IKI supports Biological Corridor in the Caribbean

Presentation of the IKI Portfolio at the annual meeting of the Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC).

The International climate initiative (IKI) portfolio was presented at the Caribbean Biological Corridor (CBC) annual meeting that took place from the 14 – 16 April 2021.

The CBC is a partnership of the member states aiming to strengthen the protected areas to enhance biodiversity. It was founded by a political declaration of the ministers of the environment of the Dominican Republic, Haiti and Cuba in 2007. It serves the joint environment management and is one of the most important regional South-South cooperation in the Caribbean. Subsequently, it provides a major contribution to the long-term preservation of biodiversity across borders.

IKI presents Caribbean portfolio

During this year’s annual meeting, IKI was presented by Philipp Behrens, Head of the International Climate Initiative unit at the Federal Ministry of Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMU). Since 2008, IKI has been funding projects in the Caribbean. 26 projects have been implemented since, while 29 projects are ongoing. These current projects cover all funding areas with most projects focusing on mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to the impacts of climate change. The majority also focus on regional and global approaches allowing the share of experiences and learning from good practices beyond boarders.

One example of the IKI projects is the ‘Ecosystem-based Adaptation and forest restoration in vulnerable rural communities within the Caribbean Biological Corridor’ implemented by Deutsche Welthungerhilfe e.V., which works closely with the CBC. The inclusion of ecosystem based adaptation (EbA) in regulatory frameworks and structures in place is one important aspect of this project. Through them, the project promotes sustainable land use practices and forest restoration, and thus also the protection of biodiversity along the corridor. In participatory processes it develops strategic EbA plans, based on which targeted afforestation and soil improvement measures are implemented. The project supports the mainstreaming of EbA in local and national plans. In regard to the CBC, the aim is to strengthen the linkages and connectivity of protected areas. Through its work, the project contributes to achieving the objectives of the CBC, especially outside legally protected areas and with the involvement and encouragement of local people.

In the course of this year’s meeting, decisions have been made for a new delimitation of ecosystems belonging to the Caribbean Biological Corridor and thus being under special protection and management. In support of biodiversity and extent of native plants linkages between the protected areas shall be strengthened. Further, a new Information Knowledge Management System shall allow to process geographical data in a web based application.  Currently, work is in progress to include Jamaica and Puerto Rico into the CBC.