Transcript Document

CRITICAL ASPECTS OF PROTECTED
AREAS GOVERNANCE:
ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES
Brian R. Johnson
7/20/2015
FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY
OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND
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Governance Situation
A single comprehensive system of protected
areas do not yet exist in St. Vincent and the
Grenadines
Several categories of Protected Areas,
however, have been provided for and
designated in separate pieces of legislation
which are administered by separate an
autonomous agencies
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The St. Vincent and the Grenadines
National Trust
Responsible for conserving the tangible natural and
cultural heritage of the country.
Legal Mandate: St. Vincent and the Grenadines
National Trust Act, chapter 329, 1969.
It works as a Statutory Body under the Ministry of
Urban Development, Culture, Labour an Electoral
Matters.
The Trust was dormant for a while and is presently
trying to revitalize itself.
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The Fisheries Division
Falls within the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The Chief Fisheries Officer reports to the Chief Agricultural
Officer
Legal Mandate: Fisheries Act No.8, 1986.
The Division manages fisheries in the territorial waters of St. Vincent
and the Grenadines.
Also responsible for implementing the following legislation:
The Maritime Areas act No.15, 1983
The Fisheries Regulations (SRO) No.1, 1987.
The Fish Processing Regulations of 2001
The High Seas Fishing Act of 2001
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The Fisheries Division (cont’d)
The legislation provides for the declaration of Fishing
Priority Areas, Marine Reserves, and the regulation of
research and other use activities.
Provision is also made for the responsible Minister to
establish a Fisheries Advisory Committee.
Also responsible for the implementation of the Marine
Parks Act No. 9 of 1997. This Act was passed to enable
the declaration of the Tobago Cays Marine Park.
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The Forestry Department
Also falls within the Ministry of
Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The Director of Forestry reports
directly to the Permanent Secretary.
Legal Mandate: to protect, conserve
and develop the forest and wildlife
resources.
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The Forestry Department
It operates under the Forest Resources Conservation Act No. 47
of 1992 and the Wildlife Protection Act No. 16 of 1987.
Provision is made for the establishment of:
a Wildlife Conservation Advisory Authority,
a Wildlife Conservation Fund,
Wildlife Reserves,
Forest Reserves,
Cooperative Forests,
Conservation Areas Conservation Councils for specific sites,
a Forestry Development Fund and,
a Conservation Area Fund.
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National Parks, Rivers and Beaches
Authority
Was initiated at the beginning of 2002 under the
National Parks Act No. 33 of 2002.
It falls under the Ministry of Tourism, Youth and
Sports.
A three (3) year Tourism Development Project
which will establish the National Parks Authority
fully and the system of National Parks is
expected to commence by February, 2007.
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National Parks, Rivers and Beaches
Authority
The primary responsibilities of the Authority when established will be
to:
1. preserve, manage, protect and develop the natural and cultural
heritage of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, including the
historical and cultural heritage of the country.
2. It also has the mandate to establish National Parks,
operate facilities for national enjoyment and tourists,
promote and advance conservation,
educate the public,
regulate activities in National Parks and buffer zones, and to
undertake restorative measures in marine areas.
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The Physical Planning Unit
Falls within the Ministry of Finance and Planning
Legal Mandate:the Town and Country Planning
Act No. 45 of 1992, through a Physical Planning
and Development Board.
The Physical Planning Unit oversees and
regulates development in the county and plays a
major role in allocating lands for Protected
Areas.
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Central Water and Sewerage
Authority
A Statutory Body
Legal Mandate: operating under the Central Water and
Sewerage Authority Act No. 17 of 1991.
Responsibilities:
the conservation, use, an apportionment of the water resources
of the country.
It can establish protected areas for the preservation of water
supplies.
Existing understanding between the Authority and the Forestry
Department
– Forestry would manage the watershed resources which feed
the water sources
– CWSA would concentrate
on harnessing
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the water.
Other Agencies
Ministry of Finance and Planning:
responsible for the approval of capital projects and recurrent
expenditure and the allocation of funds for implementation.
The St. Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC):
empowered by law to utilize rivers for electricity generation.
The Ministry of Health and the Environment :
plays an environmental coordinating role through its
Environmental Services Unit.
focal point for the conservation on Biological Diversity (CBD), the
United Nations Framework Convention on climate change
combating Desertification (UNCCD).
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Other Agencies
Cabinet had set up a National Environmental Advisory Board
(NEAB) in the Ministry of Health and the Environment to:
assist the Environmental Services Unit in coordinating
Environmental Management in the country.
In 2005, the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines signed
a Memorandum of Agreement with the Nature Conservancy, the
University of the West Indies and Rare Center for Tropical
Conservation to collaborate in implementing a Program of Work
for Protected Areas in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
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Governance Goals
Process for the establishment of a defined and operational system of
Protected Areas in St. Vincent and the Grenadines has started.
This hopefully will address:
improved coordination among stakeholders
Defragmented legislation an administrative responsibility.
