Montserrat was among islands represented at the Caribbean Regional Dialogue, held in St. Lucia last week.
Environment Officer at the Department of Environment, Ajhermae White, attended the August 21st to the 22nd meeting, which was hosted by the OECS Commission in collaboration with the Sasakawa Peace Foundation (SPF) of Japan.
The two-day conference, under the theme “Advancing Resilient Prosperity”, brought together regional leaders and experts to explore opportunities in tourism, agriculture, the Blue Economy, climate and disaster risk reduction, economic development, and trade.
The dialogue sought to identify shared and country-specific priorities, strengthen regional cooperation, and build lasting networks across multiple sectors.
Participants engaged in panel discussions and round tables designed to inform the Global Synergy Project.
Key discussions centered on the sustainable development of the Blue Economy.
Panelists underscored the importance of implementing robust safeguards to protect marine environments from external threats such as climate change and the growing influx of sargassum.
They noted that safeguarding marine ecosystems is not only more effective but also far less costly than attempting to restore them after damage has occurred.
On climate resilience, participants emphasized the need for regional financing mechanisms to support adaptation strategies.
They also highlighted the critical role of nature-based solutions such as restoring mangroves and coral reefs which provide protection against climate impacts while also benefiting tourism, biodiversity conservation, and fisheries.