Inter-Ministerial and Experts Conference on Biosphere Reserves in the Caribbean Region: Tools for Sustainable Development and Growth

Caribbean faces unique challenges in coping with the climate change, sea-level rise, natural disasters, alleviation of poverty and sustainable development. The concept of Biosphere Reserve is an integrative tool that allows addressing these challenges. There is a great interest in this concept in the Caribbean, notably, in St. Kitts and Nevis, which has approved now the first Biosphere Reserve in English-speaking Region. This Inter-Ministerial and Experts Conference has the following objectives: <br />- To facilitate discussions on the identification of appropriate locations for new Biosphere Reserves as well as their integration with the local/national sustainable development and adaptation to climate change plans;<br />- To galvanize participants in discussing of the creation of an expert network for designations of new Biosphere Reserves in the English-speaking Caribbean.<br />- To identify specific initiatives that can be developed in the already existing Biosphere Reserves leading to the development and promotion of new products, services and employment.<br />- To secure the engagement of Ministers from the English-speaking Caribbean in the creation of new sites in this region.