Convention or Protocol

Provisions

Implications for Barbados

Cartegena Convention on Protection of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean

The basis for establishing the Caribbean Environment Programme of the United Nations Programme

Barbados is a party to the Action Plan for the Caribbean Environment, which has wide-ranging provision including prevention of pollution from ships and sea-bed activities; habitat and ecosystem protection; and impact identification and mitigation. The Protocol to this Convention on oil spills is met through a National Oil Spill Contingency Planning Committee.

Convention on Biological Diversity, and Protocol on Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW)

Member States must prepare national strategies for sustainable use of biological resources; training and public education; and impact assessment.

Barbados has:

*prepared a National Biodiversity Action Plan (2004)

*created the work of the National Commission on Sustainable Development.

The Environmental Management Act will implement the provisions of this Convention.

United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC)

Member States may participate in various activities, including preservation of reservoirs and sinks for greenhouse gases (including coastal and marine ecosystems), develop integrated coastal management plans, and impact assessment for climate change mitigation.

Barbados is preparing for its second National Communication to UNFCC, including:

*an inventory of greenhouse gases, potential climate impacts and measures that may be required to mitigate climate related impacts.

Barbados was also active in the CPACC project and the new MACC project

*a National Action Plan

United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea

Wide-ranging provisions including prevention of marine pollution, protection, conservation and management of the marine environment. This Convention came into force in 1994.

Barbados is currently discussing its position on the Exclusive Economic Zone. The Government has committed to the provision for the Caribbean Sea as a Special Area for Purposes of Dumping at Sea (see also MARPOL)

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)

Provides for control of trade in coastal and marine species including corals, some fish and plants, and the development of regulations and permits for limited species.

The Environmental Management Act will implement Barbados ' obligations under CITES.

MARPOL 73/78

A group of protocols related to shipping covering marine pollution, reception facilities and hazardous waste management.

The Barbados Harbour Regulations require ships to notify the Port of any hazardous goods in freight. There is an incinerator provided at the Port, and provision for trucking of ballast water to the Bridgetown sewerage plant.

United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement on Highly Migratory Species and Straddling Stocks.

Provision for better enforcement for management of fish stocks of this character, and for sharing of, and access to, data on these species

The Fisheries Division is working to have Government ratify this convention.

RAMSAR

Member states must identify wetland areas of national importance and prepare national strategies for sustainable management.

The Ministry of the Environment is working to have government ratify this convention.