network and is an official channel for the flow of information to and from Government and any other organisations or agencies wishing to communicate with Civil Society or wishing to find particular organisations or groupings of Civil Society. BANGO opens the door and paves the way for CSO participation. About BANGO Representing People BANGO Representatives Chris Halsall (L) and Douglas Skeete intervening in a utility rate hearing on behalf of consumers. Preserving Our Culture Elton Greaves, Quarter Master of the Barbados Landship getting down to business in Bridgetown, to the sound of the “Tuk Band”; the Engine of the Ship. Unique to Barbados.

6. BANGO has been a member of the ACP CS Forum from its inception and was also represented in the planning meeting, held in Entebbe, Uganda in 1997, which led to its recommendation, acceptance and establishment by ACP-EU Joint Assembly.

7. BARBADOS • 166 Square Miles • 273,000 People – 90% African descent • Main Economic Activity: Tourism • Natural Resources: None • Per Capita Income: 90% of the population own 10% of the wealth

8. The move from Agriculture • Traditionally, CARIFORUM countries depended heavily on local manufacturing and agricultural crops such as sugar, bananas and rice to fuel their economies. • Discovery of oil, bauxite, gold and other minerals brought new opportunities to some, while others spent the last 50 years developing quality tourism products and services. • The hurricane and flood damage that many would have experienced over the past ten years, added further pressure for CARIFORM nation, forcing them to redirect their economic thrust to embrace and develop services sectors such as financial and investment services, international and offshore business, information technology.

9. GDP Indicators

10. GALLERY

11. Environmental Concerns begin to impact CARIFORUM Tourism • Tour operators began seeking a certificate of sound environmental management from destination resorts. The accepted standard in this respect is the Green Globe certification. Barbados now has the highest percentage of Green Globe certified hotels in the Caribbean (8 certified hotels and 21 affiliated hotels whereas Jamaica has 7 certified hotels, 1 benchmarked and 17 affiliated hotels) Manufacturing • Barbados Manufacturing Association (BMA) believes that the Barbados government needs to adopt a policy internally to regard trade and environment jointly which would eventually lead to manufacturers taking a hard look at the areas of their business, which have a negative environmental impact. The desired outcome of this introspective scan would be that businesses adopt environmental management systems, of which it would be well understood that the long term benefits are: • Reduced cost of waste management • Reduced cost of distribution • Monetary and unit savings in energy and materials consumption • Improved corporate image • A framework for continued improvement in environmental management and performance

12. Environmental Concerns begin to impact CARIFORUM Agriculture • Agricultural Development Fund was enacted in 2001 to support projects and programmes designed for the improved development of agriculture including sugar production, the cotton industry, livestock production, fisheries and horticulture and is managed by the Enterprise Growth Fund. • This fund is led by a Management committee who consider, evaluate and approve projects and proposal elected by the Minister of Agriculture. • Since then Biodiversity and Rural Development have been overseen and supported by the Ministry of Agriculture.

13. “The Global Economic Crisis” brought the community back to the soil. • Agriculture and the environment continue to influence key decision-making processes. • Barbados’ import bill continues to climb to support its growing populations and visitor demand, as local production cannot accommodate the market need. Herein lies the opportunity. • With the increase in the price of oil there followed the increase in energy costs, then raw goods and materials, transportation and shipping, and hence food costs. • Barbadians finally began to pay attention to what was going on around them because of one simple fact, the cost of living increased significantly. • The challenge was overcoming the apathy Barbadian community had toward developing and supporting agriculture and the preservation and protection of the environment.

14. Back to Basics • Government and Civil Society began focusing much of its efforts over the two years on encouraging persons to return to agriculture on a commercial and residential scale. • This campaign runs in tandem with the need to protect our environment and natural resources, and the capacity to handle the transient traffic from our tourism sector. • Local efforts are focused on ensuring Barbados can feed its population and at the same time maintain healthy lifestyles; from safe drinking water to healthy diets. • The community that for over 30 years ago moved away from agriculture, is now forced to once again get their hands dirty the old fashioned way; tilling the soil.

15. The challenges of Mother Nature • Barbados’ topography and geology have presented this island-state with numerous challenges from the soil composition to the share size of the island, by limiting what can or can’t be done and where. • Over the last 25 to 30 years public concern was raised over the amount of solid waste generated in Barbados and the limitations related to its disposal. The Mangrove Landfill was running out of space, and the Government was challenged to find an alternative location that would not negatively impact on the population or the water table. • Over a decade ago Barbados was classified by the UN Commission on Water as a "water scarce" country.

