Approximately 4% of the Eastern Caribbean’s marine shelf is under some form of protection. However, less than one in five of these areas are considered to be effectively managed. The Nature Conversancy (TNC) has identified four basic components that a comprehensive package to improve the management of marine biodiversity resources must include: improved capacity for managing the marine environment in use zones; policies and regulations that support management of marine biodiversity; economic development, benefit sharing and involvement of primary users—communities that harvest and or impact marine resources—in biodiversity management and sustainable harvest; and educational outreach to involve the public, business interests and policy decision makers in protection and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity.

By adopting a “local” management approach involving local community groups or resource users, this avoids the “top down” management approach associated with official Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and creates avenues for those with a direct connection to the natural habitat under protection ot have a say in its sustainable usage.

The LAMP has chosen to focus on two Eastern Caribbean islands for its research in aid of the TNC’s Marine and Coastal Biodiversity Threat Abatement in the Eastern Caribbean Project.

Dominica

Dominica is a small island state commonly described on account of its lush vegetation and unique natural attractions ‘The Nature Island of the Caribbean’. The island possesses tremendous terrestrial and marine biodiversity and exhibits a high level of endemism. Sixty-five percent of Dominica’s land area is covered by natural vegetation ranging from dry scrub woodland on the west coast to lush, tropical rain forest in the interior and a wide variety of fauna and flora. The interior is interspersed with rivers, waterfalls and lakes.

Dominica boasts a plant diversity of approximately 155 families, 672 genera and 1226 species of vascular plants. The terrestrial and freshwater decapod crustaceans in Dominica include 12 species of shrimps and 20 species of crabs; the amphibian fauna in consists of four species of frogs, one of which is endemic to the island. Nineteen reptile species and 18 species of wild terrestrial mammals have been recorded, while Dominica has the most diverse avifauna of the Lesser Antilles. To date, 175 species of bird have been recorded for Dominica, including two endemic parrot species – the imperial parrot or “Sisserou” (Amazona imperialis) and the red-necked “Jacquot” (Amazona arausiaca) – both considered threatened (IUCN Red Data List) and “specially protected” birds under Dominican law.

In recognition of the need to conserve and protect these vulnerable resources Dominica established from 1975 a system of national parks and protected areas that presently cover in excess of 20% of land area. Dominica’s system of national parks covers two marine protected areas, including the Soufriere/Scotts Head Marine Reserve (SSMR). The SSMR was established in 1987 under the Fisheries Act No. 11 of 1987. Lessons learned from the history of the Local Area Management Authority (LAMA) in Dominica, the potential for improvement in Dominica, and the application of lessons to Grenada will be examined with the intention to help advance the governance of coastal and marine resources.

Grenada

Often called the “Spice Isle”, Grenada is naturally diverse. Including Carriacou, Petite Martinique and islands between, Grenada is home to over 450 species of plants, 150 species of birds, 24 of which only breed in Grenada, 4 species of native terrestrial mammals and an unknown number of insects. There are 17 species of freshwater fish. In the sea, some 150 species of fish as well as reptiles, invertebrates and plants call Grenada’s territorial waters home. Some 37 species,

including the New Grenada Sea Catfish, are included on the International Union for Nature (IUCN) red list for endangered species and one, the Grenada dove, is found nowhere else in the world and is classified as critically endangered. Hurricanes have a profound effect on many species and their habitats. Grenada, at the 2006, 8th Meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity pledged, the Grenada Declaration, to effectively conserve1 at least 25% of its near shore marine area and at least 25% or its terrestrial area by 2020 as a means to contribute to the sustainable livelihoods for its people and to contribute to protection of the world’s biodiversity. Grenada embarked once in 1988 on the preparation of a system plan for protected areas and re-visited this initiative in 2009.

The purpose of a system plan is to protect for all time representative natural areas of Grenadian and Caribbean significance in a system of national parks, to encourage public understanding, appreciation and enjoyment of this natural heritage so as to leave it unimpaired for future generations. Grenada has made great progress by protecting several important high forests and elfin woodlands that are responsible for much of the drinking water and other ecosystem goods and services of the Island such as fisheries production and protection from hurricanes. Likewise there are several marine areas and protected seascapes that have been incorporated, as well as historic sites such as rum distilleries and sugar mills, Amerindian petro glyphs and villages, and historic military forts. An assessment was also made of the land currently preserved to protect the endangered and endemic Grenada Dove, the national bird.