Common goals and principles among sectors:
Sustainability of use;
Conservation;
Research;
Education;
Alternative livelihoods;
Employment;
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Governance Goals
Desirable changes in Protected area Governance (articulated through a
stakeholders’ workshop)
A clearly articulated policy on Protected Areas
A functioning resource management system
A well-informed public who is aware of the significance of Protected
Areas.
Coordination
Greater community involvement
Vastly improved monitoring a research
Cost-recovery
Standards (e.g. branding).
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Design Principles for a Modified
Institutional Structure
A To be relevant, effective, and cost-effective in a resource
constrained environment (human and financial) the following are
taken as the design principles for a new and modified framework
for Protected Area System in St. Vincent and the Grenadines:
Retention of Responsibilities;
Non-Duplication;
Capacity Building;
Collaboration and Partnership;
Optimum Revenue Generation.
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Design Principles for a Modified
Institutional Structure
These principles should be used not only to design a modified
structure but also to evaluate performance over time.
The need for a coordinating mechanism has been brought more
and more into focus in recent times. Thus the resuscitating of
NEAB
The two initiatives already mentioned –
the Tourism Development Project and;
the Collaborative Agreement between Government an the nature
Conservancy and the other partners
are expected to have high impact
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SWOT Analysis
Strengths
Political support and initiative
Memorandum of Understanding with TNC etc. re:
Protected Areas Management.
Some trained, competent and talented officers
Some organisations have knowledge, experience and
expertise.
Supporting legislations and organizational resources
dedicated to protected
Areas Management.
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SWOT Analysis
Weaknesses
A shortage of human resources
Overlapping legal mandates
Lack/limited coordinating mechanisms
Absence of policy or effective mechanisms to raise
funds for resource, protected area and heritage sites
management
Fragmentation of responsibilities among several
Organizations
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SWOT Analysis
Opportunities
Local/visitor demand for services/products provided b y PA’s.
International Environmental organisations and NGOs are
supportive of Protected Areas.
Suitable human resource is available for training and capacity
development.
Initiatives like the MOU with TNC and the Tourism
Development Project are excellent opportunities for the
establishment and development of an effectively managed
National Protected Area System.
Climate Change may enhance ecosystem and species diversity
as well as the attractiveness of the Protected Area.
Benefits and services
may be further diversified and increased. 20
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SWOT Analysis
Threats
Climate Change may pose threats to ecosystem, species and
endanger their survival through change in temperature and/or
rain fall patterns.
Climate Change may precipitate/facilitate an increase in
invasive species to the detriment of indigenous ones.
Volcanic eruptions, hurricanes, etc. could have adverse effects
on protected areas - short or long term.
Sea level rise could affect coastal and marine areas.
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The End
THANK YOU
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Training Analysis (con’t)
Training conducted for formal courses at the national level should be certified by a training
institution; perhaps a local person could be authorized to provided such certification. Such
certification can upgrade the academic qualifications of staff members which can be
important to allow for promotion as well as acceptance at training institutions.
- Formalise training linkages between training institutions and national training
departments / - Forestry Departments.
5.
New staff are usually recruited at the Forest Guard (grade 2) and Forestry Officer 1
(grade 3) levels. These are the two lowest positions within the organization.
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Training Analysis (con’t)
The requirements for the grade 3 position are:
§
Minimum of 5 GCE O’levels / CXC subjects including Maths, English and, preferably, Natural
Science subjects
§
Should be medically fit.
Forest Guards used to be recruited with much lower qualifications and still do to some extent but we have
made attempts to take persons who have a better chance of accessing formal training at an institution. We
have also made attempts to upgrade this position but have had to accept a policy of phasing it out over a
period of time.
The major constraint to recruitment is the availability of staff position on the establishment. The Government
is reluctant to provide new positions unless deemed to be absolutely necessary.
6.
Approximately 1 dozen over the next 5-10 years.\
7.
Training is required at all levels – short term (specific) medium and long term; general and
specialized; degree, diploma, certificate, short courses (regional / national), in-service.
Coordinated research is important at both regional and national scales.
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Training Analysis (con’t)
Provide for the exchange of professionals and exchange between Forestry organsiations in the region.
Such persons can be sent to countries on request or where needed.
§
Such persons can be sent to countries on request or where needed.
§
There should be concerted efforts to coordinate, collaborate and integrate such training effectively.
§
There should be a specific focal point, especially where there are multiple training institutions
§
Provision should be made for periodic re-assessment of training needs and requirements.
§
International training needs and requirements as well as demand for trained persons should be
interfaced and integrated.
§
Training and education should be dynamic and responsive to changing needs in the region.
§
It would be useful to have a system of evaluation of the trained person on return to his/her country or
organization to monitor the effectiveness / usefulness or utilization of the training.
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Training Analysis (con’t)
There is no current formal linkage with any training institutions. However, there is informal
linkages with ECIAF and UWI.
Individual officers have maintained linkages, with the institutions where they were
trained, e.g ECIAF, Paul Smith’s College in New York, Sir Sandford Fleming College in
Ontario.
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