Ecosystem-based Adaptation and forest restoration in vulnerable rural communities within the Caribbean Biological Corridor

State of implementation/results

• Eight Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) plans are finalized or in the final phase of revision. The Cuban partners are concluding their diagnostic studies and working in parallel on their EbA plans.
• Partners continue to select priority zones for intervention and target groups and implement EbA activities, including the establishment of agroforestry systems, silvopastoral systems, erosion control measures, tree nurseries, reforestation activities and the creation of household vegetable gardens. This is combined with trainings and sensitization campaigns.
• Over 1.7 million fruit and forest tree seedlings were distributed and planted. The project has so far supported over 1,140 rural households with the implementation of EbA measures, provided safe access to water to 695 households and has rehabilitated, reforested and conserved over 2,200 hectares of land. It has also reached around 9,850 people through sensitization campaigns and training on EbA, climate change and environmental protection.
• Partners continue to apply a Multi-Actor Partnership (MAP) approach to promote EbA governance. 16 local “container” groups have been formed, allowing the establishment of strong local governance systems to anchor project results in the region and create ownership.
• Contracting a study to evaluate the level of integration of EbA in public policies and plans in the project countries started, in line with the decision taken in the Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC) Technical and Scientific Committee meeting held in Santo Domingo in October 2023.
• Project advances and the first EbA plan, developed by Concert-Action, were presented in the CBC Technical and Scientific Committee meeting held in Kingston in June 2024.
• A technical EbA workshop was planned in DOM but was postponed following changes in the Ministry of Environment in the Dominican Republic (DOM) and the absence of a designated focal point.
• The project completed a gender assessment and training in DOM, while Haiti and Cuba will finalize the same before the end of the year. A webinar took place in which the DR partners shared their findings and their commitments to strengthening gender sensitivity in the project.
• Partners are implementing and report on complaints and response mechanisms, including IKI’s independent complaint mechanism.
• A knowledge management initiative to identify lessons learned and best practices was put in place.
• Exchange missions take place between the project partners of the three countries, though this was affected by the border closure between Haiti and DOM and the suspension of issuing visas to Haitians.
• The 3rd annual partner meeting has been organized and planned in a participative way and will take place between the 9th and the 14th of September.
• Communication strategies for each partner are being developed.
• Enda and WHH’s team in Thiotte and have suffered from severe staff turnovers and are currently being completed.

Latest Update:
12/2024

Further links

• Facebook Seite des Projektes
• Project Newsletter
• COP27 side event (video)
• Dominican Republic: Resilient Caribbean Communities - Back to cooperating with Nature (video)
• Haiti: Back to Cooperation with Nature (video)
• Cuba: Intervention on local television (video)