Abstract

In February 2004, at the Seventh Conference of the Parties meeting of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) in Malaysia, over 180 countries negotiated a Global Program of Work (PoW) on Protected Areas (PAs). This PoW contained a set of specific targets, timetables and actions to be taken by governments, including a target to establish a global network of representative and effectively managed national and regional protected areas on land by 2010 and at sea by 2012. However, implementing this strong Global Program of Work for Protected Areas has its challenges, specially when it relates to Small Island States. Countries, overwhelmingly expressed concern over the lack of adequate funding and technical assistance. In response to this concern, a Consortium of International NGOs (including The Nature Conservancy, Birdlife International, Conservation International, Flora and Fauna International, WWF, Wildlife Conservation Society, and World Resources Institute) put forward a Joint NGO Pledge in which they have offered to provide wide-ranging support to governments to implement a strong Program of Work. Specific commitments for collaboration between governments and NGOs are under development through the establishment of country-driven National Implementation Support Programs (NISPs). Grenada, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Jamaica and the Bahamas are among the four pioneer governments in the insular Caribbean setting up these Programs. The example of the partnership between TNC and the Government of Grenada demonstrates how Small Island States, that have intrinsic little capacity, can benefit from these partnerships and make significant contributions to the global conservation agenda. By joining forces with the international and in-country NGO community and by internally agreeing on coordinating priority actions across departments and ministries, the government of Grenada is ready to comply with international conservation commitments and achieve meaningful and cost-effective conservation results on the ground.

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