16. Finding solutions • The then Ministry of Energy and the Environment documented the impacts on the land and the causes of land degradation in the island; which they attributed mainly to the sugar industry, and its resultant “dramatic decline in soil fertility and an increase in agricultural drought .. which contributed to a steady decline in sugar yields per hectare in Barbados.” - Government of Barbados (2001) Barbados’s First National Communications to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Barbados: Ministry of Physical Development and Environment. p. 17 • “In its Second Communication to the UNCCD, the Ministry isolated four main factors which contribute to land degradation as follows: • “the clearance of land for construction; • the lack of maintenance and almost complete breakdown in the formerly extensive system of check-dams in gullies used to direct surface water into the underground aquifer; • the use of non-specific herbicides; and • the replacement of the cane hole planting system by cross contour ploughing and furrowing”. - Government of Barbados (2002) Second National Report to UNCCD. Barbados: Ministry of Physical Environment and Environment. p v-vi

17. Finding solutions • From these factors one can conclude that the approach to land degradation must be holistic and integrated, incorporating environmental, physical planning and socioeconomic considerations. • The Environmental Situation in Barbados is one in which there are signs of deterioration. It is within this context that Barbados requires a holistic and integrated approach to environmental issues as part of its sustainable development process. With the multiplicity of well written reports, there is now a need to move from rhetoric and the written word to action. ” - Barbados Country Programme Strategy (2006 – 2009) GEF Small Grants Programme (Barbados and the OECS) Environmental Situation, pages 14 to 16 • There is also a shortage of land space in the urban communities, which becomes increasingly more acute as the population increases and housing becomes a national priority.

18. Finding solutions • The Ministries of Agriculture, Health and the Environment have all touted that land use has become so intense that more and more chemicals are being used to accelerate the growth of produce in as short a time as possible. These chemicals are being absorbed by the population creating health concerns. - Barbados Country Programme Strategy (2006 – 2009) GEF Small Grants Programme (Barbados and the OECS) Environmental Situation, pages 14 to 16 • Thus the Sustainable Organic Farming and Rabbit Rearing Project was developed as an educational tool for children, in an effort to show the interdependence of plants and animals in a confined space, and create an appreciation for the future development of farming.

19. The Project Goals • To demonstrate an integrated and a sustainable approach to organic farming in land scarce conditions in an urban environment. • It is hoped that through this project that the pupils would be able to: • demonstrate the inter-relationship between sustainable land management (become aware of the environment, its issues, and efficient soil use) and healthy life styles; • develop life skills (business, technology, money management etc); and • provide sustainability in the St. Paul’s community • But it must also: • ensure or contribute to environmental sustainability; • reduce poverty; and • build capacity?

20. The Objectives • Objective 1:Land degradation and organic farming - To adapt and demonstrate how organic farming methods can be utilised in urban areas where land space is limited . • Outcome: Basic skills and knowledge of organic farming developed among 500 students, their parents and the nearby community. • Objective 2: Learning and research - To provide a way of educating the pupils in manner that integrated all aspects of the school’s curriculum (information technology, science, health, language arts, mathematics and sign language), and help pupils to acquire skills such as project management and teamwork. Pupils would learn research skills, as the data gathered will be documented in a workbook. • Outcome: Sustainable farming methods and skills integrated into the curriculum for student and parent learning.

21. The Objectives • Objective 3:Healthy living aspects - To improve the health of students by increasing the dietary intake of vegetables and lean meat, by teaching nutrition education and conducting a pre-and post-KAP (knowledge, attitude and practices) study. • Outcome: The school’s community shows a greater knowledge of the nutritional benefits of organic farming, as well as an increased consumption of vegetables and lean meat. • Objective 4: Public education – To create a demonstration project for the community and other schools as a means of education and projection replication. • Outcome: Public is more aware of the benefits of the project by the dissemination of information and experiences gleaned by the students and the community.

22. St. Paul’s Primary School: Sustainable Organic Farming and Rabbit Rearing Project

23. Success Indicators • For this project to succeed there was a need for a sufficient number of competent volunteers who are willing to give of their time to ensure that the project is a success. • Where there are no skills available, based on the project needs, they were developed thereby ensuring that we not only have develop sustainable livelihoods but build capacity. • For this Project to succeed it must be sustainable. This required the we: • Build project ownership • Strengthen the School • Enhance the School’s Curriculum • Human Capacity Building • Ensure participation and transparency • Expand partnerships • Nurture a business approach (micro-enterprise; business plans; and marketing) • Improve the policy environment (micro-macro connection)

24. Civil Society Leading the way in Biodiversity and Urban Development

25. Civil Society Leading the way in Biodiversity and Urban Development Please see: http://bit.ly/dz13mV Thank You!

26. Barbados’ Country Programme Strategy • Impact: • Land and water pollution reduced through the use of sustainable farming techniques • Outcomes • A cadre of skilled organic farmers managing and developing their sites • Community informed and educated on the benefits of organic farming • Soil and Water pollution reduced • Farmers standard of living is on the increase.

27. Barbados’ Country Programme Strategy • Barbados is signatory to a number of environmental conventions. In addition, there are a number of local legislation and policy documents set the framework to ensure an environmental focus. • One of the main sources of funding for CSO projects is the Global Environmental Facility Small Grants Programme. • This document was prepared with involvement of key stakeholders from government and civil society. • It is within this context that the CPS focuses on two priorities: Sustainable Farming and Conservation Areas. These two areas can fit into one or more focal area, and would contribute to SGP goals of environmental sustainability, poverty alleviation and community empowerment i.e. capacity building. • These are supported further by four themes: • Capacity Building of NGOs • Public Awareness and Education • Sustainable Livelihoods and • Gender Equality

28. QUESTIONS?