CEMA Action Plan being Finalized

A second national workshop aimed at developing regulations, an action plan and the implementation budget under the Conservation and Environmental Management Act was held at the Montserrat Cultural Centre on Thursday.

The Caribbean Natural Resources Institute (CANARI) is providing technical assistance to support the Department of Environment in the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Lands, Housing and Environment (MATLHE) to facilitate dialogue among government agencies, civil society and the private sector.

The proposed regulations address six key issues, including environmental approvals and permits, forests and forest fires, protected areas, noise and other forms of pollution.

The draft action plan concrete priorities and a budget for operationalising CEMA.

The Director of Environment, Ernestine Corbett, highlighted that the regulations are critical for the administration of the Act and for the optimal management of the environment.

Through stakeholder engagement in this national dialogue there will be greater buy-in, support and uptake of the regulations and action plan produced.

Interested persons and stakeholders are invited to attend.

This initiative is under the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Global Climate Change Alliance project, iLAND Resilience - Promoting a Climate of Change funded by the European Union (EU).

The overall aim of the iLAND Resilience project is to support the implementation of the OECS St. George’s Declaration of Principles for Environmental Sustainability, namely the protection and sustained productivity of the OECS countries’ natural resources.