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CRITICAL ASPECTS OF PROTECTED AREAS GOVERNANCE: ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

CRITICAL ASPECTS OF PROTECTED AREAS GOVERNANCE: ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES. Brian R. Johnson. Governance Situation. A single comprehensive system of protected areas do not yet exist in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

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CRITICAL ASPECTS OF PROTECTED AREAS GOVERNANCE: ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

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  1. CRITICAL ASPECTS OF PROTECTED AREAS GOVERNANCE:ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES Brian R. Johnson FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  2. 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 FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  3. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  4. 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 FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  5. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  6. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  7. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  8. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  9. National Parks, Rivers and Beaches Authority The primary responsibilities of the Authority when established will be to: • 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. • 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  10. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  11. 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 and distribution of the water. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  12. 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). FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  13. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  14. 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; FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  15. 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). FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  16. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  17. 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 FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  18. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  19. 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 FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  20. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  21. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  22. The End THANK YOU FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  23. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  24. 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. • 6 FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  25. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

  26. 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. FORESTRY DEPARTMENT MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE, LANDS AND FISHERIES SVG

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